Changing midwifery practices: 21wks in

[Ruth_Baldock]

Hi all,

Has anyone ever changed their ante-natal care, quite far into their pregnancy? How did you go about doing it? The MW group practise I am with have upset me on a number of occasions during my pregnancy, and quite frankly, I've had enough. My husband and I have made a formal complaint about the most recent thing that upset us, but really, I've had enough of this now. I'm not even sure if I'd get 'in' with any other MWs now, so maybe it's better to suck it up and stay where I am (as my Mum suggests)? The last thing I want is to be without any ante-natal care, especially as a VBAC and also because of other crappy complications I have.

Or should I abandon all western medicine ideas and go and give birth in a box under the stairs...like a cat?

Thanks forum!

[dully]

you go to your gp and say it isn't working out for you and get referred elsewhere. I would recommend you do change. It is more important to be feeling comfortable and secure when in labour than pissed off at the people who have annoyed you for the past nine months.

[Mellors]

I did, but to private care.

How big is the cupboard under your stairs?

[Fuschia]

You are very unlikely to get in with any other Community Midwife Practice. However I would recommend speaking to Jill Demilew at kings who dealt with my complaint about the Lanes midwives. If anyone can get you onto another list, it will be her.

[Ko]

i don't have experience of this but if i were you i would get onto the waiting list for other mw groups asap. so sorry to hear that its not going well with your mw group - i found it very challenging and stressful dealing with the mws too!!!

[ClareC]

I swapped from Kings to Tommy's when @ 34 weeks which meant I swapped MW practices too. No problem at all, just went to my GP and told him I wanted to swap, he asked why and then referred me.... I had to go through booking in again and another load of blood tests but it was fine :)

I think if you want something other than community midwifes you may struggle - nothing to lose having a phone around.

Good luck x

[Saffron]

Oh no, that's terrible R_B! So sorry to hear you're having trouble. I would definitely change if it's upsetting you so much. You sound like you might also benefit from having a doula, someone to fight in your corner. xx

[Sally81]

I would definitely try to change too. I was never really happy with my MW group (would be interesting to know who yours are!) and I ended up having an unpleasant, let's say, labour and birth experience with them. I don't see why you wouldn't be able to swap if you talk to the GP. After a really lovely, relaxed pregnancy I had an upsetting labour so don't do the same if they have narked you. Good luck. x

[Ruth_Baldock]

I'm not sure if my GP surgery are affiliated with any other MWs, to be honest. I'm also a bit (read: really) scared of 'losing' my VBAC, argh so many other things to worry about too! Basically, the main things that have really annoyed me are:

1) At my booking (13wks) the MW scheduled my c-section for 38wks, despite me saying over and over I wanted a VBAC. At my latest appointment, she told me she it hadn't been cancelled and wouldn't be, so if I wanted my

'risky- but your choice' VBAC I had to deliver by then. I complained, and was told it had been re-scheduled (WHAT?! NO!!) for when I am 40wks. My due-date, basically. Won't be turning up to either of these sections, thanks very much. My Mum is calling the 'bulls***' card here, saying that sections aren't scheduled till quite a bit later, so godknows what everyone is playing at. It's always the same 2 MWs who I have a bad experience with, the other 2 are absolutely fantastic.

2)ANY question or query, no matter how small, is met with 'You need to go to the MAU/Labour ward. Now.' Sometimes this is just (when I was spotting and contracting) sometimes this is bloody stupid (can't be bovverd to give minute details). I can't go off to Kings whenever I like, especially when I don't really need to, because I have to drag poor old Seb with me the whole time.

Mellors: Cuboard v large, really! When I was expecting Seb, I used to hide in there on my gym ball as the MOMENT I turned 37wks, I had about 5 phonecalls a day asking 'ANything happening?'. It was my hidey hole and freaked Husband out.

[Gussy]

I looked into this for my homebirth as I wasn't happy with my midwife and I was advised to contact the Supervisor of Midwives - should be able to find this on hosp website or get no. from switchboard. You have a right to ask for someone else and they should treat your enquiry in confidence. If you get no joy there or another good place for support is an organisation called AIMS - some useful info on this website: birthchoice uk website

[ClareC]

Kings are very pro VBAC, seems odd the MW's would act this way. I have been told that Kings will not induce anyone that has had a C Section before, that said though, presumably a C Section would not be booked until 42 weeks.......

