Nosey Q - Did you Interview?
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Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: First baby? Second or more?
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Topic: Nosey Q - Did you Interview?
Posted By: Peanut
Subject: Nosey Q - Did you Interview?
Date Posted: 06 June 2008 at 4:45pm
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A post in the TTC thread got me thinking:
Did any of you interview your MW? I rang the one that has been recommended to me by lots of people and she was full, so rang the second one that was recommended to me and booked in with her. I know my MIL (who is a retired MW) would never meet with people to interview - she said that they either want her or they don't and that she was too busy to be "interviewed". Did other people find this? -------------  
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Replies:
Posted By: DJ
Date Posted: 06 June 2008 at 4:54pm
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I asked quite a few questions on the phone (i.e, single mw or team, any leave planned, back up mw, after birth care, home vs hospital birth, have the mw's all had their own babies etc). Then went to see one mw that seemed to treat my first appt like an interview- she asked me how long I intended to have off work, and when I said 12mths she made a judgemental comment. I decided that I couldn't stand her and went to someone else. I felt really comfortable with the second mw so stuck with her.
I felt a bit bad "shopping around", especially because they are so busy and in short supply, but it was absolutely the best thing I did. It is important to have a mw with similar ideas to you. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: myfullhouse
Date Posted: 06 June 2008 at 5:12pm
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I rang the midwife centre down the road from us and out of 6 mw's there was only one that could fit me in. At our first meeting I suppose we each interviewed the other to see if what I wanted matched the way she worked. She did tell me to call other mw if I wanted to but I was happy and comfortable with her (and to a certain extent couldn't be bothered shopping around) so stuck with her. It was a good gut instinct call as she was brilliant and we hope to use her when we have #2 ------------- Lindsey 
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Posted By: Bel
Date Posted: 06 June 2008 at 5:12pm
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I found that I couldn't afford to be picky! I pretty much had to take the MW that was available due to there being such a shortage up here. But in saying that, my first one was weird and after being told I would have to change around 20 weeks, I changed early to the other one. Now, planning second one, I think I will do a bit more reasearch before and get one that agrees with what I want. ------------- Mum to two beautiful kids 
Luke (09.11.2007) Amy (01.04.2009) |
Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 06 June 2008 at 5:25pm
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i rang 5 and took the first one that had space.. :) lol.. ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: LittleBug
Date Posted: 06 June 2008 at 5:30pm
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I had two people recommended to me by heaps of people, so I rang the first and she was fully booked... the second one I just booked an appointment and asked her all the questions I wanted when I met her, if I really didn't like her then I would have tried to find someone else but I thought she seemed nice.
Turns out she is the most amazing midwife and I would call her straight away next time I have a baby... she even cried after my labour was *finally* over because I got all emotional... my bad  ------------- Chloe (4 years) and Oliver (3 years). |
Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 06 June 2008 at 5:54pm
After calling 20 places with all of their m/w's being booked (including yours  lol) I just went with the one I could get (I had to beg her to take me). I was 12 weeks at the time though. My recommendation would be to interview a lot if you can! I absolutely hate my m/w, think she is really bad at her job and would never recommend her. But then again I didn't know that she was that bad until I was 20 weeks and by then I had the hosp spec's and a private spec on board so I had backup if she was useless.
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Posted By: BellaBoo
Date Posted: 06 June 2008 at 6:17pm
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Being due 2days after Xmas meant I had no choice as my MW was the only one available. She seemed a bit "head in the clouds" but was very experienced on paper and turned out to be fine.
If I had the choice I think I would just ask questions over the phone and that would give me enough info I think. ------------- http://lilypie.com">   http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 06 June 2008 at 6:41pm
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My first one came to our house to see us for the first time. I was due on 29 Dec so felt I wouldn't have much choice. But also after she came around that first time, I would have felt rude to change my mind. ------------- |
Posted By: Tiff
Date Posted: 06 June 2008 at 7:11pm
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With the first pregnancy I knew I was pretty keen on the MW my friend had, as I'd met her and really liked her and her beliefs etc, but decided I'd check out a couple of others. One my doctor reccomended wouldn't meet with me first as she felt if my doctor reccomended her that that should be good enough, and a another 2 never rang me back after leaving messages for them to call me!! So I went with my friends MW - best decision ever! And even though I wanted to sign her on there and then on the phone she felt it was important that we met (with DH) and confirm that she was who we wanted etc. I think it's really important to 'interview' first, as it's a really important, special time. And you have to be on the same wave length, and complete trust in her etc. I wouldn't be happy with some one who didn't 'have time' to meet as what would happen further down the track? I also really liked that all visits were at my house as her practice believes the best place/way to get to know someone is in there own home. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 06 June 2008 at 8:34pm
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I met with mine, checked that she had had kids herself and signed on!
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Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 06 June 2008 at 8:35pm
The "interviewing" is something yu can do to pass time whilst in labour...I did
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Posted By: Mazzy
Date Posted: 06 June 2008 at 8:46pm
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With my first pregnancy I called three midwives, one told me to interview the others and call her back if I didn't like any of them, one didn't return my call and I ended up meeting with one who I booked in with because I wasn't impressed with the other two and thought she was good. She was very experienced and had some key things we were looking for. She was very good in her professional care, but we never really clicked personally. I booked in with her again for my second pregnancy, against my gut instinct to look around again, and in the end switched midwives at 34 weeks when it became very apparent that what I wanted for the birth plan and what she provided were different things - still an excellent and competent midwife, just the personal differences were too much for me to ignore. Luckily I found a wonderful midwife who made space for me at short notice and I love her to bits. I think it's very important to go with your gut instinct and it's hard to do that over the phone - I didn't listen to myself and it made it very stressful before/during the change of midwife. I regret not shopping around in the first place, but it all ended up ok in the end. ------------- Mum to two gorgeous girls! |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 06 June 2008 at 9:02pm
Me too! I stumbled across mine by accident coz she happened to be at the clinic when I went to do a free preg test with Maya. I got lucky coz she is awesome and I've stuck with her. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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nzpiper wrote:Posted By: jack_&_charli
Date Posted: 06 June 2008 at 10:15pm
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when i got pregnant with jack, i rang around a few mw's and if they sounded ok on the phone, we went and had an 'interview' which i'm so glad we did, because we met with 3 different ladies before celia, she was the only one that came to our home and the only one i felt truly comfortable with.
