Rubbish Midwifery care

[hellosunshineagainx]

I had my first son in 2019 and had great care. I'm only 9 weeks but the care I have had this time round is really crap tbh.

Midwife never replies or responds to any of my calls or messages over the past three weeks, had booking appt over phone hut still no blood tests booked. Still hasn't sent me my exemption certificate when she said she would email it after my booking appointment weeks ago and I have chased. Ignored me when I asked about taking aspirin as was advised to take it last time but not by her this time. I got my scan date through hut its not for my hospital that I chose in my city thats 5 mins away but one in a different county over half an hours drive away which will be impossible for me as I dont drive atm and have a three year old.l as no childcare that week.

Is this just the state of midwifery care in the nhs now or should I change midwife? Im trying to be patient with her

I don't know if I have low expectations but I don't think it's that bad?
You're only 9 weeks, how many times have you messaged and called her? I'd only just had my booking appointment at this stage. Some trusts do the booking bloods when you go for your scan.
Hospital wise are both hospitals under the same trust? If so it might just be that there is more availability for scan appointments at the further away hospital.
You haven't said what the aspirin is for, is it something that would show when you have your blood results back?

I'm 10 weeks and have my booking appointment in two weeks and scan in three. I guess the point is, is she not replying because you're so early in pregnancy and could discuss aspirin with a GP/ you're not a priority (especially with staffing shortages in midwifery) or is she always crap at getting back to patients?

I'd wait and see for now. I would try to change scan location though maybe just an error.

Asprin was because my mum had preeclampsia and my bmi but my bmi is higher this time. She didn't ask about family history in the booking appointment and I totally forget until the next day this was the first message I sent her. But have sent three messages since then over the past two weeks and not had responses I know they aren't emergencies or anything so didn't expect an immediate response but I have no idea what to do as she hasn't replied.

I am 9 weeks and I thought bloods had to be done by ten weeks for certain tests? They are the same trust but there's no common sense there it's 20 miles away vs 2 miles away 🤣

I do need my maternity exemption though I should have to keep chasing for it plus all this other stuff.

I think its because its like five different things its just put on me on edge in an already anxious pregnancy, I suffered from PND last tome so wondering if its just my rubbish brain obsessing over things that don't matter

I think you are expecting too much tbh. I would just take the aspirin if you did last time. Bloods and scan need to be done by 14 weeks in my area for the combined screening so you still have time.

I’m a midwife and honestly the shortages of staff at the moment are horrendous so this could have a significant impact.

Call the scan department direct to see if you can change the location of the scan. It’s probably just availability and the only thing the midwife will be able to do is contact and ask. It saves time/ coming back to you to ask suitable days or times if they are able to change it.

It is also peak annual leave time - she may be off at the moment and will get back to you once she is back. If anything is urgent - call the midwives office and someone else should be able to help 😊 I can’t advise re aspirin but give your GP/midwife office a call and I’m sure someone will help.

If you've had your booking appointment over the phone though you haven't been weighed by her though have you so I presume she doesn't have your bmi.
Your bloods for the combined tests just need to be done before 14 weeks and are normally done when you have your scan. Different to your booking bloods which I believe tests for things such as iron levels, blood type etc.
It might be 12 week scans are all done at the one hospital. Inconvenient for you but if it means the hospital can get away with less staff I can understand why they do it. I have a hospital 5 minute drive from me and another one a 30 minute drive. The 5 minute drive one only does pregnancy scans 1 day a week and only has 1 scanning room. The 30 minute drive one does them Monday-Friday and has quite a few scanning rooms. Across 2 pregnancies I've only been to the 5 minute away hospital once for a scan. Just how it is.
Annoying about the exemption certificate however have you needed to use it yet? I've only ever had to show mine at the dentist, my GP puts the exemption code on my prescriptions so I've never been asked at the chemist.

Can you just call the scan bookings and see if you can get another appt for your scan? Or use public transport? They won’t know about your transport or childcare issues unless you tell them and it’s probably just the best available appt they have offered you. Many NHS trusts have several different sites.

Your community midwife is probably just on leave, she won’t work all the time and will not be a point of contact for urgent concerns anyway. Staffing in the NHS generally is dire at the moment as well unfortunately.

Call your local maternity unit for advice with anything urgent.

Your GP can also issue your NHS maternity exemption and advise on aspirin.

She knows my bmi because its an online system so you enter your weight etc yourself plus we talked about me maintaining my weight in pregnancy so she knows my bmi and my exact weight

I guess I just wanted to know if I should push harder for responses or just leave it all and see what happens

Just to confirm I live in a big city with its own womens centre where is where I had scans last time as its separate to the main hospital but Is rather wait and go there than spend hours travelling with my three year old as the hospital its at is a small one in a town there aren't even regular buses there so id have to get three separate ones

I think it sounds like you're expecting a bit much when you're still so early on

I had to take asprin for preeclampsia risk and it was prescribed at the 12w scan appointment, so you might find it happens then.

