"Birth experience"

The care I received while in labour was awful . When I first arrived at Fetal assessment unit i was made to wait outside in the hallway for 30 mins having full blown contractions. When my partner knocked the door and asked for pain relief for myself as I was in so much pain, he was told I would get some when I finally was checked. I was only 2cm but having contractions every 3/4 minutes ( I had been to Fetal assessment 3 times in previous days with contractions but was told I was not in labour ).

The midwife told me I was not in labour again . I was given Co-codamol and told to get into the bath in the hospital and a midwife would come to check the baby’s heartbeat every 15 minutes. I was in the bath for two hours and not a single midwife came near me, my partner asked for pain relief for myself and they still refused to give me any as I was only 2cm (even though they had not checked me for 2 hours ). Finally a midwife came into me when I had screamed with the pain as I had felt the urge to push while in the bath alone with my partner . I was made to walk from the bathroom to a ward with only a towel wrapped round me which made me feel so undignified.

When I was checked I was fully dilated and had to be rushed to delivery suite and my daughter was born 15 minutes later, with only gas and air for pushing. I was not able to enjoy my labour with my first child as I was not able to receive any pain relief which I had wanted throughout my labour so I could enjoy this special time and more of a concern my daughters heart rate was not checked once until I got to the delivery suite and by then she was too far down my birth canal.

Although I will say the midwife’s in the delivery suite were fantastic! I understand that Fetal assement unit is very busy but they should of took some time to make sure 1. My daughter was okay and 2. To check if I had dilated any further as they have a duty of care .