"Community Midwivery Care"

I attended Shantallow Health Centre for my antenatal and postnatal care. 

During the antenatal period i was cared for by many different midwives at routine and urgent appointments. I rang to report reduced fetal movement on two occassions and was seen promptly and reassured. On both occassions i went to Shantallow to be checked by doppler and then advised that the protocol was to still attend Altnagelvin regardless for a CTG, this was reassuring however seems like a wasted journey to have to go travel to Shantallow when a CTG in hospital is always essential.

I had an emergency section and was discharged from hospital and advised i would receive a home visit the next day. I got a phonecall on the day of the appointment to advise the midwive would not be visiting until the following day. After thatI received a call and text from a midwive on this new date  asking if i had been discharged and my address, i informed the midwive yes i was at home. I then got a call from another midwive later in the day to ask if i was discharged and to say she would call. This my 3rd time advising that i had been discharged.

I was advised by a midwive that antenatal was their priority at present and postnatal care had taken a back seat, not by choice but due to staffing levels and advice from management. This was very concerning as a new mum who had delivered in an emergency, had excessively swollen legs and was awaiting a doppler to query a DVT to be told i was not a priority. I was advised to attend Shantallow HC on day 5, i advised my partner was returning to work, i could not yet drive post c section and my feet were so swollen i had no shoes which would fit and was struggling to mobilise but the appointment was made for me to attend which i did. I feel a new mum travelling this journey post c section is totally unacceptable and adds stress and inconvience to the lives of new mums. I have spoke to 4 other mothers who delivered via c section in recent months and also felt this journey was causing stress to them, not to mention the pain caused by a car journey day 5 post surgery. It also seems very unfair that new mums living in the countryside and who are patients of other health centres in the region still receive home visits therefore there is not a consistent approach and more of a postcode lottery approach.

I am aware this process is no fault of the midwives themselves and i would like to thank Martina who always welcomed me into the centre and is an assett to the team. I also received great compassionate care from a lovely midwive called Jenni on my due date, Jenni had such a gentle nature and put me at such ease in her care. I also received great care and reassurance from midwive Caroline and student Megan on several occassions. .

I hope this feedback can be used to shape the future of services.