Hi everyone

I was hoping someone on here could help me a little bit. Me and my partner are expecting a little girl (due june 17th or so) and we just had one hell of a scare.

We thought the baby was on her way now and at the time we didn't have a clue what it was although braxton hicks was in my mind, i was there franticly phoning left right and center for midwives, parents and was getting nowhere fast. It is of course the reality of braxton hicks that have begun and i think the reality of child birth is now starting to kick in.

Obviously im getting myself mentally prepared and really making sure that when the time comes everything that needs to be done and is needed at hand is going to be there......well as much as you can get ready anyhow.

My real concern was not being able to get in touch with any midwife, triage or anywhere like that even for peace of mind and when the time really does come im not sure im going to trust in them whatsoever. Throughout her pregnancy my partner has struggled tooth and nail to even get in touch let alone make an appointment or ask for advice.

It's not that we want to hog the midwife, there are plenty of expectant mothers out there but to not be able to get in touch with them from one day to the next over the period of a month or more is getting rediculous. I was wondering if anyone is having similar experiences, if this is the normal way of things or knows of a midwife that we really CAN contact.

Thanks everyone
Dad to be

Hi Weazel I'm sorry you had such a fright. That must have been terrifying for you and your OH.
Firstly if you tell us whereabouts you are in Sheffield someone may have a better idea who to contact...often your midwife and others will work from a local Childrens Centre as well as your GP which will give you a pool of midwives as well as a place to go to see one if you're worried.
You should also have been to the hospital by now. Did you ring their midwives?
It's definitely a concern that you couldn't get hold of anyone.
Please don't lose faith entirely. I had my second child last September and I was able to get the help I needed. Hopefully someone here can get you the right contact: tho I agree you shouldn't need to come here to get it.

Hi,
I am also sorry to hear you have had a scare! frightening times when you are not quite sure what is going on!
It sounds like from your post you are aware that midwives are very busy - having worked along side midwives within a children's center for 3 years in my previous job all the midwives if left a message to call some one back they would, also does your midwife work full or part time? would it be worth asking for the other numbers of the midwives in her team? they often used to place a sticker or write these within the womens hand held notes.Triage is also very busy on the phone with all the pregnant women in sheffield using this as their port of call when they are concerned, so you can imagine how busy its a case of just ringing and ringing until some one answers-they will eventually answer as this phone is manned 24 hours. and dont forget you can always take a trip to triage-they do prefer a call before so they can have relevant medical notes etc to lessen your wait but that is an option.
as the other poster said it would be good to know which area you are in as if you are within a children's center area they often have 'drop in' clinics once a week which you could attend.
sorry for the long post!!!

Hi everyone

I was hoping someone on here could help me a little bit. Me and my partner are expecting a little girl (due june 17th or so) and we just had one hell of a scare.

We thought the baby was on her way now and at the time we didn't have a clue what it was although braxton hicks was in my mind, i was there franticly phoning left right and center for midwives, parents and was getting nowhere fast. It is of course the reality of braxton hicks that have begun and i think the reality of child birth is now starting to kick in.

Obviously im getting myself mentally prepared and really making sure that when the time comes everything that needs to be done and is needed at hand is going to be there......well as much as you can get ready anyhow.

My real concern was not being able to get in touch with any midwife, triage or anywhere like that even for peace of mind and when the time really does come im not sure im going to trust in them whatsoever. Throughout her pregnancy my partner has struggled tooth and nail to even get in touch let alone make an appointment or ask for advice.

It's not that we want to hog the midwife, there are plenty of expectant mothers out there but to not be able to get in touch with them from one day to the next over the period of a month or more is getting rediculous. I was wondering if anyone is having similar experiences, if this is the normal way of things or knows of a midwife that we really CAN contact.

Thanks everyone
Dad to be

Hi

I am sorry you have had so much hassle in contacting people, it is unbelievable, I would feel the same! Whereabouts in Sheffield are you?
I am in S8 and my MW is at the local GP surgery one morning a week, every week, and usually the same one. I have had no probs getting appts and have seen her every time with the expection of twice. The other week I had a question about something and I rang the community office, who gave me numbers for about 3 MW's, none of which I could contact. Finally I got in touch with someone in the area.

Last time I was preg I lived in S14. There was a drop-in clinic staffed by severeal MW's one afternoon every week there, you either made appts or dropped in. The MW's varied from week to week there though. I rang the hallamshire walk-in bit I think last time when I didn't feel baby move much and was asked to go in. Don't think I rang triage until my labour.

