"Birthing experience"

Following admission in and out of a southern trust hospital (Craigavon Area Hospital) due to complications in my pregnancy I was sent to be induced.  Upon nearer the end of my Labour I was assisted by an amazing team in the delivery suite who are worth their weight in gold.

However there was a member of staff who was trying to encourage me towards end stages of labour while I was in pain and screaming (due to speed of labour, pain relief was not an option at this time ). I was screaming very loud and this member of staff decided that they felt it was okay to cover my mouth while I was screaming with their own hand.

I myself work within a sector of the southern trust and I am disgusted that this action was done in a full room of professionals. I should have a right to express my pain in an extremely traumatic and painful time in the way that is right for me. No one should think it is acceptable to cover a patients mouth with their own hands while the patient is in Labour about to push a baby out.

The experience of that alone is hard to come to terms with never mind a healthcare professional putting their hands over my mouth. I as a healthcare professional myself was completely taken back by this incident and I have reflected on it daily since then. I recollect the labour and this incident every day since then and I can’t shake this feeling that this is something that was done to me.