[Smiler]

Could you ask to see a doctor at kings to discuss vbac?

I switched from kings to st helier at 37 weeks due to house move.

Might be more tricky to move if you're hoping for a home vbac.

[Mellors]

Dreadful. I think you need to go in and speak to Leoni Penna or Cathy Walton at Kings (superb midwifery consultants, who are pro VBAC and also v sensible and listen to you - I saw them and fought my corner last time, and have to go in and see them again at 36 weeks this time). Get them onside asap - book them via your (nice) midwives, or the head of midwifery for your practise.

They can't induce with a pessary post CS, but they can still put you on the drip if you like (although would be in hospital fully monitored obv). I reckon its bull about booking you in for a CS at this stage - when I refused induction and they tried to CS me last time we didn't book it in until 41+6 weeks, and it was scheduled for 42+2 (thankfully I had her at 42+0!).

Or stay in the cupboard and I'll pop round. I grew up on a farm, I've delivered hundreds of sheep/pigs/goats - you'll be fine. *greases up hands*

[Fuschia]

You were planning to be in hospital, Ruth, or homebirth?

I think if you leave a CMW practice you won't get onto another one, you would transfer to the hospital midwives. Although usualy you might think doing that means you are more swept up in the system, it sound slike your current CMWs just send you to Kings all the time anyway.

Leoni Penna is a dr (consultant) and quite pro choice

Katie Yiannous (spelling?) is the SOM I believe.. but I am not sure if she oversees the CMWs or just Kings MWs

There are several midwife consultants at Kings, I made a complaint about CMWs and Jill Demilew came to my house to dscuss it.

I would suggest a letter to PALS or I have the e3mail for Jill Demilew and Leonie if you would like them...

[ClareC]

Leonie Penna is lovely! She is a Consultant Obstetrician and she is very personable. Would definitely recommend her, I was so relieved after my appointment with her, someone who listened to me!

That said, you shouldn't need to see an Obstetrician given you want VBAC, I think in the first instance you should get an appointment with one of the Consultant Midwifes.

Leonie advised me that most women (certainly in this area) choose VBAC, Kings are happy to do this so I really can't see you having any issues unless there are medical reasons that make VBAC high risk.

[Doulady]

Hi Ruth!

So sorry to hear you're having such a bad time. Sounds like you'd really benefit from changing - it is quite unlikely that you'll get a place with one of the other community teams however I'd never say don't try as people do leave care/move away etc so you may be able to go on a waiting list. It may also depend on where you live, and which teams cover your area. I've known women change their care a lot later than @ 21wks though so don't feel like it's too late.

As for the booking of your C/S they are not booked until a lot later in pregnancy (although prebooked ones do tend to be planned for 38 weeks). I'd imagine your midwife meant that's when it's plannedfor not that it's actually booked. however as everyone else has said King's are really pro VBAC so you shouldn't be having these problems. Definitely recommend following above advice and getting in touch with Consultant Midwives at Kings. They're lovely (though quite busy so if they want to see you directly it may take a couple of weeks...) and should be able to provide all the answers you need.

[annaloo9]

Ah Bless- the simple life of the cat ... Just change and change quick - speak with your GP or the local hospital midwife services manager, so that you get comfortable and relaxed with your new midwife. No point staying with someone you are not comfortable with as it is such an important time... and if all else fails, then try the cupboard under the stairs... Good luck

[Ruth_Baldock]

Thanks everyone :) I have emailed Jill and got a response v quickly- she was on my side and has asked whether I'd prefer to go with a waiting list for the community mws or transfer to hospital care. She also agreed that the whole 'i've booked your section already' was utter piffle. Which is nice to hear! I'm due to have an actual talk with her next week too, huzzah.

Fuscia, it's a hospital birth rather than homebirth (unless the baby comes pdq before husband gets back from work- in which case i'll also have to rely on good old ceebeebies too!)

on the whole, I'm happy with how things are Turning out at the moment as I expected a lot more opposition to my complaint but so far so good!

[SBryan]

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