Am I getting the right info? What should I know?
Hi all,
I’m a first time mum and I’ve had issues with midwives changing and telling me different things at each appointment. I’m currently 36+1 and I have not been spoken to about a birthing plan (I’ve asked and keep being told “next time” - multiple times). I also have absolutely no idea what my babies estimated weight is - I didn’t realise this information was given. I feel like the midwifery team are really letting me down. (There have been other issues in which I found out information very late or had to fight to get things sorted).
I rang to try to change an appointment, spent over an hour on hold and being passed to different people as everyone was saying they don’t deal with appointments. I was then hung up on. I rang back and the woman said she would email the relevant team and I still haven’t had any communication. I am classed as out of area (I live between two hospitals and chose one). I asked the health visitor if I could switch and she said there was no point.
At this stage what should I know about my baby??
The views expressed in community are solely the opinions of participants, and do not reflect those of Peanut.
Learn more about our guidelines.
Honestly with both pregnancies I never went through my birth plan with my midwife. I wrote notes on my badger notes but otherwise I told my partner everything I didn’t want or wanted incase something happened.
I only knew the estimated weight of my babies was due to having growth scans for reduced movements otherwise I wouldn’t have known x
Estimated weight can only be determined from growth scans, not by your “regular” community midwife. All they can do is measure your bump (famously inaccurate method of measuring baby’s size anyway) to check that it’s growing at a consistent rate by plotting it on the chart.
https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/your-pregnancy-care/your-antenatal-care-and-appointments/
^ On this website it states you should be discussing your birth plan at your 36 week midwife appointment- have you had that yet? If you have, I would do your own research on birth plans / birth preferences and what you would like to happen in an ideal world. Consider types of pain relief as part of this too, and how you feel about being offered each. Ensure you have a printed copy (there are loads of templates online) and that your birth partner is fully clued up on your preferences at each stage / each possibility.
I had to have monthly scans and only knew babies weight from this! In regards to the birth plan 😂🤷🏼♀️ I honestly said fuck it I just wanna give birth! BUT, on the form it said who I gave permission to be there! So it might be key that for the next appointment you insist you do it there and then or where the link is so you can give it to you midwife when you go into labour x
I was supposed to have my birth plan done on last Monday and my appointment got cancelled so I then had a appointment this Tuesday and when I asked she said we will do it next time. However my baby hasn’t grown now according to measurements so getting my first scan since 20 weeks this Friday at 38 weeks.
You’ll only get an estimated weight if you see the doctor for a scan, which could be for growth, position, a medical condition etc. So its normal not to know. I never pay any attention to mine as its notoriously inaccurate.
I didnt go through a birth plan last time and 37 weeks this time and dont expect to this time either. Its only relevant when youre actually in the hospital in my opinion and your dedicated midwife for birth can read it.
Download the Peanut App
