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"My experience was not a good one"

About: Western Isles Hospital / Maternity care

(as the patient),

I was induced at 38 weeks and 1 day because I had a diagnosis of gestational diabetes which I didn't have, my readings where all below target levels and the consultant who made the diagnosis told my midwife I didn't have diabetes and was borderline, we had argued the diagnosis with the Doctor and they made me feel stupid after saying that I clearly didn't write the questions myself and it felt like I was being accused of lying,

I had early bleeding in the start of my pregnancy and needed 2 scans to check everything was ok with my baby, when I rang the hospital on a Sunday I was told to ring back the next day as no one was there who could help, there was no note put on my badger notes about the bleeding I had or that I had rang about it.

My partner and I attended the hospital first thing the next morning and the gel was inserted a few hours later, the midwife who did the gel was great she checked on me every hour, she put me on a monitor in the afternoon, my contractions started just before I was put on the monitor, she then inserted a 2nd gel at about 15 minutes later to speed things along. My contractions started to get more intense and 1 minute apart in the early evening , my partner told me to press the buzzer if they continued at the same rate which I did, he told the midwife who had taken over that my contractions was 1 minute apart and had been for a while expecting her to take us to the labour room, he asked her if we'd be going to the labour room which she replied that she would come back to check and put me on the monitor. The midwife came back at the time she said to put me on the monitor and my partner asked again if we'd be going to the labour room soon or if they planned on breaking my waters. The midwife replied that I had hours yet and that they wouldn't be breaking my waters as it would be too much work for the night staff.

She asked me if I wanted her to do an internal examination which I didn't want, and she finally agreed to take us to the labour room about half an hour later. In the labour room I finally agreed to the examination to which I was told I was 5-6cm dilated, I told the midwife I wasn't able to carry on and it was too much, knowing my own body and, as this was my 5th baby I knew it wasn't going to long before my baby was born. I had the sudden urge to push about 20 minutes later, and very soon afterwards my baby was born weighing 6lb 15oz,

I have had gestational diabetes 3 times before and babies weighed 10lb 7oz, 9lb 7oz (both born at 39 weeks and 5 days 11 and 1/2 months apart) and 8lb 6 and 1/2 oz born at 37 weeks and 6 days, my experience of Western Isle's hospital was not a good one, most of my other babies have been born in England and  one was born in Glasgow, I wouldn't like to have another baby but if it did happen I hope my experience would be a lot better than this time.

 

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Responses

Response from Catherine Macdonald, Maternity Ward Manager, NHS Western Isles 9 months ago
Catherine Macdonald
Maternity Ward Manager,
NHS Western Isles
Submitted on 10/07/2023 at 14:23
Published on Care Opinion at 14:47


I am very sorry to hear about your experience and happy to facilitate a debrief of the situation if you would like.

Kind regards

Catherine Macdonald

Head of Midwifery

Western Isles Hospital

01851704704 ext 2300

catherine.macdonald5@nhs.scot

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