Of course it is useful to see a mw during pregnancy, but they do contradict each other a lot, don't they?

[notnowbernard]

I've seen 6 different midwives this pregnancy

Appointments are useful for checking BP, listening to fetal HB etc

But they all say different things...

Pro-homebirth vs "Do what you want"

"It's on the large side of normal" vs "No, I don't think you've got a whopper"

Fully engaged vs 2/5

"You need to prepare from 37w, I think" vs "It will probably be late as your other were"

It's all just speculation that does my head in a bit, tbh!

Yes they do indeed! I'm 9 weeks with my third and I've already had lots and lots of advice on what exercise I can do, trouble is they're all saying something different

It doesn't end there - wait for the health visitors!

Yes, have had conflicting advice from HVs also

"WHat a big baby - you'll be wanting to wean soon I expect" (at 12w check )

Vs

"WHO guidelines recommend excl milk feeding until 6m, do try to hold off weaning as long as you can" (at 6w check)

This is because they are not bound to take any mandatory training to keep them up to date with current research and guidelines. Most will trot out what ever they are taught, when ever they last did any training, which may be last week or may be 20 years ago.....

Really, GM?

Have to say I doubt that. Am a registered nurse and in order to maintain that registration with NMC I have to do certain amount of mandatory training each year

Would assume that is the same for MWs

I curse the midwife who said I was bound to deliver dc2 early as ds1 arrived at 38 weeks. Now approaching 40 weeks and still waiting. Ho hum. Agree on midwives and health visitors, i got lots of conflicting advice about breastfeeding which made it very confusing with my sleep addled brain. Ended up just gritting my teeth and persevering through the pain until nipples toughened up! Or I got the hang of positioning..

I curse the midwife who said I was bound to deliver dc2 early as ds1 arrived at 38 weeks. Now approaching 40 weeks and still waiting. Ho hum. Agree on midwives and health visitors, i got lots of conflicting advice about breastfeeding which made it very confusing with my sleep addled brain. Ended up just gritting my teeth and persevering through the pain until nipples toughened up! Or I got the hang of positioning..

Tell me about it. I have had exactly the same problem.

Of course mw have to do mand training. And professional. Development. A lot of midwifery is subjective though, one persons two fifths is anothers three fifths. Plus babies bob in and out pelvis especially. If not first one.

Noone has any idea if babies will be late or early. I have no crystal ball and don't speculate