"Post Labour Care"

Having just given birth to my second child, I am quite disappointed in my after care from the community midwife service. I received a visit on day one of getting home from hospital. I was advised by the midwife I would receive a visit on day two and day five. Day two came around and no midwife appeared. Baby and I were both doing well so I didn’t chase this.

Day five came around and I knew baby would need her pin prick test and weight checked. I called the midwife unit at Inverurie around midday to check if the midwife was coming in and after a long period of time waiting on the phone, I was advised I had been missed off the books. The midwife who was on house visits was no where near me so I was asked to go to Inverurie. Thankfully I was well enough to drive baby and I to the unit. All checks and tests were carried out with all being okay.

The midwife then advised they would come in for one final visit on day ten. I advised the midwife that this was the same day the hospital requested we attend for baby’s hearing test so if an afternoon house visit could be arranged. Come day ten, the midwife unit called to say that due to our hospital appointment a midwife would not be available to come in so could I make my way to Inverurie for our discharge. So having to take baby to sick children’s hospital in the morning in Aberdeen, I then had to drive out to Inverurie for our discharge. 

I am so glad that I was a second time mum and knew what to expect as if I had been a first time mum I would have been none the wiser and would have felt completely isolated. Given the fact I was lost on the system I didn’t feel it was fair that I then had to do all the running around with a new baby. 

Although I cannot fault the care the community midwifes have given me throughout my pregnancy, the post labour care/ system let things down for me and feel that they really need to check their system to ensure no other ladies are missed. I would hate for another new mum to be missed like I was.