"Birth and post-natal care"

I gave birth via emergency c-section following an induction. 

The ante-natal, induction and labour experience were fine. No one particularly likes an emergency c-section but it went well and we all came out tired but healthy. 

The post-natal experience was pretty awful. I think because I work in healthcare there was an assumption about what I knew and/or could advocate for despite not having slept in 24 hours and being doped up on pain medication. 

I knew my epidural was wearing off because I desperately needed the bathroom and my catheter was kinked. It took 2-3 times to get someone to check it and unkink it.

I felt like an inconvenience for needing help to lift my baby in the night but equally I was so exhausted from the long induction/labour I did not feel safe to hold him. The support for breastfeeding was very limited and unhelpful. The next day, I was given little to no help to get to the bathroom for the first time despite having had a PPH and no one told me to expect a certain amount of blood. I felt dizzy and sick. I had to cling onto the sink to avoid fainting. Had I fainted, I don't know that anyone would have known. 

I wanted to get cleaned up and no one offered/told me I could shower and that there would be a seat when I felt I couldn’t stand. I was told there was no wash basin to clean up and was handed a pack of wipes. 

Because of this unsupportive experience and only my husband being allowed to be there after 10:00am, I opted to go home early and was unable to have a proper shower for 3-4 days after labour as our bathroom requires you to climb in and I did not feel able. I was in immense pain at home and struggled but still feel I did better at home because my mum and husband actively supported me while I recovered. I was discharged with minimal pain relief. 

The community midwifery team were lovely but did not have any further help with breastfeeding and it was only because of a good friend who had previously breastfed that I felt able to continue and persevere. The GP was fantastic and made sure I got the right pain medication and laxatives when needed. 

As someone who has worked in hospital, I have never seen any other patients have major abdominal surgery be treated like this. The expectations would not be the same. Pain relief would be more available, yes mobility would be expected but with support and rest encouraged. I would have been supported to get changed and showered. I know for a fact in other maternity units, it is a requirement to shower before going home. I really wish this had been the case for me. I was truly disappointed and let down.