Are you happy or disappointed with pregnancy/maternity care?

[Allosaur]

I've had a really mixed experience.

I like my midwife, she is helpful but maybe a bit inexperienced but I don't feel uncomfortable asking questions which is nice but I only see her once a month. However, I've had a crummy time with the hospital maternity care. Only been to triage twice during this pregnancy, once was a referral from midwife for baby's heartrate dipping and once because of reduced movements and severe pain. Both times I was made to feel like a time-waster, left for hours without seeing anyone and one nurse rolled her eyes at me when I asked if it could possibly be an abruption. I feel a bit disheartened by it as I'm a high-risk pregnancy and they always wax lyrical about contacting them if i'm ever concerned. Maybe my expectations are too high, just want this pregnancy to be over and have a healthy baby.

How far along are you?

No the hospital I picked were incredible. I tried out all the departments in the end due to developing preeclampsia and they even picked it up early. I felt reduced movements at 31wks and thought I was worrying for nothing. Technically I then felt the baby moving during the ctg so I felt silly for going but the midwives said they would rather I go back multiple times and be reassured it’s ok. So the movements were fine but he failed 70-80% of the ctgs so they kept me in just out of precaution for a night, they were then happy with the ctgs but then my bp raised while I was in and it was unknown at the time but it was the start of preeclampsia for me. It took 3 weeks of them monitoring me weekly, another short stay to start bp medication etc. The midwife even said go into mac for the checkup at 34weeks rather than the community midwife so I’m in the right place already if it’s needed.

Do you think it’s just the odd midwife or nurse? You shouldn’t be made to think like you are wasting time for reduced movements though, and if you feel the pattern has changed please go in again. It’s better to be safe and reassured than sorry.

With Mac I had to call for an appointment (and they said just to come in straight away since they weren’t busy) so it’s not a walk in but it also usually means there’s time to see me rather than a long wait. It did take a while to see a dr if it was needed because understandably they focus on the labour ward and surgery first.

The only time my hospital has 'disappointed' me so far has been when I called to tell them about brown discharge in my 5th week. They have asked me to wait till the 7th week scan. I am in limbo now.

But for the rest, they are excellent. Available, informative and compassionate. BUT the appointments are 1 hour delayed in rare cases. I do understand the reasons though, may be the patient before me was not having a good result. So I brush it away.

It's awhile ago now but my antenatal care was mostly great. Postnatal care on the ward was horrific. Postnatal community care was mostly ok.

Mine hasn't been great at all. To the point I had pre eclampsia in my previous pregnancy and I've had to question why they haven't taken my blood pressure yet at 25 weeks and I've also been made to feel like a time waster for reduced movements. I think it varies though and lots of midwives are brilliant.

It was shit! From beginning to end. My baby nearly died as they were so hopeless. With both pregnancies. They had already killed lots of babies already by the time I went in to have mine - Shrewsbury maternity scandal. If I saw one particular doctor in the street I would spit in her face. Absolute scum.