MW Responsibilities
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Pregnant
Forum Name: Pregnancy
Forum Description: Pregnant! Wanting to chat to other mums-to-be (or dads-to-be)? Share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas... This is that place!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19970
Printed Date: 22 August 2025 at 4:29am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: MW Responsibilities
Posted By: Danaj
Subject: MW Responsibilities
Date Posted: 10 August 2008 at 11:47am
|
Some of you may have read that awful article in the newspaper about the baby being born with brain damage due to the MW not monitoring the heartbeat enough. The article said it had to be checked and documented every 3-6 minutes.
Aside from the obvious stuff like helping you deliver the baby, what are the responsibilities of a MW? E.g. checking baby, heartbeat, deciding when to get doc etc. What are they obligated to do to keep baby and me safe from problems that can be prevented? Just so I know if something is not being done and should be. ------------- http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wyI1oWn/"> 
|
Replies:
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 10 August 2008 at 11:57am
|
During my labour I can say that there is no way my MW checked and documented the heartbeat every 3-6 mins as I have all her notes. And I don't believe that is always necessary..
My MW checked me out on arrival to hospital, had an internal to see how far along I was and I was hooked up to the monitor to see how bubs was coping with the contractions. His heart rate was fine so I was able to labour as I pleased for a couple of hours without any further intervention. Once I was on gas she checked again. And a couple more hours later of getting no where I was monitored and restricted to the bed on my back. As soon as there was a change in his heart rate that continued she got the hospital MW's to call in the docs. I think as long as you discuss all that stuff with your MW and you are confident in her answers and they agree with what you want you shouldn't worry. I was totally confident in my MW, I would have wanted to hit her if she wanted to check me that often lol. |
Posted By: mummytobesep08
Date Posted: 10 August 2008 at 12:26pm
|
I'm 36 weeks pregnant and just had a big talk about stuff like that with my MW. We went through the birth plan and she talked about what she will do throughout the labour and birth. Mine will listen to baby's heartbeat through a few contractions and also intermittently through the labour. She'll also do VE's and stuff to check things are going as they should be. Also watching me to see how Im coping with contractions etc and checking my vitals (BP, pulse, urine output). ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
Angel babes '07 & '10- <3 <3 |
Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 10 August 2008 at 12:59pm
|
3-6 mins sounds a lot to me, I honestly don't think you would want them to check that much. Normally if they are concerned the first think they will do is hook you up to the ctg machine which constantly monitors babies heart rate and the intensity and frequency of your contractions, they can tell from that whether baby is happy or not. If the baby starts to have decelerations (which means the heart rate slows down between contractions) then the midwife would be calling the doc in.
They normally hook you up to the ctg as soon as you arrive at the hospital and then if all is looking good you would be free to get into which ever position you like, go for a walk around, a shower etc and the midwife might check you with the doppler now and again and put you back on the ctg if she thinks its necessary. From my own experience an OB/GYN was called in pretty quickly when any midwife wasn't sure what was happening. (that sounds a bit confusing but basically I kept going in and out of labour and my waters broke at 35 weeks and I spent 3 weeks in hospital before he was born so quite often I had a hospital midwife with me whilst waiting for my LMC to arrive). I would talk to your LMC about your concerns and ask what monitoring etc she normally does. ------------- 
 
|
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 10 August 2008 at 1:51pm
|
As my first was an induction I was attached to the CTG machine the whole time so Andrew's HB was checked all the time. With Josh it was taken every 10-15 minutes as there were no problems. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 10 August 2008 at 3:09pm
|
I'd say the 3-6 mins would only be if they suspected fetal distress, otherwise it's usually intermittent. I had continuous monitoring with all of mine as I was on synto drip.
My m/w kept very detailed notes during my labours and gave me copies of them afterwards which has helped me to process things in my head - funny how much you forget! Her notes are like 12.45am small decels in fetal heartbeat 12.48am fetal heartrate back to baseline of 120bpm etc. -------------  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)
|
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 10 August 2008 at 3:12pm
|
I just wanted to add too that sometimes there is nothing the midwife/doctor can do to change the outcome. My brother was brain damaged at birth due to being a precipitated delivery, and it wouldn't have mattered who was there or how much he was monitored, he just came too quickly. And Chiara was getting very distressed with contractions when I was about 7cm dilated and we had no choice but to let things run their course as there was no time to organise a c-sect or assisted delivery, fortunately she was born within a few mins. ------------- 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)
|
Posted By: AliaDawn
Date Posted: 10 August 2008 at 3:26pm
|
I would've seriously had a little tanty at my MW if she insisted on checking the heartbeat every 3-6 mins for no specific reason while I was in labour! And I only laboured for 4 hours.. imagine 3-6 mins for 24-36 hours! -------------  
 
|
Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 10 August 2008 at 4:00pm
| It's only if they notice fetal distress. I was hooked up to ctg, that thingy in bubs head lol, 2 things for my bp, epi and synto so there was no way I was going anywhere! Jack was distressed and the labour wasn't going well so he was monitored constantly. I was told if I didn't push him out by x time (15 mins) that I would have a c-section, so its good in some cases to have it so that they know what's going on. But like others said, if all seems well at the beginning they'll only check you a few times. |