Antenatal midwifes not calling back, high risk, covid, run out of meds..

[JessieLongleg]

36 weeks pregnant, high risk now due to age, weight, disability, HG and now maternity diabetes.

Caught covid this week. Covid pregnancy line was useful and only going near hospital if breathing gets bad or baby stops moving. Had a scan last Monday and baby is 6lb 15oz, head down and facing spine. He has always be very active best ultrasound photo was 6 weeks.

So Monday I mentioned to reception that had run out of diabetes medication, so they said contact my GP who said unless they had instructions from maternity they can't prescribe it to myself. I spoke to the covid pregnancy line about this and told me to ring up the midwife and get it sorted.

It's been 4 days with no medication, I've gained massive amount of pelivc pain even using my roller I'm struggling to walk. Have a appointment today with the maternity Dr. My husband is off and was hoping they could meet and give us a clear week when they plan to induce ( said 40 week pre diabetes). I'm totally happy to do this over the phone.

I've been getting on with contacting midwife etc in antinatal from this time yesterday. Can't go to the hospital to pick meds up and gp is not open Saturday why should they rush through a prescription last minute to of the week to pharmacy due to antinatal mismanagement.

I wouldn't say this is urgent in the sense I'm going into labour or baby is in distress. Luckily covid hasn't hit my chest hard just feeling rubish and shiving and sweating, and of course started sickness that pushed my sugar levels up high. So through paracetamol, anti sickness tablets I have and trying to manage levels through food. This is so annoying firstly getting sugar levels under control takes away alot of risks of gestational diabetes, secondly the Metformin was working and I was on week 4 of it so side effects where gone. It took me 3 weeks to sort them out on the medication even hummus and salad was pushing them up.

Husband says to ring 111 later if no help from maternity for prescription but that ridiculous I have to take it to 111.

I'm trying not to stress about it as know it will not help but follow someone on IG who continuously bigs up her maternity department. When she had a low risk pregnancy and natural birth with no problems in a rich part of London. Maybe that's how you feel fully supported, have less need and more support through the NHS due to postcode.

Your GP should be prescribing you medicine, not your midwife.

You need to call your maternity Triage or delivery suite - whatever number you call to access 24/7 care.

Your midwife will not be able to prescribe you medication.

My GP has only prescribed medication when I take in a letter from maternity. I haven't received one as got the last from last appointment. The first lot was prescribed through the maternity Dr and given to me through hospital pharmacy. You can't blame the GP can't just prescribe medication on demand and they are happy to take the letter from maternity through email.

I rang them and they said contact the high risk midwifes. They can't directly prescribe but last time in was there got the on duty pregnancy Dr to prescribe and given me letter of meds I need to the GP like when I needed the futher sugar testing strips.

@sunscreenandsaltwater

My GP has only prescribed medication when I take in a letter from maternity. I haven't received one as got the last from last pregnancy dr appointment and given to me through hospital pharmacy. You can't blame the GP they can't just prescribe medication on demand and they are happy to take the letter from maternity through email. Just because my notes say I have had it doesn't mean I should still get it. Even when I was last there asked the midwife for a letter for a gp prescription for blood thinner as running out and she said we will do it and got me a prescription. It not just the prescription I need I can't walk no reason why today's appointment couldn't be done by phone.

@DottyLittleRainbow

I rang them and they said contact the high risk midwifes.

They can't directly prescribe but last time in was there got the on duty pregnancy Dr to prescribe. They have also given me letter of meds I need to take to the GP like when I needed the futher sugar testing strips.

I going from different departments and answer phones with no response.

@DottyLittleRainbow @sunscreenandsaltwater

Spoke to the midwife at 3:30pm yesterday who claimed didn't get any of my messages all week. Agreed they need to send instructions to gp and would that day by email. Emailed gp and gave then new pharmacy near to where I'm isolating. They emailed me back in 5 mins and said as soon as got instructions would do it. And guess what prescription hasn't made it to pharmacy. GP is closed but never had a problem with them not responding.

Call 111. You'll speak to an out of hours GP who will help you.

