Midwife been discussing my son with mums-to-be

Morgan_Ree

Why not send her a letter (or phone if you're brave!) asking for an apology
I couldn't phone. I'd turn into an irrate high pitched mess (i get very high pitched when I'm angry! )

She'll either flat out deny she did anything wrong, in which case if you want to take it further the I think then consensus would be on you proving she has broken patient confidentiality, rather than on her proving she hasn't iyswim

Or she may reply with an apology in which case you would have been right all along and basking in your glory will be justice enough

Unless of course you really hate her that is......

patchwork_cat

I disagree - I think the OP has every reason to feel that the midwife has said too much - albeit all nonsensical in the context! One wonders what she was thinking and how poor her science bakground is to try to recommend a test by pointing out the case were it was inaccurate, but still.

The OP has pointed out also that not only does this midwife not have a rudimentary grasp of science,and patient confidentiality, but that she is dismissive of experienced mum's gut feelings. To dismiss lack of feeling of movements as being overweight is not listening to a mum who has already had a pregnancy and whilst every pregnancy is different perhaps if she had taken the OP's concerns seriously the Down's syndrome would have been detected earlier and enabled the OP to have the knowledge and ability to prepare earlier. ( Also would an overweight mum really feel less movement that a thin one, the baby is on the inside after all!)
Am I correct in assuming that a diagnosis of Down's was not made before your DS's birth?

patchwork_cat

Earlier some one mentioned making a complaint to the head of midwifery - would that not be a good route to go down? Are you also dissapointed that there was arguments about which health visitor would do your DS's routine visits? I think I would be - what's the matter would that involve too much effort on their behalf?

esmerelda98

clairehi wrote: »

This makes no sense.
The OP had the blood test and it came back as low risk, her LO was then born with Down Syndrome so the test was misleading.
Why would the midwife use this as an example to persuade others to have the blood test?

That's why I said there has been at least one mistake in 'translation'. Are we sure it is the only one? Please note, however, that no test is 100% perfect. This is (one of the reasons) why there is always debate about whether a test that has been developed should be available on the NHS. There is all the worry you put people through, all the extra tests (which are often more invasive) when some people who test positive will be found to not have the condition on further investigation.

Morgan_Ree

patchwork_cat wrote: »

I disagree - I think the OP has every reason to feel that the midwife has said too much - albeit all nonsensical in the context! One wonders what she was thinking and how poor her science bakground is to try to recommend a test by pointing out the case were it was inaccurate, but still.

I don't think it's fair to question her 'science' background
Perhaps whilst recommending the test she was advising things can, and occasionaly do go wrong with regards to the tests accuracy (which she should be doing anyway!)

patchwork_cat

Morgan_Ree wrote: »

I don't think it's fair to question her 'science' background
Perhaps whilst recommending the test she was advising things can, and occasionaly do go wrong with regards to the tests accuracy

Does midwifery not require a fair understanding of a good scientific test - I think it does. I believe that midwifery is a BSc therefore a science background is a given.

angelicmary85

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

I think that being happy for her to be sacked for pointing out that you were less likely to feel movements when you are two stone overweight and getting so furious about her mentioning to other mums that there are cases of children with Down's is unreasonable. This lady told me that I was too fat to feel my baby move...then said to me when he was born, I wonder if that's why he wasn't moving. I questioned her about it and she suspected something and didn't say....that, to me, is unreasonable.

It may be wonderful for you to have your lovely little boy, but for some people, it would be too much for them to bear. All the 'well, I won't care if it's my child' in the antenatal appointments can go out of the window once it's a harsh reality that a child has a potentially life limiting condition.

Midwives will see these people. They see husbands who storm out, never to be seen again, they see mothers in pieces or unable to bond with their children due to shock diagnoses. They also see people who have found out at testing and have used the time to adjust to the idea and welcome their special babies into the world and parents who are surprised but accept it without demur.

It is their job to provide information and in your case (if you really have the only child with Downs for miles and miles and miles - 'mine's the only child with Downs in the town' seems unlikely to me), giving the example that young women can also have babies with Downs, 'as shown by a young woman last year', is hardly a breach of confidentiality, but more a effort to try and encourage mums to take advantage of the tests available. I understand that it doesn't sound likey, but it really is the truth. The only children around with Down's are about 30miles away from here.

Fewer children with Downs are placed into residential care or put up for adoption since testing was available - one of the reasons for this is that parents are better prepared and supported now many have a prenatal diagnosis. This means to me that these children are more likely to be wanted and loved than in any time in the past, which is the right of every child, IMO.

Being told you were a bit porky is unpleasant and tactless, but not grounds for trying to get her sacked for giving mums nonspecific information in an effort to improve child health.

I've put a couple of comments in red.

angelicmary85

esmerelda98 wrote: »

You haven't said anything new. You don't know of anyone else, that doesn't mean there isn't anyone else. Have you considered areas surrounding your immediate locale, there may be children there with Down's.QUOTE]

The consultant paed for this area informed me that she never had to come to my town before as there was never any kids here born with Down's. There is a playgroup about 30miles away for the kids there with Down's and all those kids live in that town.

esmerelda98

patchwork_cat wrote: »

Does midwifery not require a fair understanding of a good scientific test - I think it does. I believe that midwifery is a BSc therefore a science background is a given.

This information was relayed to the OP by a third party. You don't seem to consider whether the third party, or indeed the OP, has misunderstood. That is actually a much more likely scenario.

Morgan_Ree

patchwork_cat wrote: »

Does midwifery not require a fair understanding of a good scientific test - I think it does. I believe that midwifery is a BSc therefore a science background is a given.

No it's not a given.
Most of the student midwives at my uni have come from a care assistant/maternity assistant background having done an access to HE course at college

But anyway read the second part of my last post
I'd like to think she was just making the mums to be aware of all upto date info reg this test. Including the 'not so good' parts such as occasional inaccuracy
Which is exactly what she should be doing.