When to find a midwife?
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Topic: When to find a midwife?
Posted By: lovingmummyhood
Subject: When to find a midwife?
Date Posted: 08 October 2008 at 11:33am
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Hi, apologies if this has been covered before. I did a search but couldn't find info on when to look for a midwife.
Reading through threads the theme seems to be 'as early as possible', but how early is too early? And also, I know that there are midwives listed in the phonebook and stuff but I'm worried that I might choose the wrong one  I have friends with kids (toddlers now) so could ask them but don't know if I want to tell them this early.
Well, that's more of a 'think aloud' than a question sorry. Any thoughts you want to add will be appreciated, thanks 
edited because I seem to have typing issues today lol - I didn't a search ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Replies:
Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 08 October 2008 at 11:46am
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They say if you live anywhere Wellington that you need to have one hand holding a pos test and the phone in the other calling the midwife. SUCH a huge shortage.
People have called midwives before they've told their husbands. heeehehehe That always makes me laugh! Anyway, good way is to ask on here. Figure we already know and most of us have had a kid in the last 4 years or so! 
Congrats
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Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 08 October 2008 at 11:47am
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Now is not too early. In fact you really don't want to leave it much longer. I started calling around midwives at 5 wks and some were already booked up. You can go through your yellow pages or contact your doctor for a list of midwives in your area. There are also some lists on the internet try http://www.everybody.co.nz/page-a2eb1cea-5909-4788-a532-5d6e5d211321.aspx - http://www.everybody.co.nz/page-a2eb1cea-5909-4788-a532-5d6e5d211321.aspx or http://www.midwife.org.nz - www.midwife.org.nz .
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Posted By: Mrs_B
Date Posted: 08 October 2008 at 12:18pm
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I rang my midwife before I told my husband as I know she is really popular and I didn't want to miss out! That was at 4 weeks. I actually asked on the TradeMe parenting board for recommendations. Her name got mentioned the most. I meet with her at 5 weeks to see if we got on - which we did. She actually recommended seeing a few other midwives to find someone I felt comfortable but I didn't think I needed to and I was too tired to bother! lol -------------  
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Posted By: Bobbie
Date Posted: 08 October 2008 at 2:49pm
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Yeah I booked my midwife as soon as I got the two lines. It's a bit tough because there is a chance that by the time you get to meet her if you don't get on it's going to be too late to find another but better to have at least one sorted anyway.
My sis is stuffed at the moment because the Doc told her she didn't have to find a MW until 12 weeks. Umm yes true you don't have to pick an LMC until then but you'd think he'd have pointed out that there's a huge shortage.  -------------  
 
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Posted By: Danaj
Date Posted: 08 October 2008 at 3:19pm
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I booked mine at 5 weeks. I just changed last week as she wasn't my cup of tea but I was seriously surprised that I got one this late. I think she squished me in cause she felt bad for me.
Call your GP as I was sent a list of all the registered MW's in my area and their phone numbers. I think I rung the ministry of health and they sent it to me?? Alot of MW's hire rooms with other practices so they're not all listed in the yellow pages. The list I got sent was about 6 pages long so it gives you the best range to choose from. Talking to friends is a great idea but I chose my last MW as a friend had her and loved her but she and I just didn't gel. It's all a personal choice. What area are you in? Perhaps some of the ladies on here can share their experiences with local MW's in your area to help you choose. ------------- http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wyI1oWn/"> 
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Posted By: Mum2L
Date Posted: 08 October 2008 at 4:01pm
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I had my midwife booked at 4 weeks, which was a good thing, as I she only had a couple of spaces left for people with EDD in January!!! I found out I was pregnant at 3 weeks 4 days, just so you know how quickly on got on to it. But this is only because I live in Wellington, and there is a midwife shortage in this region. My GP told me to get onto it pronto. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: solitairediamond
Date Posted: 08 October 2008 at 5:07pm
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I didn't get one until 10 weeks as my doctor suggested I wait until then as I'd had a previous miscarriage. I was really lucky to get one then though- I had no idea it was going to be a problem. Luckily I found a midwife who had been away on holiday and was coming back the following week and hadn't booked in clients for my month. I wouldn't have listened to my doc if I'd known what a shortage there was! ------------- [IMG]http://lb2f.lilypie.com/9p2jp12.png [IMG] |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 08 October 2008 at 7:37pm
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If you have a BFP it is never too early. My mw can book up so quickly that I called her on the night I found out! Hadn't even told our folks hehe. -------------  |
Posted By: 11111
Date Posted: 08 October 2008 at 7:38pm
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I jsut used the same M/W I had with boy so texted her straight away after testing. I think she would find room for me later anyway but I was keen to share my news. ------------- Deborah Mum to:   
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Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 08 October 2008 at 7:55pm
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Yes I would get on to it now! My GP also told me to get one around 12 -14 weeks! & something I read said 12 weeks as well!
