Midwife gave me a bollocking today for...

[WhipMeIndiana]

...losing my green notes!!!

She seemed to think I'd done it on purpose!

[WhipMeIndiana]

I am 36 weeks, and requesting a el c/sec so I guess things are a tad more complex, but jeez! I can't be the first person EVER to lose the damn things.........
...........................
.............can I?

[WhipMeIndiana]

....obviously I am......

[cupsoftea]

why couldn't she work without them?

[Sidge]

Is that your patient held record of your midwifery notes?

In that case it's the only copy, they don't keep a duplicate of everything, just the basics from each visit eg wee, BP etc. The obstetricians notes may only have been written in your record and there will not necessarily be any other evidence of his/her assessments of you.

Oh and they are a medico-legal document, are held for 25 years and separate to all your other medical records!

So it's really quite awkward if they are lost.

[FrannyandZooey]

I bet you aren't the only one to ever lose them though - I mean obviously it was wildly stupid but I am a sufferer of preghead also
I have wondered about this before - what happens if they go missing - would it be hard for there to be a back up copy somewhere?

[LynetteScavo]

The reason women are given thier notes to look after, is because they get lost a lot less often that when they were left with the midwives in the olden days.

Where did you loose them?

My midwife told me they usually get handed in at the surgery if someone looses them.

[Sidge]

F&Z in our area there is no full back up copy, just a surgery held/midwife maintained copy of the basics eg wee, BP, lie, FHR etc

[DaisySteiner]

Bit pointless bollocking you after the event - might have been useful to impress on you how important they are before you lost them

[FrannyandZooey]

oh no, I know there isn't a back up copy (well there isn't here, AFAIK)
I just wondered how complicated it would be for patient to have one set and midwife another
it seems more sensible

[WhipMeIndiana]

the whole scenario is very strange - - -I know they photocopied my blood test results and have them somewhere in Wythenshawe hospital,,,but all the rest I could tell her. I offered to fill in another one, she said 'it's not that simple you know'

I do bleedin' know!! I get that they are crucial!! I had dd's 2nd birthday party on sunday and my mum came to stay to help me prep (as I am so pregnant and knackered all the time) the notes ALWAYS live on the kitchen window sill, I always see them every day, I kept them safe for 8 mths, Ive been pg before and not lost them...it has driven me insane looking for them...

all I can surmise is someone 'tidied' them up for the party and they got thrown away. Seriously, they are nowhere, they have vanished.

[WhipMeIndiana]

she was completely flummoxed.
she said, amongst other things...

'well, I hope they have not been thrown away' (like I could do anything about that..)

'you really must look for them again'

(Ive looked for 3 days and now I refuse to look any more!!)

'but I dont know any of your history! How do you expect me to deal with you?'

(er...I can answer any question you wish to ask...my medical history is my favourite subject....!!!)

[hertsnessex]

hope they turn up.

loving the 'where did you loose them....' question though - i am guessing if she knew that she wouldnt be posting!!!

[WhipMeIndiana]

and then, I told her Id decided to have a section, and she said...'but why? you are so tall I dont think you'd have those problems again'

And I said...WTF (in my head )

I have very very good reasons for c-sectioning it this time!! (traumatic birth, 2 post natal operations, 3rd deg tear scar stitched, healed, unstitched in further surgery and healed again!!)))))))

[WhipMeIndiana]

why why why do I get the dullards
the HV and MW s who are trout-like and pigeon brained and don't seem to care and treat me as if I am one BIG HASSLE!!!

[snotbuster]

You're not the only one - I lost our red book when DS was little . Think it did get thrown into the recycling box, amongst a pile of papers and magazines. I had faithfully filled in all the milestone dates etc . Health Visitor didn't care (they do have their own notes at that stage) but I did.

[WhipMeIndiana]

we are such terrible mummies

[chocbiscuits]

I got in trouble when I went for my first scan as I'd brought all the wrong bits of paper and not some important stickers with my name and address on. Apparantly they sent them in the post, I dont remember ever seeing them....

[cupsoftea]

even with no notes they can look after you - what about people going to a&e do they say sorry where are your notes!!!

[lljkk]

I usually forgot my papers for most antenatal appts. both of my last 2 pregnancies (placenta brain mummy). Didnt seem to matter much.

[SheherazadetheGoat]

i lost all my note stuff as i left the hospital with dd. no DARED bollock me or i would have squirted my catheter at them

[solo]

I guess that because pregnancy is not a permanent medical thing, they really don't need the extra paperwork hanging around? plus they'd have to fill two lots in each time you visit/have a problem, also, if the MW had them and you ended up visiting a relative or someone miles away and ended up in hospital, where are your notes...in your local hospital/with MW. That's why you are supposed to take them everywhere you go...even supermarket shopping.
The thing is, if they lost your medical notes, had no idea where they'd ' disappeared' to, you'd be annoyed, hell no, livid and rightly so, you'd probably start thinking of all the people that could steal your identity etc, even consider suing them. Well, you've lost it and the same thing could happen. Hopefully you'll find them in a drawer somewhere all safe.

I remember being handed mine and told they are the only notes and if you lose them, there are no copies anywhere.

Hope you find them.x

[Bundle]

what did you want her to do, congratulate you?

[thehouseofmirth]

I always thought it was stupid to trust pg women with something so vital. Perhaps it's a test to see if you can be trusted with a baby?! The hospital lost my notes when I going from labour ward to theatre for them to deliver DS by ventouse. I was only a few ml from needing a blood transfusion and they didn't know my blood group...

[WhipMeIndiana]

oooh thanks for your comment bundle...

yes, I expected a hearty handshake and a well done......

or maybe I expected to be treated with some respect by a 'medical professional' instead of being made to feel I had ruined her day because of something outside my control!!

[wonderstuff]

What is the point of telling you off? I would prob. have burst into tears, i was so sensitive when pg. You're not the first and wont be the last..