Maternity Notes

dreambirdie

Just wonering if anyone has requested a copy of their maternity notes after the birth of their baby?

i had my son 4 months ago and i would like to know more about what happened during the birth and why it happened.

does anyone know what the procedure is to go about obtaining the notes?

stepharoo

Hiya,

I haven't personally obtained notes from my daughter's birth but here are a couple of links for you:

http://www.nct.org.uk/info-centre/information/view-38

http://www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/antenatalhealth/testsandcare/howgetmaternityrecords/

Good luck x

mrsvicx

I obtained copies of all my notes from my pregnancy and birth of my son. It cost me about £30 if I remember rightly and I think I just wrote to the records department at the hospital (sorry I cant be more helpful, my friend was a midwife at the same hospital and so I just did what she told me!!)

freddie_2

I got mine for DD and will do so for DS. t was brlliant to be able to read about what happened and a lovely thng to keep, esp for DD if she has children.

I applied to hospital and they sent out forms etc, think it was 50 pounds.

Loulou2010

you could try contacting the PALS of your hospital. you may have to pay a small fee if you want to take them home to read though

rachbc

If it was difficult birth it might be worth asking if one of the midwives can go thrugh the notes with you and debrief what happened - a friend of mine did this and found it very beneficial, rather than just reading though the notes yourself which might leave you with more questions than answers.

honeypop

rachbc wrote: »

If it was difficult birth it might be worth asking if one of the midwives can go thrugh the notes with you and debrief what happened - a friend of mine did this and found it very beneficial, rather than just reading though the notes yourself which might leave you with more questions than answers.

This is true, I asked to see a copy of my notes from the birth of my son, as I'm now expecting the next one in February and wanted more information to base my decision to have a CS or VBAC, and the midwife explained that you really wouldn't make head nor tail of a lot of what is written if it was not a straight forward labour and delivery (unless you are in that line of work obviously) and wouldn't be at all beneficial to read it by yourself as you'll still have the same questions. They made me an appointment with a consultant to go through my notes and explain what happened and why, but she did say you can get a 'debrief' with a midwife following the birth if you feel like you need to, where they will go through the notes with you.

You definitely have to pay for the copy of the notes though, so could be an expensive exercise if you are still not much wiser after reading them, when you could have gone through them with someone for free.

Your Health Visitor might be able to give you more information on this procedure.

dreambirdie

thanks for the replies going to give them a ring now to find out if ive to fill a form in to request them! x