Pregnancy can be a confusing time and we rely on midwives to look after both us as mothers-to-be and our unborn children. I have realised through my two pregnancies just how different midwife care can be though and how much difference it makes to me as a mother.
This pregnancy I am unfortunate enough to have the first midwife again, and as I felt like I know what I am doing with this actually being my second child, I have not asked to swap. I have been much more forceful with any questions although he is still incredibly evasive with his answers. I am lucky that the pregnancy is progressing smoothly and that at my appointment today I had a cover midwife. I realised again how different the different care can make you feel. Rather than coming away wondering what the point was when I am in and out within 3 minutes, I left feeling positive that I was being looked after, that they would keep an eye on my worries and that everything was going well again. This midwife wants to see me every two weeks until my due date as she thinks it is an important time and I am more than happy to oblige!
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During my first pregnancy, I saw my midwife a few times. I had appointments at 16, 25, 33 and 38 weeks, none of which lasted much longer than 3 minutes. I entered the room where the midwife proceeded to silently take my blood pressure, check my urine and listen to the heartbeat of baby before giving me a new date and sending me on my way just as confused as to what was going on as when I went in. I never once got asked how I was feeling, whether I had any questions or whether I was comfortable with the care I was getting. Being my first experience of pregnancy though, I knew no better.
For my 38 week appointment, I had a cover midwife as my usual man was off sick. As soon as I entered the room it felt different and I was met with a smile and asked how I was feeling. This change in approach took me back but I immediately felt relaxed and like I would be able to talk to her. She asked how old my first child was and was met with a very odd expression on my face - other child? The reason for my scarce appointments was the mistakes on my notes which the initial midwife had never checked or verified but taken as fact. She then measured me, read my notes and asked how my growth scans were going - again the shocked face as I confided that my midwife had never mentioned a problem or need for them despite me mentioning to him after my 20 week scan that baby was off the scale on all measurements and I was worried. She was a lovely woman, put my mind at ease and organised emergency growth scan and GTT for the next day. It was my first appointment to break the four minute mark!
I realised what midwife care should be.
My hospital experience was fantastic and I could not fault the team there. I had a student midwife and her supervisor and they were calm and friendly leading to me having what I can almost describe as an enjoyable birth experience.
This time round I am hoping to give birth in a newly opened midwife led unit in my local hospital. Out of all the midwives I have met, there is only one that I have found unhelpful and unfriendly and I am just crossing my fingers that he is not on duty at the MLU when Squish decides to make an appearance!
How was your midwife care? Did they put you at ease or make you more nervous? I am hoping that my experience is the minority!
