Should I get advice from midwife

[Eagtess3]

Hi everyone I was just looking for some advice.

Over last few weeks I’ve been poorly on and off. Currently 23 weeks pregnant with baby number two.
I’ve been experiencing lots of headaches that paracetamol won’t touch. Also every so often feel like I’m going to pass out. I have taken my blood pressure which varies between low and a
normal. I am constipated that’s causing bleeding with lactulose doing nothing for me. I often have sore stomach
All last night and this morning I’ve been sick and now have a sore stomach and pain near my ribs.

im hoping I’ve just been run down and this may be just a sickness bug. Shall I ring someone to be seen or am I just overreacting .

Definitely ring someone, always ring someone

I would be inclined to ring your gp rather than your midwife if you're bleeding from constipation and lactulose not working. Simplistic but are you drinking enough? I get headaches from dehydration and with the constipation that would be my first question as a midwife.

Why would you not?

Mw will only refer you to the gp

Please ring medicom or whatever is the equivalent for your area. These can be signs of pre eclampsia (headache & pain near ribs). The constipation can be common during pregnancy due to hormonal changes. You need to have bloods done to check liver and kidney levels. Btw I’m a midwife.

@nannync she's 23 weeks! Of course they won't refer her to the GP. What an unhelpful untrue thing to post.

I am a midwife. I would refer her to the gp.

Please Do not ignore! Just call your midwife or GP.. it is better to get checked rather than to be in a limbo.. it's not wasting anyone's time..

@October2020 unhelpful and untrue 😂 I'm a student midwife and you're actually wrong.

The midwife won't be able to do anything about her symptoms and as I said, will just tell her to contact her GP.

OP may as well cut out the middle man and speak to her GP.

@nannync you wouldn't see a 23week pregnant woman with concerns about headaches that won't go away, dizzy spells and a sore tummy? Nothing in there is ringing alarm bells for you at all...? It's reassuring that you are still training, at least, although your attitude already fits with so many in midwifery so I'm sure you'll fit right in.

This isn't in the remit of midwifery. The OP is unwell and needs to speak to her GP

You're questioning my competence but you're not understanding me. I'm not assessing this lady as fit and well over a mumsnet thread. I'm telling her a midwife won't be able to do anything for her other than tell her to speak to a doctor.

There's nothing a community midwife can do for this lady other than tell her to speak to a doctor.

She needs to cut out the middle man and go directly to a doctor to get herself a more timely assessment.

Anyway OP, apologies for the derail.

I hope you did get yourself seen by a doctor
and are feeling better.

Wow, how unnecessarily rude. No wonder midwives are leaving the profession in droves. It’s a highly stressful, high risk and let’s face it underpaid profession and then they have to deal with horrible ungrateful comments like that.

It’s my second pregnancy and every midwife I have experienced during my high risk pregnancies have been kind, competent and caring. I am really appreciative of this.

Anyway @Eagtess3 , please listen to the experts on this and call your GP ASAP.

Midwives are autonomous practitioners in normal pregnancy. Part of our role is to refer to the appropriate professional if things become abnormal. It's in our rules and code of practice. If a pregnancy is low risk and no complications arise the woman can see a midwife through the whole experience without any input from obstetricians. There is an attitude among certain people that we are fairy godmothers and if you're pregnant and you have a problem - any problem whether it be social, mental or health the midwife has to sort it out. Not true I'm afraid.