I'm doing some research into the relationship between women and their midwives and it would be great if you would like to share your experiences with me on this subject. Do you feel that you had a close relationship with your midwife? Do you still keep in contact? Did you feel you have always had the correct amount of care? Any views on this topic would be much appreciated Thanks

I never saw the same one twice so I couldnt really say. I also had a shift change half way through my labour and the ones that take care of you after birth are also completely different. I couldnt even tell you any of their names.

It would be nice to have the same one for the whole process but its not really possible unless you pay for one. I dont mind that so much I understand that they are mega busy. I am happy with the amount of care I got.

The midwife I saw for antenatal care was pleasant, but she was ALWAYS running late and ran through the appointments quickly. Telling me how much work she had on. She did her job, but she never really listened and I could not form a bond with her. I'm sure she was over worked and had a large caseload. Other local mums I have since met, who had the same midwife, said the same!

I fell out with one midwife during labour at the hospital, as she wanted me to be induced, yet I was in labour. It is too long to go into here, but basicially I knew my body and I knew I wasn't putting baby at risk. I had to be firm with her and she walked out on me!!! BUT I had two super duper midwives who 'replaced' her, and their manner was super. They listened to me and understood what I wanted. THe labour went smoothly and baby arrived safely. However, the wards were full and the midwives there were clearly very busy.

I transferred to a midwife led birth centre afterwards for postnatal care. It was WONDERFUL!!!!! They really helped me to breastfeed, I had meals and drinks made for me and lots of 1:1 care, showing me to do things like bathing a newborn (I didn't have a clue!!). The midwives were sociable and I felt they genuinely cared and gave me great advice. I hope to goodness they never close down!! I stayed 6 days!

Hope this helps.

My antenatal midwife was lovely, but always a tad rushed, so i didnt really feel like asking her anything as i felt guilty for keeping her ffrom her next appointment..

midwife i had with me for my c-section was also lovely...

the ones i had on night shift afterwards... put it this way.....its put me off going there again..rude, unhelpfull and seemed to have "favourites"
some were lovely but they were the "old School" type, the ones over 40 ish..
plus a couple of the auxilliary were lovely too..

It would have been nice to have seen the same midwife all the way through the pregnancy rather then different one's also for them to actually know my name.

With my eldest my Midwife when i was in labour at the start treated me like a child, yes i was 18 but a very mature 18 not that she even took notice...they had shift change and the next lady was lovely she was older and did not judge and was very encouraging, my only fault is the next day when i was on the postnatal she came and spoke to the lady next to me and thought she was me
Me and they lady she talked about laughed about it after though because the midwife asked how she was down there...this lady had a c-section

My midwife doesn't have a clue who i am, i have walked past her many a time and she doesn't recognise me

Although none of my Midwives knew my name at the end of the day there care was excellent and aslong as the took care of my baby i didn't mind

My midwife i saw all the way through my pregnancy was brilliant, i saw the same lady allllll the way through,she was lovely, never rushed me and really listened! The midwife who i had whilst i was in labour and delivery was totally amazing, as was all her team, i never met one who was nasty at all...even the doctors and consultants were fantastic and i have my midwife who delivered Patrick as a friend on facebook!I cannot sing her praises enough. On the ward it was a different story, the midwives never bothered with us to be honest, only to complain about how little patrick was feeding and leave me til last to be discharged when i was meant to be going home that day but one midwife decided to discharge someone who had requested to go home that morning before me. Like someone else said they have their favorites on the wards. But all in all my midwives were amazing, i'll never be able to repay them or thank them enough x

I saw a midwife for the first and last time at my booking in appointment at 12 weeks. From that day on I was told the midwives were too busy to see everybody and I never saw one again. I saw my family GP instead.

I then ended up getting severe pre eclampsia which went undetected for weeks and I ended up having to have a crash c-section at 32 weeks pregnant. I then spent a week in intensive care, some time on a ventilator as I was so poorly.

I have no trust in them whatsoever and will definatly be going to hospital for regular check ups next time.

I had the same widwife throughout my ante-natal care with my DD and she as fantastic, haven't found a better one yet

With my son i was introduced to 2 community midwives at my local gp, 1 is lovely kath, the other was so blunt & ignorant that i ended up having a go at her & asked that she be removed from caring for me which was granted, I saw kath at all my appointments apart from the hospital ones of course, & there i saw someone different all the time.

When i was in labour i was poorly & it was fairly quiet in the labour bit, So i had a midwife stay in my room the whole night only leaving for a quick toilet break she was lovely!
She finished her shift at 8am the next morning & i was pushing josh out, by 8.20am he hadn't come so she went home. He made his entrance at 8.50am & when she came back on duty that day she came straight to see me & gave me a hug, said she'd been thinking of me as i had a tough time & josh wasn't getting oxygen.. she asked very politely to hold josh & i was so thankful to have her with me that night.
i had a labia graze with josh because he was getting sucked back in so the new midwife on shift grabbed him & cut me, The woman who came to stitch me up afterwards was bloody awful though, she was VERY rough & had obviously no idea how sensitive & sore down there was, the midwife told her off though

Im preg again & kath the community midwife is caring for me again & it feels nice to have her even though she doesn't remember me ( 4 yrs is a while though ) ..
& i had a lovely surprise at my 1st scan, at the antenatal after the scan i was seen by a lady who began to say i remember you, I was like omg its you! & there she was the midwife who had sat with me all that night having josh she's called rose & suddenly i felt so happy that she was still a midwife, Even though i might not get her again.

I never really saw anyone on a regular basis long enough to get to know them. And more importantly for them to get to know me.