Purpose of midwife?

[Mister]

Hi all,

I have been with my wife to see the midwife twice now but it seems the last visit was pretty much a waste of time.

The first visit covered various aspects filling in the green book and included background info, blood pressure, etc etc. My wife had a urine and blood sample test.

However, on the second visit she just read through some of the letters we had included in the pregnancy book from the scans (and subsequent visits due to our baby's high NT result). Aprat from updating the book torecord an update of the letters (which are already in the folder), there was a training person who took my wife's pressure/heart rate and also used a device to hear the baby's heartbeat (but no info - unlike the one we had at the hospital where we were told the heartbeat was 155).

Personally, we feel there was absolutely no point in the visit. We even asked if she (my wife) should give her urine sample as we were given a pot upon arrival to the GP. The midwife said no she can do it next time. In addition, I keep thinking my they should have done a blood test on each visit or maybe I am thinking on the wrong lines.

I would like to hear if this is normal or if you have different experiences.

Thank you.

 

[Esoames]

Blood tests aren't done on every visit. Was this the 16 week appointment? You probably don't have an appointment now until after the scan. You end up seeing her more regularly nearer the edd.

I suppose the midwife is a point of reference if you need advice rather than the dr. Mine was a community midwife so I'd ring her if I had any questions rather than a hospital. Must admit my husband didn't attend any of my sessions with her!

 

[lj1984]

Bloods arent done every visit unless required I had bloods at 8 weeks and will at 28 again. Every visit should- urine checked for infection etc, blood pressure, fetal heart rate on doppler n number put down from 16 weeks, also ask bout babys movements. Any maternity grant/healthy start forms completed. Also discuss concerns etc. Sorry if that didnt make sense im not quite on this planet today lol oh n from 24 weeks ish record also how baby is laying and head relation to brim x

Sent from my LT18i

 

[Lynds77]

they are supposed to check your urine and blood pressure on every visit. Other than that, i am not sure what all the visits are for!
The booking in appointment, yes.
The 16 week appointment? check scan was ok, mine took bloody to check for Downs Syndrome as they couldnt do the nuchal measurements on the scan. Urine and blood pressure
The 22 week - decision on anti -D injections, urine, blood pressure and listen to heartbeat. (mine doesnt do it at 16 weeks)

after that I am guessing its to check baby is in the right place, etc etc. But they MUST check urine and bloody pressure at every visit to detect pre-eclampsia early.

hope that helps!

 

[babyem]

As long as you feel ok in your self, its ok to not test the urine at each appointment. I wasnt told the heart rate at mine, I done think MW automatically tell you. x

 

[CARNAT22]

Midwives specialise in the care of pregnant women / babies and the safe delivery of said babies!

I'd rather a see midwife throughout my pregnancy as opposed to a GP

The good news is if your wife is healthy and the pregnancy is running smoothly chances are these appointments will feel a little pointless - although getting to hear your babies heartbeat isn't something you get at a routine Dr's appointment

xxxxxxx

 

[cosmicgirl]

Agree!
I don't find them pointless, you're lucky she doesn't need to do more!
I've had a difficult pregnancy previously where the mw was very involved and it wasn't fun!

 

[Kirsty.Y.84]

If you are having a pretty 'routine' pregnancy, then it probably does seem a little pointless, but I like having mine as it reassures me that everything is indeed ok, and that how I am feeling is normal.

My midwife checks my blood pressure, fetal heartrate (from 16 weeks) and urine at every appointment, and from 29 weeks measured the fundal height. She will also check the position of the baby from 36 weeks.

xx

 

[BellaRiven]

I'm with the rest of the ladies I like having my appointments, it sets my mind at rest that all is ok with baby and myself as well, and I can talk to her about the things that I wouldn't get from the doctor i.e recommendations for local support groups etc.

My midwife everytime I go checks my urine for sugar, infections etc, my blood pressure and she listens to babies heartbeat with her doppler and I have to admit I love hearing that sound, it makes me feel that baby is doing alright in there.

My hubby doesn;t come to these appointments with me as he works and can't get the time off but I know if he could then he would as he likes to get involved, you can maybe use it as a time to ask any questions that you have as well it's not just about your wife, info is limited for dad's out there on how they can be more involved than just changing nappies etc.