she was also my mw second time around. when i rang her and said who i was, she remembered us and jack straight away and that made me feel really special!  oh how i miss her
i feel it's really important to actually meet with the mw before signing on as you can see how you truly feel about the person. you have to be comfortable with the person you are sharing such a special moment with in your life. in my opinion, if the mw doesn't want to meet you first, then i'd find someone else ------------- http://www.alternatickers.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: MonicaMouse
Date Posted: 06 June 2008 at 10:35pm
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I was reading a pamphlet about one of the midwife centres in town and for some reason one of them seemed to draw me to her . When I rung the clinic to make enquirys, she happened to answer the phone, we met her (first MW we met) and decided then and there she was the one for us. DH has already told her that we are booking her for number 2 (this was a day after Blair was born!) ------------- 
Blair 15/10/2007 Daniel 30/07/2009 |
Posted By: MissAngel
Date Posted: 07 June 2008 at 9:58am
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I just rang up the local hospital here in Rangiora and booked in with the one they gave me. She ended up being on holiday for the whole of may, so I had 2 other ones taking care of me on different days, but the one that stuck with me thru the birth etc we'll go with next time round. She was a real sweetie. ------------- Alex, Thomas and Lily http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 07 June 2008 at 10:02am
hmmm though meeting one time doesnt necessarily show whether you will click or how good they are at care?:) though i guess you get a feel for them..i felt it was kinda rude to interview them (esp in person)but now i dont think i would feel that way.. mine was great in the end but not flash int eh beginning kept not ringing back unless it was 'important' etc but her and her backup were fabulous when i had troubles ..mostly her problem was taking on too many women:( ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: jack_&_charli
Date Posted: 07 June 2008 at 10:44am
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KA i just meant that you can get more of a 'feel' for a person and how you feel around them if you meet them in person.
when i met celia the first time, i knew i wanted her to help me bring my babies into the world  but i didn't get that with the others i met------------- http://www.alternatickers.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 07 June 2008 at 10:50am
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ah i see:) yeah i really had a connection with my mw in the end and next time i dont think i would be ringing her about some things(though i hardly rang her at all) mostly the telling me she will turn up and then not was annoying(even though it wasnt her fault most of the time) so not sure what to do next time.. but she was really good in terms of looking after my health when i had issues and the baby.. so hmmmm....anyway that's such a nice thing to say about celia(when you met her you knew) wish i felt like that!!:) ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: Tiff
Date Posted: 07 June 2008 at 10:58am
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I agree exactly with what Vanessa says, I feel it is important to 'click', and you get a pretty good idea from meeting etc. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Peanut
Date Posted: 07 June 2008 at 11:02am
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Foxy, I think you will find that most MW are a wee bit like that in the aftercare as bloody pregnant woman and woman in labour ruin it for our aftercare.... -------------
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Posted By: Tiff
Date Posted: 07 June 2008 at 6:14pm
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I must have been super lucky 'cos mine was fantastic from start to finish, and my friend has found her to be exactly the same. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: MummyFreckle
Date Posted: 07 June 2008 at 7:55pm
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I rang 13 m/w's before I found one that could actually take me. I never really "clicked" with mine, she wasnt very warm and fuzzy and wont be my first choice (my 1st choice is the really nice lady that works in partnership with my GP surgery....) but if I cant get her then I will go with the same one again, as at least I know her and she knows us. I figure thats just easier than trying to find someone new again. We used our first meeting as our interview....but I knew I couldnt be picky after trying so many!! She was very very good, and very knowledgable, and I felt in very good hands, but she never once gave me a hug, or a warm pat on the back or anything like that... ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 07 June 2008 at 9:21pm
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My m/w isn't hugely touchy feely either but that works for me coz I'm not a very touchy feely person.
She was great with the aftercare as well coz with being a bit OCD I refused to have anyone else do the home visits except her and she was very patient and accomodating! She'll never forget me tho lol, the gremlins were the first set of twins she ever delivered! ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: baalamb
Date Posted: 07 June 2008 at 11:07pm
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This has been really interesting reading. I went through a specialist when pregnant with Ashlee so never went through all of this. And it was kind of by default because I was so shocked to see a positive test that I panicked and went to my GP! She put me on to the OB/GYN in the same practice and that was that.
He has told me though that when we have child #2, because of my labour history (or non labour!) and c-section was nothing to do with me physically, I should be fine with going through a midwife (i.e I don't need to be under specialist care) but I didn't have a clue where to start! So when you say interview, it's not some formal thing asking questions, is it? Is it just to get to know them a little better and vice versa? |
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 07 June 2008 at 11:29pm
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Nope I didn't. I just rang my friend who happened to be pregnant and ask her who to go with and she said the MW she had with her first not to touch but the one she has now is great. So I rang her and we clicked and it was great. I learnt a lot about her while I was being induced, like we were in the same hospital when I was being born as she was giving birth at the same time I have since recommended her to others and they have had her and thought great things of her too. Only sad thing for me is she has now retired, but on the plus side, I am not allowed a MW for my next pegnancy so at least I don't have to try and find another MW, coz I can only go under on OB and I have already chosen him. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |