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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

25 weeks, never met my midwife and they won't tell me about antenatel. Angry!!!!!

16 replies

mistyamica · 11/12/2007 10:51

Hi ya, i'm nearly 26 weeks pregnant and have never met my midwife. I know her name is Chitra but whenever i make my appointments to see her she is either 'too busy' or is on holiday and I always get the inexperienced student cover. I'm fed up. I keep seeing antenate chats on this site but I can't join in as, i haven't been advised on classes. Everytime I ask the doctor (again a different one everytime) they say "Ask your midwife"

How can I ask her when she is never there!? I've asked the student midwifes and they say wait until you see Chitra next time. Well every time I go to see her she is never there!!! ohhh i'm sooooooooo angry. and what an excuse to give me.."she's too busy"

I'm getting increasingly worried, as there are other women at work who are pregnant and they keep asking me have you joined antenatel classes yet? I can't even get hold of my MATB1 form!!! The next appointment I have is on the 3rd of Jan and I bet the stupid cow isn't there again.
By then all the antenatal classes will be filled and I'll be left panicking.

This is my first child and frankly i'm really frightened, as there isn't anyone around to offer me the support and advice I need. If there isn't anyone around to give me the advice I need, what confidence do I have that there will be someone around when my baby arrives? They'll all be 'too busy' and I'll be stuck in some dingy room not having a clue what i am doing and some student midwife who hasn't got a clue. I'm supposed to be giving birth at Hillingdon Hospital, and it is extremly overcrowded. I've heard its terrible for leaving new mothers on their own aswell. Ahhhhh!!!!

OP posts:

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BeeWiseMen · 11/12/2007 10:54

in your antenatal notes there should be a number for the supervisor of midwives. Call her today.

It certainly doesn;t seem right that student midwives are seeing you unsupervised.

sophiewd · 11/12/2007 10:56

Join the antenatal chats on here, it is a fantastic support sytem for everyone, just look up the month you are due. Can you get in contact with the National Childbirth Trust, they do calsses aswell although you have to pay for them. Keep chatting hereaswell. Pregnancy can be daunting but there is a lot of help and wisdom.

TotalChaos · 11/12/2007 10:58

this does seem rather unsatisfactory. re:antenatal classes - phone up the hospital and find out how to book yourself on them, or phone up your nearest surestart/children's centre to see if they are running any. I don't think that NHS antenatal classes are likely to be booked up and turn you away (NCT are another story mind...)

BeeWiseMen · 11/12/2007 11:03

you might want to check out the NICE guidelines for antenatal care before you call the supervisor of midwives. I haven't got the time atm to re-read them but from memory your hospital is in breach of them.

violeta · 11/12/2007 11:04

God, what a mess - no wonder you're worried!

You do need to sort out your MATB1 form asap as officially your employer has to have it 15 weeks before the birth, so at 25 weeks. I'm sure that given the circumstances though all will be fine and it's not as strict as that. Get it from your doctor if your team of midwives are as useless as they seem.

The classes thing I don't think is too much of a problem as you don't usually do them until the month before your due date on the NHS.

As for the midwife situation, is there anyone you can complain to? You should be having regular check-ups by a proper qualified midwife...
Alternatively, there's always changing hospitals?

Good luck..

Denny185 · 11/12/2007 11:07

Im not sure if its the same for all employers but mine want my MATB1 form by 25/40, think id go above her head and chase it if she cant see u B4 xmas. Sorry youve had such a poor experience for your first time. Good luck

BeeWiseMen · 11/12/2007 11:15

aims is also a good site for advice

But please phone the supervisor of midwives. It may be a problem with this particlar midwife that she needs to know about. I'd insist on being allocated a different midwife tbh. If the midwives you are seeing aren't qualified to give you a MATB1 then they should not be doing antenatal checks alone. I was seen by a student midwife a couple of times for antenatal appointments but a fully qualified midwife was always with her.

TLSM · 11/12/2007 11:18

Hi mistyamica first can I say sorry that you have had such a crap experience (pardon my French) please dont let this affect your pregnancy!

Firstly I would join the antenatal thread on here all you need to do is look under antenatal and choose the thread relavent to when your bud is due so would be either April or May I am on April and you would be very welcome any worrys or problems you can share there and there is nearly always someone who is either in the same position or has been which is a great help and comfort.

Re antenatal classes I wasnt offered any for my first so went to the NCT ones instead if yo look on their website there will be a contact number for your closest one they book up quickly but you maybe lucky.

If you are really worried about the birth for your peace of mind it may be worth getting a doula (you will need to pay for one but they are not too expensive and are women who have been though this all before so will take the fear of the unknown away) there are a few on here you could have a chat with which could help easy your worrys. You best bet after having the baby is getting home as soon as poss as long as your bud is ok that way you will safe at home.

Good luck and enjoy it

crokky · 11/12/2007 11:21

mistyamica - don't know if you have ever seen a matb1 form, but it is a really short form that a student midwife or doctor could easily fill in (takes about 30 seconds). They usually have pads of them hanging around and just stick your name and due date on and that is that.

Re the antenatal classes - depending on where you live, the NHS may not actually have any on offer (they didn't in my area). The doctors surgery or hospital maternity unit ought to be able to give you a number to ring. If not, you can join the NCT and get classes from there (private) which is what I did.

Also, you can elect to see a GP for routine antenatal checks. They usually have the heart monitor thingy to listen to your baby, they can take your blood pressure and dip the stick in your urine (take with you in advance in any small container you have).

redrosebug · 11/12/2007 11:24

FWIW, Your GP should be able to give you a MatB1 form, it is only to say that you are pregnant and the estimated due date.
Do we take it that you haven't had any scans or anything ? They are so important, tell your GP or hospital asap.

e14mum · 11/12/2007 11:24

26 weeks- are you due in March then? this is the March link- we're very friendly!

Peachy · 11/12/2007 11:29

I'm 25 weeks also (due end March but on April thread as date was brought forwards at scan)

I've met my MW twice and the Hospital MW (urgh) once

That's on reduced visits due to thsi being my fourth child

Definitely go for NCT classes, and they would need booking ASAP- explain the situatrion to them if they're booked as they can keep you on a reserve list. Also contact the Supervisor of Midwives at your local hospital, and join the threads here- there's no requirement for any sort of care in palce to join up.

Good luck

Original poster

mistyamica · 11/12/2007 13:00

Thanks everyone! I'll have a look at the march session thanks e14mum!

I've had my scans and thats all really! I phoned my doctors surgery and they say that they cannot give me my MATB! form until I see my midwife again, which is on the 3rd Jan. I'll need to have a word with my HR dept about not being able to supply the form until then. I'm really strapped for cash at the moment and have had to get all my baby stuff second hand! So I won't be able to pay for antenatal classes.

I'll have to look at phoning the hospital direct to get a class. All I know is that my colleague was due to have her baby on the 8th October and she wasn't told about antenatal classes either. When she tried to book one our hospital was fully booked up to January! And this was in September! So I have a feeling my hospital is going to be fully booked up. But I'll try anyway! x

OP posts:

widgetsmummy · 11/12/2007 13:26

misty - do call NCT anyway. they are a charity and have means to get people on courses even if they have low incomes or cannot afford the full fee. explain and you never know... sounds like they could be the local support you need

mistlethrush · 11/12/2007 13:32

Sorry you're having such a problem time.

Would second the contacting NCT - so glad I did them, much better than any of the NHS ones that I did - and the main set of NHS ones that I was booked in on I couldn't get into the building...

Sounds as though you should be making a fuss about your mw - after my experience last pregnancy, if I manage to get pregnant again I shall be opting for an alterntive mw, even though this is not 'normal' for our surgery.

BunnyBaby · 11/12/2007 15:01

Sorry to hear you're having problems, its was the same for me - I'm now a healthy 41 weeks along. I transferred my care to Northwick Park as really unsatisfied with Hillingdon. And in the end opted for an independent midwife. Good luck, and it's not right to have not seen anyone at 26 weeks.

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