Midwife is MIA, no appointments booked - 34 weeks

[Peasplease12]

I posted before that I thought that I was missing my 34 week appointment and that I don’t have any further appointments booked following my 31/32 week appointment on 2nd August.

I’ve since rung the midwifery team twice. Once I spoke to someone who told me that my midwife would call me to arrange an appointment (that was a week ago, and she hasn’t), and once I left a message on the service answer phone. I’ve not been called back (although that was only yesterday).

In the meantime (between call 1 and call 2) I went to the antenatal class that my midwife said she registered me for at the last appointment (I have the details written on a piece of paper as the computer system wasn’t working- same reason I didn’t get my next appointment booked while I was at my last appointment). Anyway, I turn up at the time on the paper only to be told I wasn’t registered for the class, and that the class had already happened in the morning because I had been given the correct time but everyone registered for the class had received an email with the wrong time so they ended up running the class at the wrong time because of the numbers of people there. I also mentioned I needed to sort out the antenatal classes when I left an answer machine message.

I’m 34 weeks tomorrow and I think (from reading online) I should be having an appointment in the next week or so - an appointment every other week to 40 weeks.
I’m not high risk but I am a bit worried I’m skipping through a crack in the system here. Even if it’s just to tell me everything is ok I’d still like to have my appointments and I am keen to go to antenatal classes if I can (unfortunately the private ones I booked were cancelled I think due to low numbers). This is my first pregnancy so I have nothing to bench mark it against.

Has anyone experienced anything similar or have any suggestions of what I should do? I don’t have a direct contact details for my midwife, only the number for the midwifery service and the emergency triage number.

I appreciate that the service is probably very stretched over August with staff on leave and covid and I don’t want to be a PITA, but I just want to get all the check ups/ information that I should have.

This isn't really acceptable, please keep shouting and make sure you get seen. I know they're stretched and short staffed but you and your baby matter as much as anyone else so make sure you aren't frogotten. Don't feel like you're pestering or being a nuisance, but be firm and even suggest seeing another midwife for a check up if it helps.

Thinking I will call again after lunch if I don’t receive a call this morning (not holding my breath on that one)

Low risk or not you and baby still need checked.
I would keep ringing tbh, see if your GP practise has a number for her

Your midwife is being paid.
She's not doing you a favour out of the goodness of her heart. So don't feel guilty about persuing this.
You are not being a nuisance, you are only asking for what everyone is entitled to.
If the computer wasn't working someone should have made sure you got the emails and texts when it came back up.

Do you have your midwife appointments at your GP surgery? If so can you call and book an appointment via them? If not, keep calling. They may well be short staffed but that doesn't mean you should miss appointments.

Are they having more antenatal classes?

Keep phoning to get it sorted. Your baby needs those checks.

I went into spontaneous labour for no known reason (not high risk) at 35 weeks so I'd be really annoyed with the poor communication and service here. Are you in an area with a continuity team? Doesn't bode well. Keep on. You can escalate to the community maternity matron if needed.

Hi everyone.

I managed to speak to a midwife this afternoon. My midwife is currently on leave which would explain the lack of calls….

I have been booked in for an appointment for the 6th September. My last appointment was 2nd august (31+5), my next appointment will be at 36+5 which seems a bit of a gap to me, but I’ve now had two midwives say that’s when my next appointment should be so I guess that is correct for my local area (although it doesn’t match what’s on my health board’s website (I’m in Scotland)).

The antenatal classes issue is still not resolved, so I’ll chase that up again but at least I have something in the diary for now.

This is what I've been told aswell, also in Scotland. My Last appointment for the 9th of august at 32w 6 days and my next is also the 6th of September at 36w 6 days. after my 28 week appointment they told me they are every 4 weeks ! 😊

Glad something is sorted

Glad you got sorted