DO I HAVE TO SEE A MIDWIFE LEGALLY?

[JL1]

I am 9 weeks pregnant and do not wish to see a lecturing midwife. Do I have the right to refuse treatment until the birth? If not, why?

Yes you have the right to refuse all treatment.

May I ask, why would you want to refuse?

Of course you don't have to have treatment if you don't want it.

Don't judge them all.
Both my midwives for my two dc's were wonderful - not judgemental or overbearing gving advice etc.
Surely it is wise for the baby if you have occasional checks that everything is running smoothly? Good luck.

I work and dont have the time to visit a midwife. My health centre are awful and never let me have blood test results etc,. I think Im safer avoiding the stress and dealing with the pregnancy myself.

Why on earth would you want to ?

JL1 You don't HAVE to see the midwife, but can you just go through the motions?

I believe legally your employer must let you have time off for such appointments.

Yes you have the right BUT why would you want to refuse antenatal care? If you do make that decision then you have to be prepared to live with any consequences - make the decision if you want to but hold the responsibility for it.
Would you know if your blood pressure went dangerously high, would you be aware if your baby was too big or too small? The midwife is there to monitor the health of you and your baby.
If this is about a specific midwife then why not just exercise your right to ask for a different one?

Is this your first?

JL1 - if you don't see a midwife, how do you plan on dealing with the pregnancy yourself? Do you know how to take your blood pressure, check your urine, and interpret the results? (and other things too?)

What about finding a private midwife whom you get on well with?

I think employers are legally obliged too give you time off for tests.

I havent encountered any lecturing midwives, might be worth giving them a chance.
Do you not want to have your scans even?

Is it your first?

You must realise that if you didn't, and were unaware of a complication, it could be disastrous for your child. And maybe you too. Sorry to be so dramatic, but things can go wrong.

I have 27

JL1 - if you do not see a MW at all you will not be able to get the paperwork which tells your employer that you are entitled to maternity leave - which would presumably be a problem..

Its my 3rd baby and Im self employed.
If I have any problems I will see my gp. I dont want to be dictated to (as this post seems to have induced)Just wanted to know the legalitys.

you don't have to see a midwife.

you have the right to refuse treatment.

you can also request a different midwife if you turn out to have one you don't for any reason like the one assigned to you. I requested a change of MW by writing to the Supervisor of Midwives.

JL1 - having been a midwife (several years ago now) I would seriously advise you to think about this before making the decision NOT to see a midwife.
I don't want to worry you because usually pregnancy follows a happy course with no problems but a sizeable minority of women have health problems caused by the pregnancy (or an underlying health problem) which affects both the mother and her unborn baby - that's what antenatal care is all about - trying to minimise those health risks by picking them up at an early stage.

If you are self employed could your community midwife arrange for antenatal checks to be done by a colleague or herself during their weekends on call? I used to see women at home on Saturday mornings sometimes because they were self employed or really could not get time off.

Why on earth do you think that you will be lectured? IME most midwives are fine. Of course, you get hte odd cow as you would in any profession, but seeing a midwife doesn't automatically mean you will be lectured.

Legally you can do whatever you like, I think.
Your baby doesnt have any legal rights of thier own until they are born.
I dont know if social work could be concerned though? I suppose that would depend on the circumstances?