Midwife / health visit

Occasionally you will have a HV appointment before the baby comes, but usually these visits start after birth. The HV comes every week or so for a month, partly to monitor you, but mostly to weigh baby and check in on how you are doing with a newborn. The birth plan tends to be down to you to sort out - research options available and speak to your midwife about them. She will be able to tell you what is available at your hospital and answer any questions you have. If you use badger notes, there is a section on birth plans for you to complete. As for hospital tours, they're not a thing now, since covid (even for my first birth in 2019 they were not offered, but covid really was the death bell for them!) Many hospitals have done videos on youtube you can watch which walk you around the ward, so you can see what is available.

At your next midwife appointment, you need to ask if they’ve referred you to the health visitor. You should’ve got a letter. They usually visit in person during the third trimester once to just introduce themselves and have an informal chat, but they might do a phone call too. Just check with your midwife that you’re on their radar so they’ll definitely know to see you once baby is here. Hospital tours - go on the hospital website and see if they offer them. Many don’t know because of Covid and do virtual tours instead, but there’s nothing stopping you from popping down to the hospital and poking your head in so you know where to go. Birth plan - at 34W your midwife appointment is slightly longer so you can go through your birth plan in details together. Make sure you have it printed out and ready

I’m 32 weeks too and my midwife is a joke apparently got 0 appointments and she doesn’t answer her phone and most of all neither does the health visitor and have had 0 birth plan suggestions from her and none support it’s quite bad from nhs considering it’s first baby / being a first time mum c

My friend who lives in a different area got a HV appointment already before 31 weeks as did the ladies I know who live in Bedfordshire. I've not had one and when I asked I was told in my area (Cambridgeshire), they don't do them before birth. So it really depends where you live. My midwife told me we go through the birth plan at the 36 week appointment. Because I had asked she booked it in for me there and then (she usually only books the next one) so I could make sure my husband could make it. They told me they like to wait until you've had antenatal classes. The NHS website says they're meant to discuss it at your 34 weeks, but maybe because mine is before the scan to check my placenta, they're waiting til after that?

My hv comes out next week and I’m 30 weeks x

I got a call from a health visitor, but because I don't live at the address registered with my GP, they need to transfer me to a different health authority for the health visitor.

@Morgan same here it feeling like I’m constantly chasing them I haven’t seen my midwife for a few months now she’s not the best

@Danielle a few months?!?! No no no! That’s actually super unacceptable. You’re supposed to have an appointment every few weeks. Is it a community midwife team with a main hub you can call? Or attached to your GP? Please complain and get assigned a new midwife. You are missing essential care and it’s totally unacceptable

@Alexandra every time I’ve have an appointment for the past 3 months it’s a new midwife and even then I’m there for 5 mins max

@Danielle ahh I see. But you are seeing someone, even if it’s not the same person? I mean not great not to have continuity of care, but I’m happy you’re still getting your appointments! Might be good to use the NHS website to see what each appointment should cover in advance and then come prepared with a list of questions etc. if you have any :)

@Alexandra I have been my midwife is just quite crap I’m thinking of changing or asking to change but I’m not fully sure on how to do it x

@Danielle speak up and advocate for yourself. You’d have to just call the place or mention it when you’re there that you want a new midwife. I had to do the same for the first OB I seen. The man made me wait over an hour for a 5min rushed appointment that didn’t answer any of my concerns (such as extra fluid on babies brain what it could mean), man showed up in fucking jandals, answered his phone twice without so much as blinking an eye at me and sent me on my merry way. I spoke with reception and told them I never wanted to see him again, and I never did.

@Danielle is she part of a community midwife team or attached to your GP?

@Sharnee gosh that’s terrible idk what’s going on with midwifes lately

@Alexandra it’s my community midwife x