I know people are saying its early but Im comparing it to the care I had in my last pregnancy at this stage that's all

We only issue maternity exemption certificates at 16 weeks here.

Also Aspirin is usually to be taken from 12 weeks, so again not an urgent issue.

As pp said, phone the scan department directly to rearrange the scan. Our scan dept doesn't allow any children at all, so you might want to check it's ok to take your daughter or what they suggest if you have no childcare.

There should be a number for the main community office if you do need to speak to a midwife.

I never got my maternity exemption certificate, didn't realise I needed it so didn't chase it up. I believe I got a fine for ticking the box on my prescription form, because I was confused with a different certificate😣

So do keep chasing that OP

Scans have drove me crazy this pregnancy because none of them have been at my local hospital has they have no appointments available they have been sending me an hour away for scans and they say there is nothing they can do about it. I don't drive so have to take public transport.

This is my first pregnancy so I can’t say about how midwifery was but I got a call around 8-9 weeks to go through questions and then I got a letter in the post to attend the hospital for a scan which was a 2hr appointment. I had my scan and then had my urine dipped blood pressure checked had my bloods taken was given my notes and had a lengthy discussion with my midwife. Then I was meeting my midwife at usual appointments. My issue was I never had a set midwife and one midwife never knew what the last one had did. I moved into a new area and swapped midwives and they have been great so far

You will not get your exemption certificate as the scan has not confirmed a viable pregnancy. In any event you are only 9 weeks and everything will be sorted at your next appointment. You are expecting far too much

Thinking about it ours doesn't allow children either.

No I don’t think your midwifery care is rubbish, your only 9 weeks, how many texts could you need to have sent her and required an instant reply to by now? If it’s urgent texting her isn’t the best form of communication, my midwife is happy for me to text but not if its urgent as that’s a work phone number she’ll of given u, if she’s on annual leave or day off she isn’t going to have it switched on understandably. You can always get in touch with the hospital straight away if something is urgent. I think the messaging the midwife is more for non urgent things so if you want/need/expect a quick response this isn’t it.

Your Gp can help you with the aspirin question, as I’m sure can your EPU if this is urgent (I can’t tell you if it is as I’ve no experience of this).

I didn’t receive my maternity exemption certificate till I was 16 weeks. My midwife did issue this though and I did txt her for it, she replied to me a day or 2 later when she was next in work and emailed me it when she got some admin time.

The bloods will be done when you are next in clinic, this is likely your 12 week scan. I dont think they routinely bring women in just for bloods.

Your midwife isn’t the person to change your scan appt, you are. Ring up the ultrasound department and ask whether it’s possible to move it to the hospital you prefer. It may not be as they might be full or whatever and it has to be done between a certain number of weeks if you want the combined test. If it’s to do with childcare though my hospital are strict about no children at the scans so might be worth checking that out.

Hope you get everything sorted and completely up to you if you decide to change midwife’s, I just wouldn’t expect the next to be much different.

If you're not happy then you're perfectly entitled to want a different midwife if one is available. I had a very frustrating booking in appointment and complained to PALS about it and got a different midwife who was much more helpful and understanding.

Honestly i think you are expecting too much. My midwife care was very basic until the 20 week scan really. I have never messaged my midwife, just waited until next appointment to ask a question.

With regards to scan just ring anf ask that isn't anything to do with your midwife as its at hospital, all they do is update system to request a scan, its all organised by the hospital department

I’m 13 weeks and haven’t been in touch with a midwife at all since the booking appointment.
I had some issues before the booking appointment and went to the EPU.
Not really sure what there is to constantly call about. Who are you actually calling? Any issues I would just ring up the birthing centre where I had my booking appointment, they would have women calling about all sorts from making changes to appointments to having reduced movement so they don’t just ignore you. Don’t think you can leave messages, you get put on hold it’s busy just like if you phone the GP. Are you trying to ring or text a particular midwife directly?
I would ring the scan department at your local hospital if you need to make changes to your appointment. Could be that they are just overbooked at the minute.

It is atrocious at the moment and I doubt it will improve. I had my children in 2017 and 2019, and I am thankful that I did. Friends of mine who are pregnant or having children now are being failed.

I've had really really poor care this time. I'm actually shocked the difference post covid. Sadly I think it's just the way it is this time. I almost missed a critical procedure and had to call directly to try and get through to a consultant in time. If I'd left it to my care I'd probably have miscarried by now.

You're only 9 weeks, I hadn't even had my booking appt by then. How many texts/calls have you made?