Midwife wanting records from all births. Is this normal?

[Azreial]

I'm planning my 1st hb, and we've interviewed one mw so far. She wanted the complete records from all of my pregnancies.

I figured I would be asked for something from my c/s but I thought wanting the pg and birth records for all of my children was a bit odd.

I don't even know if I can get the records from my 1st. The practice that attended is no longer there. I told her that and she said she was sure that the birth center would have those records. I know for a fact that they don't. They only have records from dd and most of my pg with the twins.

Is this standard practice? We're interviewing another mw tomrrow and another on Sunday so it may be a non-issue but I'm curious.

Also when I called the ob's office that did my section about my records they said that my new provider just needs to send a request for the records and they'd send them there when I asked about getting a copy of my records. Is that normally how it works?

[sjuffs]

As far as a Midwife wanting all of your obstetrical history that would be very normal for her to want to know what happened in each previous pregnancy and delivery and if she should be aware of anything like even if you had high blood pressure one pregnancy she would want to that for the next pregnancy. I know my midwife usually phones and can get records.

[Mom2SammyJoe]

That is one way to get them. You can also have a copy of records sent to you personally, then you have them and can share them as you see fit. This may be a good idea since a lot of offices charge you, per page, for your records, even to be sent to other providers. It would be cheaper to copy them yourself.
In either case, you will have to sign a form or submit your request in writing to get your records.
It seems like you delivery reports would be enough info, since these usually summarize any complications during the pregnancy. Your OB may have all of these, but since they were sent from other practices, you may have to request them specifically. Usually, when you request records, you get only your records from that office, not stuff that was sent to them by others.

[Full Heart]

Mine is probably different cause I have only had hb and mws. All the mws know each other. I was never asked for records. I guess if they are really curious about something they would just call up the other mws and ask them.

[mbhf]

My midwife said it would be helpful if I could get my records from previous births, but she didn't require them. I got the records from my most recent birth, and we did talk a lot about my other pregnancies and births.

You can go in and get a copy of your records, but for whatever reason, I found it really difficult to get my records from a hospital based CNM group that I used for part of one of my pregnancies. They didn't want to give them up, and I didn't even birth with them.

[Jenivere]

My midwife wanted to know about it and know any pertinent medical history but she didn't require my actual records.

[munkeesmama]

I don't see it as odd, but it would be annoying. Mine only wanted to know what my pregnancy histories were, and then the post operative reports from my 2 cesereans. (Which I requested RIGHT after the cesereans, for other reasons).

[nashvillemidwife]

I would like to see them all. I don't know why it would be annoying to sign some papers so she could request them, unless she's making you get them yourself. I don't think it's standard or reasonable to expect you to track down who might have an existing copy of records from a practice that has closed.

[Azreial]

I guess I think its weird because when I switched from the closed practice to the bc who treated me for dd's pg/birth and most of my twin pg I was never asked for records. Then when I risked out of the pc in the twin's pg the ob only wanted the records from that pg.

Yeah I do have to pay by the page for the records if I want them for myself and just at the bc my file is 2-3" thick. I imagine the ob's office has to be similar since I was forever in there and getting u/s with the high risk specialist

If my records are being sent to another hcp then there's no charge but the mw isn't liscened, so I don't know if that would count

[Azreial]

Originally Posted by nashvillemidwife

I would like to see them all. I don't know why it would be annoying to sign some papers so she could request them, unless she's making you get them yourself. I don't think it's standard or reasonable to expect you to track down who might have an existing copy of records from a practice that has closed.

she wants me to get them myself and then get them to her to review before she'll give me the "all clear" to work with her.

[nashvillemidwife]

That sucks.

[ColoradoMama]

Originally Posted by Azreial

she wants me to get them myself and then get them to her to review before she'll give me the "all clear" to work with her.

Does she have a fax? Maybe the bc could just fax them to her and save you the cost?

Oh - and CONGRATS! :

[barefootpoetry]

It's not weird that she wants to see them, but a little weird that she wants them before she can work with you. Are you considered high risk or something? Seems like a lot of work for someone who might turn you away. Can't she request them herself? For free might I add?

[amydidit]

My last midwife said it would be "nice" if I could get my records, but not a big deal if I couldn't. She believed what I told her about my last births. Heck, I can't get the records from my oldest DD's birth. She's 12 now. The brith center no longer has the records.

[rockportmidwife]

We request records for C-sections and any complicated pregnancies that we may have questions about. For normal pregnancies we get some info from the client and take their word on things.

[prothyraia]

Originally Posted by Azreial

If my records are being sent to another hcp then there's no charge but the mw isn't liscened, so I don't know if that would count

It's not like they check...
I've had medical records sent to "Dr. MyHusband'sName" at my address before (we'd moved since I last saw that provider)

I'd be a little weirded out by someone needed to 'review' all your records before agreeing to work with you. I can see needing to check on, say, the type of incision for your c-section, but most other issues I would think could be covered just in conversation.

My second birth was a homebirth, and my midwife did want to see all the prenatal, L&D, and postpartum care records for my older son. But we didn't end up getting ahold of them until I was over 30 weeks along, and it wasn't a problem. None of the other midwives I interviewed wanted to see them before agreeing to work with me, either.

[nashvillemidwife]

If a client transfers to me later in pregnancy I will request to review her records from the current pregnancy before agreeing to take her, but there would have to be extenuating circumstances for needing to review records from past pregnancies before I would agree to work with someone.

[Azreial]

no I'm not high risk, I'm actually currently being seen by a bc and have been cleared to deliver with them, at the hospital.

I'm 13 weeks and have only had one prenatal so there isn't much for records in this pg

I totally understand the c-section records.

I dunno... we're interview another mw tonight and 2 more on Sunday so it may not even be an issue. I just thought it was odd

[jenmidwife2b]

I request records from my clients as well, the more history I have, the better. If she's unable to get some of her records, I don't sweat it, but it's nice to have. I just have them sign a release and then either they or I will contact their former provider to have them send the records. It's pretty standard I think to request all of your records.

[MamaRabbit]

Sometimes it can be helpful to have the records. One mama had PP hemorrhage after her previous 2 births and after looking at the records... maybe it was because the homebirth midwives used CYTOTEC to induce her at 41 weeks for both births??? That helped me see that most likely her history of PPH was iatrogenic.

Not necessary but helpful depending on the circumstances.