"Struggling to Get Consistent Antenatal and Postnatal Support"

During my pregnancy and after having my baby, I feel I didn’t receive the level of antenatal and postnatal care I expected or needed. I didn’t see the same midwife consistently, which made it hard to build trust or feel supported. I asked several times for the lead midwife to contact me, and I was told she was off — but that was three months ago, and I never heard anything back.

Throughout my pregnancy I was given conflicting information by different midwives, and it often felt like no one was following the same guidance. For example, at one appointment my blood pressure was high, but I wasn’t sent to day assessment. Later, another midwife told me I should have been. I ended up being induced, and I can’t help but wonder if things might have been different if that had been picked up earlier.

There were also abnormalities in my urine results, but no follow-up tests or investigations were done. I wasn’t able to attend antenatal classes because they were already full, which left me feeling unprepared and unsupported.

After my little girl was born, I reached out because I couldn’t stop crying and was having intrusive thoughts. I asked for a visit and explained how I felt, but I was told this was “normal” and that the team were too busy. I was told I would need to wait for my set visiting day, which was two days later. The midwife did say I could contact my GP, but at the time I felt this should have been something the midwifery team helped with. I am now on antidepressants, and I believe the lack of consistent, responsive care contributed to my mental health declining.

I did think about making a formal complaint, but I have heard your name stays on record and I may want another baby in the future. Instead, I’m sharing my experience here in the hope it will help improve the service for others and ensure that people struggling are taken seriously and offered timely support.

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