does your midwife take blood?

[Beth-TX]

My midwife took a couple vials of blood on my first visit with her. At every subsequent visit since, she has asked me, "have we gotten your labs back?", then goes through the motions of looking for them and says she'll call the lab and have them send them over. I'm concerned that someone lost the blood or results somewhere along the way (my midwife is *painfully* disorganized, but otherwise very caring and good at her job) and she'll want to take more blood.

So, my question is, do all or most midwives even take blood and do lab work? What are they testing for? I'm a generally very healthy person, have already had a healthy pregnancy--do I really need these tests? I'm thinking about refusing if she asks for more blood.

Thanks for your help!

peace, Beth

[kerikadi]

My MW does take blood. Last time though I worked at a surgery center and just had them draw it. This time I went to my GP practice because they are covered by insurance but my MW is out of network so I end up paying more $$. My MW always wants a prenatal screen which includes HcG results, iron, HIV and platelet count - I am sure there is other stuff but that is all I can think of right now.

Keri

[pamamidwife]

I can only speak from my experience, but when I have alot of clients and extra stuff going on in my family life, things get put on the back burner. Perhaps calling her and asking her in between visits will help jog her memory.

I used to think that my mentor midwife was just getting older - now I realize that it's hard to keep everything together with more and more clients.

[marisa]

my midwife does blood at the first visit too. i can't believe she hasn't gotten your results back!!! i got mine back my second visit. hmmm.....

[shanetedissac]

My CPM in CT requires that I have the initial blood work done. She does not draw it herself. I went to a CNM to have it done. I'm not positive on what they are testing but HIV is one of them and probably a CBC (complete blood count), typing and such. I do it because if we have to transport then my baby will not have to be tested for HIV. If I had not done the blood work and did not have proof that I tested negative for HIV they would have tested the baby. I DO NOT want them handling my baby with unnecessary procedures.