16week appt

[emma28]

I had my 16 week appt yesterday. My midwife was off so I had a stranger who was not familiar with my history, the computers were down, my 10 week bloods were not back, she didn't have the doppler and I hadn't recieved a letter to say the one and only consultant and his associate were off for 3 months so I have to phone a different hospital 30 miles away and ask for my own 20 week scan and to see one of their consultants.
This is them "keeping a close eye on me this time"
To top it all off my blood pressure was up and the midwife was a right miserable cow.
She told me that blood pressure usually drops at this point, to allow for it rising later but because mine hadn't, the chances were I'd get hypertension again which is what led to pre-eclampsia at 30 weeks last time.
Then she had the nerve to write in my file that I was worried about it all when I never have been until she started. My other midwife told me there would be no problems and was lovely.
The Nhs up here sucks.

 

[fothers]

Sounds like a crap appointment- hope your proper midwife is back next time

 

[emma28]

Cheers Lisa,
was p!ssed off mostly because I thought I was having a wonderful pregnancy
Not even had any symptoms hardly and feel great now I'm not so tired. I'm hoping she was having a bad day herself and just rubbed it off onto me. Surely it's too early in the pregnancy to be predicting doom and gloom?

 

[AllieW]

What a horrible woman! I'm so sorry you had an unsatisfactory appointment and I hope your next one is a distinct improvement. It's entirely possible that your blood pressure was up purely because of the atmosphere, rather than because anything is about to recur. (If you had pre-eclampsia last time, you are slightly more at risk, but it tends to occur later in the pregnancy rather than earlier so I'd say you're probably fine. My sister had her first baby at 30 weeks, but my latest niece was born at 34 weeks and twice the weight of Kez. She has a genetic tendency to pre-eclampsia, though.)

 

[lisa&alex]

i would think that your blood pressure was up because you were nervous about seeing another midwife, i would ring up you doctos and ask when is you usual mw back and ask to have the 1st appointment she has as u need to talk to her xx when i fell down the stairs my bp was 152/90 really really high.. but i think it was coz i was in shock noone else has taken my bp tho.. ever or my urine aint b chked

 

[emma28]

So I've just phoned to try and see a consultant at 20 weeks and been told to wait til mine's back which is when I'll be 34 weeks.
I had Jonah at 32weeks and the midwife says I'll need to be seen 2 weekly from 20 weeks. AAARGH! Why can't I make them understand? Do I not speak English?
Being pregnant seems to be too much trouble for everyone else, no one cares.. from my parents, to work and now even the bloody system that is ment to be set up to help us.

Sorry to rant but if I didn't I'd cry.

 

[AllieW]

Can your GP/midwife not insist that someone sees you? Leaving it to 34 weeks when you have a history of pre-eclampsia is just not on. I'm not surprised you're ranting. I'd be kicking up a right stink in your shoes.

 

[emma28]

She will I'm sure but I don't get why they just don't seem to believe me. Like any1 would make it up
I'm starting to think that it's because I've chose a different hospital to the one they wanted to transfer me to. But the one I've chose is the one they sent me to the last time and I just want to be back where it's familiar and I'll know some of the staff. They said from the start I could choose whatever hospital I wanted and if I can't have my local one cos the consultants away then I want this one.

(This is where I'd put a foot stamping emoticon if I had one)

 

[alfie]

You need to get on to your health centre and speak to the practice manager, if you don't have one talk to whoever is in charge and don't be fobbed off! Tell them this is unacceptable! They have a duty of care and they are not fulfilling it. If they still won't listen go to through the complaints proceedure (there will be one by law). It is up to them to sort out your scan and consultant appointments not you!! The fact that your midwife is off is their problem and not yours.

This is yours and your babys health and well being so give them hell!!!!!

Also check out this
http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/idc ... dition=Web

It is the maternity matters guidlines set out by the government

Good luck honey
xx

ps can you tell i'm in a stroppy mood today!!!!!???

 

[emma28]

Alfie, I love you're in a stroppy mood. It seems to be the only one I have atm.

Except for when I cry

They're gonna ring me back Heard it all before
I'll just keep ringing til I get some sort of result

 

[AllieW]

If phoning doesn't work, and you're up to it, I'd be tempted to go down to the hospital, find the right department and refuse to go away until they've adequately dealt with the problem. As alfie says, this is just not on!

 

[alfie]

Alfie, I love you're in a stroppy mood. It seems to be the only one I have atm.

Except for when I cry

Yes I alternate between stroppy and crying too!!! damn hormones!!

 

[happy-chick]

 

[Hells]

Oh you poor thing, you really are being mucked about. I had a problem with my midwife at my 10 week booking in appt, she said I should be seen again at 24 weeks. Apparently she counted the scan as a full appt and the nurse taking blood (and nothing else) at 16 weeks as another check. I had to demand to see a consultant and refused to move until she agreed to refer me urgently. I saw a consultant 1 week later. The consultant put me on 2 weekly checks starting from 14 weeks (to be increased later), 4 weekly scans from 20 weeks, a daily aspirin from 12 weeks, lots of extra blood tests (urgh), a glucose tolerance test and steroids at 27 weeks. There were lots of other details too, but these were the important ones.

If you have not been advised on whether or not to take aspirin, whether you need growth and doppler (blood flow) scans, etc, you need to be seen by someone with knowledge of complications and how to manage them. I agree with the others here, demand to be seen, either see a midwife or gp and refuse to bugde, or ring the antenatal dept at the hospital.

I would also advise you to have a look at the APEC site and forums http://www.apec.org.uk/ and http://apec.org.uk/forum/index.php there are lots of useful people on there, including Liz and Mike, who run a helpline and are good at helping women like you who aren't getting the care they should be.

Oh, and you're right, 16 weeks is far too early to predict doom and gloom. My bp was higher at 16 weeks than it is now at 24 weeks. Many women who had pre-eclampsia the first time don't get it again, althought the risk is higher, and those who do usually get it less severely and later on in the pregnancy.

Let us know how you get on.