No MW since 29 weeks - now 39+4, what do I need to check (myself)?

[ASecretLemonadeDrinker]

Not seen a MW/consultant (under consultant care) since 29 weeks - I did have a scan though the other week so I know everything is/was OK then. MW said they did a clinic today so to ring and make an appointment - they are too busy to see me now. Blood pressure I can do, I will go and buy a machine. Wee sticks are harder to track down, the pharmacy said only GPs have them but I am sure people use them at home? Will Boots maybe do them? I went to Lloyds. What do I need to check for in the wee? All I can remember is protien and glucose. The main thing is baby was transverse/breech, turned on the day of the ECV (nearly 2 weeks ago) but I feel him rolling and have no idea how to tell what way up he is as I don't know when they last try ECVs, or plan a breech birth or what. When do I need to be thinking about (attempting to) book a sweep? Last time I was induced at +13 because of hospital errors, sweep was quite late at +11 or something too, first time I am sure I had the sweep earlier. I have different hospitals for my community midwife and the consultant care/birth.

Whyever have you not seen someone for so long? Surely at this stage they can do you a home visit? All of my appointments after 39 weeks were at home, including my sweep

perhaps contact your consultant and ask to be seen? esp if baby has not been in one position for long.. make an appt with your GP if can't see the MW to have BP and wee checked?

if you are 39 +$ you could potentially go into labour any time and need to know if baby is breech.. if transverse, you need a section .

i would call first thing monday and ask to be seen , at least for presentation scan

perhaps contact your consultant and ask to be seen? esp if baby has not been in one position for long.. make an appt with your GP if can't see the MW to have BP and wee checked?

if you are 39 +$ you could potentially go into labour any time and need to know if baby is breech.. if transverse, you need a section .

i would call first thing monday and ask to be seen , at least for presentation scan

Er, this is a bit mad. Instead of schlepping around pharmacies trying to get hold of equipment I would go to either your community midwife, consultant or failing that, GP and don't leave until you've been seen. Seriously, 39 weeks is not the time to be learning DIY antenatal care. Good luck

I asked my 'birth' hospital, they won't see me. They keep saying go to my community MW who only does 2 hours on a wednesday am - no home visits. The community MWs hospital though said they did these clinics, which obviously is no use. They said go to GP, but my main concern is what way the baby is and even MWs struggle with that sometimes.

Phone your midwife and demand an appointment!

Bloody hell. Your midwife works 2 hours on a wednesday? You'd better let your baby know to arrive then eh?
I am shocked by this tbh. They could potentially have missed something important (not said to worry you btw, I'm glad you've had a good scan, I'm thinking of all the other women in their 'care' that they are neglecting)

This is terrible If the clinic is on now, I would go down there, regardless of what they have said on the 'phone and demand (politely) that someone sees you. This is just not acceptable. Very for you.

I got abit of an ear bashing last time I rang birth hospital for asking for appointments there - I asked because they obviously have their own policies/plan of action on breechs etc., so would be wasting my time going to my MW as she only deals with her own hospitals policies, infact not even her hospital because I am consultant care/consultant hospital, she is MW unit and if I was giving birth at her hospital, I'd been referred onto their consultant unit which is yet another hospital. I just want someone to feel my tummy and I will be a happy bunny.

Why are you under consultant care? They don't seem overly concerned for your welfare tbh and as a hormonal pregnant lady I wouldn't be responsible for the earbashing they'd get from me

Does your GP do any ante-natal care as standard? Around here its a shared care model as standard, with GPs and MWs doing 50% each - so our GPs are reasonably up to speed with things.

To be honest I'd see your GP ASAP regardless - they'll have urine test strips and should be able to check for major problems. And they're also much better placed to get you back into standard care and/or refer you for an emergency appointment somewhere. If your GP can't help then it may be time to camp out on the phone - who have you talked to at the hospital? Have you asked for your consultant directly? Have you tried the senior MW / head of midwifery? Do they have a day assessment unit? If so, you could just turn up and refuse to leave until you've been seen...