I had to try a few to get one to fit me in. Funnily though the orginal midwife I wanted ended up delivering my baby...funny how things work. ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com"> 
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: Febgirl
Date Posted: 08 October 2008 at 8:10pm
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My doctor gave me contact details of a midwife referral service - we made an appointment and sat down with them, the lady asked lots of questions and then gave us a short list of independent midwives who they thought we would like. I said I wanted a young midwife for example, so that helped narrow it down.
For the life of me I can't remember the name of the referral place - it was on the shore so someone else might know the name? |
Posted By: Mum2ET
Date Posted: 08 October 2008 at 8:17pm
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When I went to the docs to confim the pregnancy she referred me onto a midwife consultant who we meet with when I was around 6 weeks and then the consultant matched me up with a midwife- it made life so much easier having someone do the ringing around for me and she basically sent me a letter a week or so with the midwifes details and I called her just to make sure she sounded alright. ------------- Mum to Ella (5) and Tom (2) |
Posted By: Babykatnz
Date Posted: 08 October 2008 at 8:17pm
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I had heard to get one more or less as soon as you find out... and im due mid-june... so was suprised when the mw told me I was her first June client... ------------- Brandon - 05/12/2003  
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Posted By: mummyofprinces
Date Posted: 08 October 2008 at 8:22pm
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Esther I booked mine at 4 weeks, she laughed at me but in a nice way. She did think it was funny that I was so organised.
I know a woman due in January who didnt get one until 15 weeks and another woman due in April who got one at 9 weeks. I dont think you have to be as quick in Auckland as you do in Wellington. I cant remember where abouts in Auckland you are.... -------------   
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Posted By: Febgirl
Date Posted: 09 October 2008 at 9:55am
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As an aside, if you want to do antenatal classes through the parents centre (which are the most popular antenatal classes) then you should book those at the same time as your midwife.
Sounds silly but they are incredibly popular - I didn't bother calling up to enroll until just before I was 12 weeks pregnant and we got the last spot in a 12 couple class of which they ran 3 a week! |
Posted By: MummyFreckle
Date Posted: 09 October 2008 at 11:06am
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I was about 8 weeks pregnant when I was trying to find a midwife...and I rang 13 before I found one that was even willing to meet with me. Next time around I would be calling my preffered m/w right after I call my husband!!!!!! Not sure whereabouts in Auckland you are - but if you are fairly central - you could try the Midwives Collective in Mt Eden / Balmoral. They are a team of about 6, and most of them are lovely!
------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: lovingmummyhood
Date Posted: 09 October 2008 at 4:18pm
Cool, thanks heaps ladies 
I've started looking and will call some tomorrow afternoon, after I have my second lot of bloods back (just to be sure its real lol) Its still kind of weird but in a really really good way. I'm near Waimauku/Helensville, north of Auckland :) ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Emmecat
Date Posted: 09 October 2008 at 5:29pm
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Good luck Funlvn I was also told by friends and my GP that there was a huge mw shortage in Wgtn but it didn't seem to be any bother at all finding one...although I swapped my first one in about a week and now am v happy with the lovely lady I have now. She said yes to me straight away so that as good lol -------------   http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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