Should you not be under a consultant due to you being high risk ? I thought it would be them who prescribed your medication? My gp also won't prescribe my meds without a letter from the consultant so I call the hospital and they post them out basically and give me a few months at a time.
Sorry you've been messed around back and forth but I didn't think midwife's could prescribe mediation although I might be wrong. In the meantime 111 should be able to sort an emergency prescription I'd have thought ?
I hope you're feeling okay covid and all, it sounds like you're going through/been through a lot

With all due respect, of course you can expect the GP to prescribe in these circumstances. They're a qualified doctor. As a minimum they could prescribe you enough of the medicine to last say a week, until you could get through to the midwives.

I am under a consultant but they are not always in, got in contact with a midwife Friday and they said they would sort it a d GP can't. Just got the medication 8 days later.

@DottyLittleRainbow

@GiltEdges

Midwife said I can't expect the gp to prescribe but just got it 8 days later after they contacted my GP.

As you have said op, GP's are it able to reissue medication that was prescribed by a hospital unless the hospital has provided the GP surgery with the relevant paperwork. This isn't just for maternity care.
I'm glad you've got things sorted OP.

@Albgo

Thanks, totally, I get why this isn't just a painkiller for back problem a gp is ignoring. It's serious medication that could reduce your sugar levels to low and put you in a coma. Even on it I went a bit to low after 4 weeks but as monitoring myself ate a bit more carbs. Read it's out your system after 4 days. So here I start again its many side effects are tummy related which isn't easy with HG. Woke up and was sick this morning. Can take between 3 day to 3 weeks to work I had just got the sickness under control and not related to carbs.

I only moved to this GP at start of pregnancy and don't have the ushall contact with the GP due to covid. Nothing in my paper notes on it Meet a couple of nurses that are lovely though at the surgery.

Midwife said she didn't get my messages but there wasn't a way to get through to reception. Not turning up with covid I'm not that selfish.

Sorry you’re struggling with this. I have also been in the situation where info hasn’t been passed onto GP, and it’s frustrating but if you push for an appointment they should help you.

Mine eventually did and then wrote to midwives to ask them to look into why it happened.

My understanding is that midwives give GPs the recommendation and they then prescribe.

Hope you get it sorted out.

I know you are approaching the end now but I'll tell you what was useful for me....

I also had gestational diabetes and took metformin and insulin plus I also injected with blood thinners. I set up an online account with Echo (called something else now but I can't recall what at the moment!) and when I needed to I requested a new prescription. It went to my GP and they did what they needed to and the medication was sent straight to my house. This was ideal as it was through Covid lockdowns.

I had an issue before I switched to this - with my testing strips. The pharmacy hadn't received my prescription despite my GP saying it was definitely sent. I was very worried as I was going to run out and it was the day before the long Easter weekend. My sister is a pharmacist and she told me I could buy them over the counter! So i phoned the pharmacy and asked if I could just buy them - they said 'well they are very expensive....' They were £24 if I recall correctly. I said 'I'd rather spend £24 than not be able to monitor my blood sugars!

@Merryclaire

Today I got told was going through to answering machine but got through to reception and midwife. So I suppecting staff shortages. Got tomorrows appointment over the phone. For a minute the midwife suggested I come in. My appointments is 9:30 quite shocked they would suggest someone who is still within two weeks of COVID travels through London in rush hour to maternity!

@niki26

I'm on the blood thinners as well, was given the blood sugar monitor before a bank holiday and ran out was shocked at the price of £20. One of my neighbours said hence why he voted to stay in EU. As type1 and sees his American friends pay so much for diabetes support etc in America.

Sugar levels are slowly adjusting but the sickness from Metformin is much worse than it was when I started it weeks ago. Don't spose the heat is helping with a heavier load on tummy.

I'm interested in Metformin long term as been show good for arthritis which I have.

My GP will always prescribe meds following a ‘phone consultation.

My midwife is very lax and I have to chase about everything, and have even diagnosed my own issues after being fobbed off constantly. I live in a wealthy area so I don’t think money comes into it. Some midwives are just better than others! Mine just happens to be a bit crap.

@DangerouslyBored you can definitely see better GP's in better areas. But the hospitals are having staff shortages for sure. Covid is 3 times higher in hospitals right now. I've moved to a new gp with good reviews but is the only one in the area. I see some are going down after government changes. Mistakes will always happen but it just seems some are getting more mistakes. I've already had apologies from midwifes after ingnoreing low B12 levels.