how important is it to see the midwife?

[samanthajayne]

how important is it to see the midwife during the last few weeks of pregnancy?

i ask this as i haven't had a midwife appointment ever since my little scare from the midwife who was filling in for my normal midwife 3 weeks ago where she said my baby was breech and his heart rate was too fast and sent me to hospital for check ups and a scan which were all fine. so my last midwife appointment was june 16th.

my mum has told me to leave it and that if my midwife was any good then she would contact me herself when she returns off holiday but its been 3 weeks so i fear this is not the case and she isn't going to contact me at all so it looks like i will have to try and contact her if i want to be seen again which i obviously should do just to check all is ok and there is still lots to discuss about birth etc i'm sure.

i may seem a bit thick here but i'm assuming the mobile number she has put next to her name on the front of my notes under primary care would be the best way to contact her. i also have a contact card in my notes with her name on and the same mobile number so i guess thats right. i have never really gone over ways to contact her or who to contact if needed. i guess i really should have done.

anyway my mum and dad are going away this weekend for 2 weeks and my brother is moving out and i'm a little scared of being home alone especially as i haven't had babys position checked since my scan 2 weeks ago and i haven't had my blood pressure or wee sample tested for 3 weeks. i do still feel fine other than heartburn and feeling a bit sick now and again but its playing on my mind that i haven't been checked out and i feel i should so is it wise to try and contact my midwife on the mobile number this weekend and try and get an appointment for monday?

 

[Quill]

My maternity notes say that women having their first baby should have checkups at 32, 34, 36, 38, 40 and 41 weeks.

I would definitely call and book an appointment, if only to set your mind at ease

I heard that babies tend not to change positions after 36 weeks (because they are so snug in there), so if he's head-down, he's probably still in a good position. But the GP or the midwife should be able to check by palpating you.

 

[JoAnn&Aimee]

My pregnancy notes say the same thing as what Quill said.

Please don't let one silly MW put you off. I know it is hard because I've been there as well. It is amazing how tactless some of them can be!

Personally I would phone her and get an appointment ASAP. You'll feel much better when you see her and just explain the scare her replacement gave you!

 

[hennaly]

lets put it this way, it wont hurt to get it checked but it could hurt not to.

 

[Sherlock]

Nothing wrong with calling her yourself to make an appointment rather than waiting. Being proactive in your medical care is a good thing I'd never wait for my MW to call me if I had any concerns I wanted to discuss.

I don't know you'll discuss much about the birth etc. That's usually covered at the ante natal I thought. But I'm sure if you have specific questions she can help answer them.

Also if you can't see your MW as soon as you would like book in and see the Practice nurse who will test your urine and take your BP. I've done that when 37 weeks PG and had felt a bit funny. If there had been anything to worry about I'd have then gone to see my GP if I could not have seen my MW.

 

[Mildly]

I know in my area I have to make all my appointments. I was told at the booking appointment which weeks I needed to see the midwife/have bloods done and it was up to me to make the appointments through my local surgery. Not sure what would happen if I didn't but I reckon nothing. Midwives have so many people to care for nowadays that I doubt they have time to chase those who don't contact them. Hope you get yourself booked in for next week

 

[Carebear2]

I'm yet to see a MW, i was booked in by one and have seen a consultant at the hospital twice so far in this preg. I see my mw in two weeks at 30wks for the first time and i will get to hear the baby's heartbeat for the 2nd time(1st was with consultant two weeks ago) and they will test my pee for the first time.

I'm sure this can't be right but when i mention it to them they say its fine i've only been checked twice so far We don't make are own appointments here the professionals have too