Community Midwives

When writing my birthing plan my midwife included a statement about my chronic fatigue being psychosomatic. I don't think they realised how this could be viewed by other people reading it and I feel that it did have a negative impact. They were a good midwife and good person but may be they didn't think about their language use.

The midwife I saw in Otley was amazing I had the same midwife all the way through the pregnancy and after the birth. Very supportive.

I saw someone different at each appointment and although i discussed having an elective c section due to my previous birth experience each person had a differing view on whether it was needed.

With my second baby I saw the same midwife throughout my pregnancy which was great but then with my third I saw a different midwife, each one was lovely but it wasn't so great.

I was pleased with the general care and support provided by my midwives but there was never any discussion about my mental health and that meant that the perinatal mental health team were not involved so then it became a problem after the birth.

They tried to maintain the continuity and my main midwife was the same for both my children. They do the best they can to support you and make sure you are making the decisions. I was able to choose between the N&N, WSFT and Ipswich for the birth and when I chose the N&N the care from the team was great after the birth too.

I was a planned home birth, following an extremely traumatic birth in February 2021 where I was left with PTSD and PND as a result of being transferred in from home unnecessarily. Despite being a planned home birth from day 1, when I went into labour I was told there was no one available to come out to me as another woman was already in labour and no other staff were available. I was told the only way I would receive midwifery care was to be transferred in. Due to my experience last time, I was not in a position to be able to do this and was therefore left to birth alone at home. I delivered at 3am and it was midday before a midwife made it out to my house. I feel grossly let down by WSH. If the trust says it facilitates home births, it needs to ensure a contingency plan is in place if the primary home birth team are other wise engaged. To simply say I had to be transferred in, against my will, is not good enough. Women have the right to birth in the environment where they feel safest. For me, this was at home. I do not believe it is too much to ask to have my needs met given the trauma I experienced last time.

I had about 4 or 5 midwives which was a little unsettling as I had negative time last time I had to keep on repeating my story. I was listened to and supported appropriately which went a long way in rebuilding trust. I did feel the first pregnancy like I was pushed into having a membrane sweep which I wouldn’t have done if it wasnt for the midwife being a bit pushy. So this time I was going to take my husband along. Luckily I didn’t need to this time as baby came a week early. I managed to have the home birth I wanted, midwives were absolutely amazing who came. We all shared the same concerns that births are becoming too managed and complicated which don’t need to be. Too many inductions leading to complications and trauma for mum/baby sadly. More research needs to be done and a balanced approach need to be maintained. I had the most amazing experience at home and was supported to have baby at home. First time it was a lot different

The midwife I see is lovely but its fairly light touch but then I suppose that a part from monitoring I don't need much else.

This is my 3rd baby and there has been a significant gap since that and my second (over 5 years) so forgive me some things may have changed.

I met my midwife at my 10 weeks appointment and she was friendly but quite shy, I felt like any questions she was asking me she wasn’t listening to my answer because she just wanted to make it through the appointment. In all honestly she looks newly qualified, which is fine, everyone needs to start somewhere.

16 week appointment had a duration of 14 minutes, it was a waste of me getting out of bed for. The only thing that was checked was my urine. Again, she asked me how I was, I explained I’d be hungry etc.. and elaborated further and again she cut the conversation dead, I question how relationship building with expectant mothers can be established, when you feel like answers to your questions are not being listened to, in two appointments there’s been absolute tumble weed moments.

Also what has happened to listening to the baby’s heartbeat? In my past two pregnancies it was a highlight of the appointments. I’m sure it was done by 16 weeks, yet here I am not having heard it once, where is the joy in the appointments if mums are just turning up to wee in a cup and be sent on their way?