"Maternity services"

Overall, I had a positive experience in the maternity unit. My community midwife was first-rate; supportive and positive about my home birth and determined to help me realise my birth wishes. Sadly she was not on call when i went into labour, so i didnt know the community midwives who attended my birth. They were nice ladies but as i hadnt met them, i was very glad to have my doula with me to ensure my birth plan wishes where followed.

The biggest problem with the service was that the midwives on call during the night (when most births happen) had been on shift all day, so when my birth was expected to last till 9/10am, they became increasingly unable to stay to facilitate a home birth. Consequently, i felt slightly pressured into transferring to hospital in the early hours. 

When i arrived at hospital, again i was eternally grateful for my doula interceding on my behalf. Despite my birth progressing better, the hospital maternity team were pressuring for interventions to speed things up. I agreed to continuous monitoring for a short period of time to ensure that all was well and despite there being no cause for concern, some staff were then reluctant to allow me to stop the monitoring and actively tried to go against my wishes and not let me use the birth pool when it became available. Without my partner and doula fighting on my behalf, i felt some staff would have been happy to refuse my requests when there was no good reason to do so, and were too quick to insist on interventions that were not necessary.  

I was also disappointed to find that there were no birthing balls, or floor mats available to use in the delivery suite and i was expected to remain on a bed during labour.

With my partner and doula interceding on my behalf, senior staff reluctantly let me use the birth pool and allowed my birth to progress at its own pace and as a result i enjoyed a natural delivery with gas and air and no other interventions. 

The midwife who attended my birth in the hospital was also first-rate, she was supportive and calm, and had a level of trust in my capacity to have a natural birth that other staff lacked. I felt she was on my side, and supported me to make informed decisions about my care. As did the senior consultant who carried out my last scan.

There was a total mix in the attitude of the consultants and other hospital staff during my pregnancy and birth. Some were wonderful, supportive and left me feeling empowered and supported in my care decisions. And others left me feeling overridden and disempowered, including. Examples of phrases that I feel should be avoided are things like "we won't let you..." "we don't let ..."  "you can't ... " and references to things being "policy".

That said, i would like to thank the majority of those involved with my care for their support and dedication through my pregnancy and birth. Your care and consideration was very much appreciated and made my overall experience a positive one.

It would be great if funds could be found to make large birthing balls and floor mats available in the labour suite to facilitate more natural birthing positions and give expectant mums more freedom of movement during labour.

It is also unrealisitic to expect midwifes to support home births when on shift during the day and then on call overnight.