If you still feel that they aren't useful maybe ask the midwife why she needs to see you so often, I did that with my consultant and he couldn't answer the question

 

[inky]

Midwives come into their own the further you get, I felt the same for the first few months but found her to be really good the more I progressed. She was diligent in monitoring me, had answers for all of my many, many questions, listened to my concerns with a genuine desire to help, and was there for me during and after the birth. There's no way a GP would do any of that! She was really on top of things, I developed a few problems that she picked up on and gave me the best care possible

 

[Jayjay027]

You'd have something to complain about if the mw WASN'T keeping an eye on things!!

Sent from my BlackBerry 9800 using Tapatalk

 

[tabbi]

they are like this the first few appointments but things get better saying that aint seen mine for 2 weeks by the time i see her it will be a month x x x

 

[Mister]

Just typed out a long reply, but something or another about not being able to post links came up and then my text was cleared.

Anyhow, I won't type out the full thing but it was linking my other thread I started to give a better picture.
For clarification, my wife only had two visits to the midwife and on the last visit felt the midwife just read the letters from the hospital and rewrote it in the book. The trainee check her blood pressure and sound of baby's heartbeat but nothing else.
Her dismissing the need to submit a urine sample (16 week visit) made us felt like she didn't really care so much (even though the pot was issued at the reception when we checked in). However, the posts above seem to indicate it should have been done. Not sure if I'm overreacting regaridng this?
Our next appointment is scheduled for 25 weeks in the pregnancy (July some time).

Since the last midwife visit my wife was keen to change to another midwife.

 

[tabbi]

i would then going on your wife and how she feels go to another midwife and explain why you feel the need to change they should do a urine sample everytime at the midwives so do what you think is best for you, your wife and your baby. and it might be just as simple as a new midwife x x x

 

[BellaRiven]

I would go with your wife's feeling on it

The first 2 times I went to the midwife I forgot to take a sample and she said it didn;t matter so much that early on as most things develop later.

I now have to take a sample everytime and if I forget to do it she sends me off to the loo

Hope you get it sorted out but I am sure she knows what she is doing, but do what makes both of you happy

 

[SarahCarps2be]

I think with our first pregnancy we build up such a picture of midwifes..
Well, I did, I thought it would be this massive exciting thing, but it aint that amazing!

My first visit to midwife, which was at my GP Surgery, was boring.
She gave me my Bounty pack with my green notes in, filled in a tiny bit of them, and rang the hospital and booked my 12 week scan (which was good tbf) and that was it!

The second appointment (about 10 weeks by my LMP I was), the MW came to my house, and filled in a bit more of the forms, I did a wee sample, but she didn't need it, she tried to find heartbeat but couldnt find it as I was too early.

The third appointment was when I was about 15-16 weeks by my EDD from scan, I had texted her before then to say scan went well, and told her my actual due date from scan, she went through a bit of the green notes again, told me about signs to look out for from 20 weeks about pre-eclampsia, and told me my blood results from my scan, did my blood pressure, prodded my tummy, and heard the heartbeat and was told how fast it was beating. And took a re-sample of urine to send off to the hospital as they asked for a re-sample. She didn't take a wee from me for her own use...

then I had my 20 week scan, and I'm seeing her again on the 1st June, so we'll see what the next one brings!


They don't seem that exciting, I think the visits are quite repetitive from now on really.

But as the others have said, go with your wifes feelings!

 

[willowwisp]

If you have a specific reason for more thorough care (health condition, previous pregnancy complications, anxiety disorders etc) then you can request a consultant lead pregnancy.

If things are straight forward you still should have been given a NICE checklist for what should be happening at each appointment. You might find taking that with you and checking things off as they are done motivates your midwife to complete all the required elements at each stage.

 

[roxane 1985]

the midwife is there as general care through out the prenancy, she arranges the scans and will go through the birth plan later on in pregnancy, he will check basic things like urine, blood pressure at each appointment and update the green book, as long as nothing is wrong with the baby or your wife she i mainly there to keep an eye and is there to answer all your questions