I suppose it differs from area to area but to not be able to get in touch with anyone for a long period of time is pretty worrying. Why has she had to fight for a MW appt? Seems really odd, has she had all her checks, scans and blood tests done so far?

Thankyou for the replies so far, it's nice to see the support. In regards to the checks etc so far we have had the 12 week scan.....22 week scan, tested her blood, urine samples etc and now waiting on the glucose test. The majority of this has been done off our own backs and we have felt a great lack of support in the whole process.

We didn't actually know about the drop in centers...we live in hillsbrough so i don't know if there is one around here or not but it would be quite a relief to know that we could contact one of a group of people if we have a panic moment and don't know if it's braxton hicks or full on labour.....we have however got our anti natel classes in april which will be great preperation im sure.

Thankyou for the replies so far, it's nice to see the support. In regards to the checks etc so far we have had the 12 week scan.....22 week scan, tested her blood, urine samples etc and now waiting on the glucose test. The majority of this has been done off our own backs and we have felt a great lack of support in the whole process.

We didn't actually know about the drop in centers...we live in hillsbrough so i don't know if there is one around here or not but it would be quite a relief to know that we could contact one of a group of people if we have a panic moment and don't know if it's braxton hicks or full on labour.....we have however got our anti natel classes in april which will be great preperation im sure.

Ah right, might be worth checkin to see if there are any drop in clinics around there? How have you seen MW's so far then, at the Gp surgery? Do they make you make future appts?
I see my MW at certain times, think it was like once every 4 wks or more at first now it's more often (am 36wks). She just told me when to see her again and made me make an appt for that day on my way out of the surgery with the receptionist. Twice I have rang on the Monday morning and asked if there were any free slots when I didn't feel well and was squeezed in.

she has been given future appointments, sometimes vague times when she should see her again.....i think we were under the impression there was more hands on help during pregnancy. Id feel much happier if they were able to squeeze us in sometimes but that i can assure you isnt happening whatsoever.

We have been seeing the midwife at the gp on dykes hall road just up from hillsbrough, would be nice to just have them take a concern seriously....i lost a daughter in 2004 so you can imagine im wanting a little more support this time round.

End of the day if i can knock a few heads together and get her the support she needs rather than seeing the worried look on her face as she realizes what the labour is going to be like.....i can help as much as i can but not being a woman there are some things i just cannot understand fully.

Least my baby is fit and healthy :)

she has been given future appointments, sometimes vague times when she should see her again.....i think we were under the impression there was more hands on help during pregnancy. Id feel much happier if they were able to squeeze us in sometimes but that i can assure you isnt happening whatsoever.

We have been seeing the midwife at the gp on dykes hall road just up from hillsbrough, would be nice to just have them take a concern seriously....i lost a daughter in 2004 so you can imagine im wanting a little more support this time round.

End of the day if i can knock a few heads together and get her the support she needs rather than seeing the worried look on her face as she realizes what the labour is going to be like.....i can help as much as i can but not being a woman there are some things i just cannot understand fully.

Least my baby is fit and healthy :)

Aww sorry to hear about your daughter, that must be awful and I understand why you'd be extra worried this time round. Is there anything in particular your OH is worried about? There are loads of pregnancy forums about. If you want any details PM me, I use just the one but there are tonnes, where you can talk to women due the same month as you and it is a great help as mnay of them have the same worries and concerns and you help each other, plus some make really good mates from it (not me as I only talk to them online but a few have lived close and become good mates).
Or get her to post here, plenty of people around to help but I would deffo recommend joining a proper preggy forum.
I would say try and talk to the MW or whatever but I imagine there's not much you haven't tried! Hopefully when the times comes for your child to be born it will be a lot easier to get in touch with someone. I never had any probs at Jessops and just rang a couple of times the day I went into labour, was told to wait it out and come in when the pain was bad. I did so, was examined and sent home as wasn't far enough in labour. I then went home and then back again a few hours later when it got too much. They were all very understanding and I demanded allsorts of pain relief (I am a complete wimp) and got what I asked for and finally my daughter arrived the day after, over 48hrs after I felt the first faint contractions and backache etc. No complaints from me but your OH needs to feel confident in them and relaxed and trust them so anything anyone can do to help her would be a great help.
As long as she is having her regular appts. that is one good thing but if she wants extra help or is worried about anything she does need to see someone because it's not good to be too worried and stressed, she should be enjoying her pregnancy and it is awful when you can't.