Is anyone else struggling with rubbish antenatal care?

[charx]

OK, this is baby no 2 but since telling GP I'm preggers have had no support. will be 12 weeks tomorrow. Took myself off to A&E at 2 weeks ago following severe cramping and turns out everything okay in terms of heartbeat etc.
No scan booked. no midwife has called. I've called both the hospital and the GP again - hospital says they heard nothing, GP says they'll get onto it/they have the forms?
What to do now?
I live in London - but surely it shouldn't be this rubbish? DD1 antenatal was fab, no probs.

charx I share your lack of ante-natal care! Although I have had a pretty much straight forward pregnancy apart from suspected ectopic then suspected failing pregnanct early on, I have been appauled by the level of care.

When they suspected ectopic they didnt book a scan, just took bloods and told me to go back in a week for more blood what if it grew rapidly and my fallopian tube burst?!

I moved areas and was never offerd the 16 week screening test by my nidwife, it wasnt even mentioned!

I had to chase 3 different midwives to get my referral sent through to the new hospital as I moved at 16 weeks and needed my 20 week scan booking, and when i eventally went for my scan they hadnt received any of my notes!

I already have 1 midwife who I refuse to see again and under no circumstances will be present atthe birth as she is patronising and rude!

I could go on...but I fear I may begin to bore you!!

I would say the best thing to do it chase chase chase...if you get on their nerves enough they will get back to you! If you dont feel right or are worried for any reason dont let it go!

You need to hassle them if you want to get your nuchal scan in time
Get the GP to fax the antenatal booking team
Call to check it's received and get that appt booked

Message withdrawn

Keep pestering them - as there could be a wait for your nuchal scan and you don't want to miss the slot.

They seem to have cut back on the antenatal care in my area too and my midwife has been completely useless throughout the pregnancy - I was made to feel like I was making a fuss if I asked to see her before the date she had allocated to me. It has now got to the point where if I see her now my blood pressure shoots up and I got sent to hospital to be monitored yesterday - am 38 weeks and seriously considering asking if I can go to the hospital for the rest of the pregnancy, so I have not got to see her again.

OP - I eventually wrote my own referral letter and turned up at the antenatal unit crying and refused to leave until I got a scan. It was still later than 12 weeks but I got it that day. Your GP is being crap. I would turn up at hosp.

My care is also pretty rubbish. In the end I got my GP to give me the number so I could arrange my midwife appt myself as no one had called by the time I was 11 weeks. In my region, you don't get a scan on the NHS until 20 weeks, so I arranged for and paid for my own 12 week scan. It's my first baby and the lack of support has made me nervous. So I sympathise loads. On the plus side, when I did get to see a midwife she was lovely - I really hope it's the same for you. Keep pestering until you get what you need!

My GP was lovely, but everything else has been useless. I was given a first booking-in appointment with a mid-wife at 18 weeks; their excuse was that "they were very busy"! I raised merry hell and they eventually found a space for me at 16 weeks - still pretty lame.

I opted for private nuchal scan & combined blood tests at Fetal Med Clinic in Harley St, it cost £150, but was the best £150 I have ever spent, they are just so thorough. Unlike when I went to Kingston for my booking in-appointment and they had already lost my records...

thanks, really useful stuff. i am definitely calling hosp tomorrow. i really hop i don't have to pay to go private - what a shocker - but if i have to i will!

Which hospital is it, by the way?

I'm in London and while I wouldn't call my antenatal care experiences (2nd timer too) perfect they've been so much better than this, and too many other bad stories I've heard.

I think you should consider complaining to both the hospital and to the PCT about your GP.

Yes my care is rubbish. I do have my 21 week scan in 2 weeks but other than that, it looks like I won't see a midwife again unless I have any problems. Doesn't bother me that much as I get better info from the web than the midwife anyway and by then I should be feeling strong kicks etc so will know baby is ok.

elkiedee - its Chelsea and Westminster. I delivered there before - appalling post natal ward experience as they missed DDs cleft palate at birth - refused to give me priority for breast pump (couldn't breast feed due to cleft) despite special care nurse saying I should, so had to get in a queue with others - at least 40 mins wait) in order to pump to feed DD with syringe. I'm wondering why I'm going back, but I have to have scan somewhere - so thought I might worry about the rest later?!