I'm amazed they're being so cavalier - most PCTs are very reluctant to support a breech birth and will strongly recommend a CS in that circumstance (speaking from the experience of having had a breech baby). I wouldn't want to turn up in labour with a breech baby and have it dealt with as an emergency situation that hasn't been planned for

I'd also start making notes of how many times you've asked for an appointment in vain - who you've talked to and what they've said.

You may also want to contact AIMS for advice.

Do you have anyone else that can call around for you? Someone who can stay calm and rational (I know I'd struggle at 39 weeks) and explain the situation and start asking questions about who would be responsible if you went into labour with a transverse baby that hadn't been spotted because no-one would see you...

The "care" you're receiving is attrocious and I'm livid on your behalf

I can't phone my actual midwife apart from 10-12 on a Wednesday I am trying so hard to not get abit riled TBH - this is typical of this hospital. They keep losing my bloods - I didn't even get 34 weeks bloods done, left me with a temp of 40 2 days after birth because it was a bank holiday weekend - baby was born Thursday midday, too short notice for a Friday home visit, temp on Friday and they said they'd see me Tuesday. Physio (fair enough, this is my birth hospital now) lost my referral and because I haven't seen anyone since I couldn;t get another and my poor pelvis feels like it's only being held together by my trousers! I hate making a fuss, esp. after the "OMG, I have calf pain and chest pain therefore I am just about to kick the bucket and need every test going....oh, Xray, leg scan and CT scan are fine? Err...must be heartburn then " episode. I will try birth hospital again later, see if someone can at least give me 2 mins and feel my tummy - I daren't do much walking (the amount SPD allows anyway) because I am terrified of inducing labour until I know it's 'safe'.

This is appalling! I don't know if things had changed, but in my day there was always a supervisor of midwives who was the most senior midwife in an area. That would be the person to speak to - the fact that you have not been seen by anyone for so long flies in the face of just about every regulation in the book.

Maybe someone who is a practising midwife will come on and give advice.

Go and cry at your GP - you'd be totally justified. They can get on the phone and bollock someone.

Stop mucking about getting DIY test kits and get seen. Make as much fuss as you need to as this is a ridiculous situation - Particularly considering the potential presentation of your baby. I had to go to the hospital for checks every 3 days after my ECV.

It seems bizarre that you can only talk to 'your' midwife - particularly since you are under consultant care anyway. I don't understand why the MWs at your birthing hospital won't see you?

I'd be making some complaints.

Consultant care because of significantly short long bones ie. risk of dwarfism or downs syndrome. Dh is trying to sort something for Wednesday at birth hospital [fingers crossed]

Consultant care because of significantly short long bones ie. risk of dwarfism or downs syndrome. Dh is trying to sort something for Wednesday at birth hospital [fingers crossed]

Absolutely shocking. I thought the NHS had a "duty of care" or something? Why the buggering fuck are they bothering giving you a consultant whom you never see? I'd be shitting myself and hats off to you that you're so calm!

Consultant care would suggest being cared for, i.e. monitored and checked regularly by said consultant or a member of the consultant's team, at the hospital in which you are due to give birth. Anything less is not consultant led care. IMO.

and double

dreadful care.
go to GP and insist they refer you to someone. Anyone? atleast GP can dip wee, check BP and palpate position and listen to FH.

Surely your MW is contactable outside 2 hours on a Wednesday? What happens if you (or anyone else) go into labour on another day? At 39 weeks shouldn't you have been having weekly or at least fortnightly MW appointments? Hope you get something sorted tomorrow. You're far calmer than I'd be!

Our MWs only do a clinic here for a couple of hours once a week BUT there's a phone number written in the notes for us to phone 9-5pm in the daytime, with a mobile number on the answerphone if nobody's there. Outwith these hours we're meant to phone the maternity suite at the hospital. Is there nothing inside the front cover of your notes?

I am disgusted on your behalf, it's appalling! I am having mine at a different hospital (different trust in fact) to where my MW care is coming from and aside from a couple of glitches it's problem free. It's not that bloody difficult!

I would in all honestly probably lie at this point and phone the delivery suite and say I was worried I hadn't quite had ten kicks today and could I come in for a bit of monitoring?

When I got there I would explain that I hadn't had anything done since 29 weeks and I assume at that point they would take a urine sample, BP etc.