Pregnant with my first child I went to Causeway hospital with contractions at 35 weeks. When I arrived I was told I probably had a UTI since I had a small trace of blood in my urine but no other symptoms of a UTI which i told them.
When hooked up to the monitor for my contraction I was told I was having 4 contractions within 10 minutes but wasn't in labour. Was kept for the night to be monitored and was seen by retired midwives because lack of funding meant they were understaffed. Though caring they were unaware of the equipment I had the adjust my own heart monitor and the monitor for my baby.
Was then told I could go home even though I was still having contractions just further apart because of the steroid injection given in case of premature birth, which I later learned can delay labour. I returned to the hospital the next day and was told my UTI was actually thrush. That's why I was still in pain and why my plug had came out.
I was examined and was told an ambulance would come to take me to Altnagelvin hospital because I was 5cm dilated and even then a doctor had to argue over the phone with the doctors there that I needed to deliver my baby. As a first time mum it's scary enough without feeling like you're not being taken seriously when you know something is happening, to be told that I was not in labour that I just needed antibiotics. I could've given birth at home or worse lost my child.
If the maternity ward is to stay in the Causeway hospital it needs to be funded to have newly qualified midwives, to have a premature baby unit, to listen to first time mothers and not blow off the concerns they may have. And to finish my story the notion of send the father home after giving birth is beyond me, my child was born at 2 am and my partner was sent to drive home even though I was put in a private room in the Altnagelvin. I understand that with covid there are risks but while pregnant I was told constantly about postpartum depression, baby blues and need a "village" yet I was left alone in a hospital far from home, my baby in the NICU, my partner sent home with posters on the walls of my private room about SIDS.
I was in the hospital for 4 days ,only seeing my partner when we were with our baby in the NICU. On day 3 I couldn't stop sobbing and my partner pleaded with a midwife to let him stay with me in my room to help me. Stop sending support systems away from new mothers!
I don't expect to allow whole families in the room but 1 person to hold their hand is enough. My child is 7 months old now and to this day it still breaks my heart to remember being in that room all alone.
"I didn't feel listened to"
About: Causeway Hospital / Early Pregnancy Unit Causeway Hospital Early Pregnancy Unit BT52 1HS Maternity care / Ward 48 (labour ward) Maternity care Ward 48 (labour ward) Londonderry BT47 6SB
Posted by rainss75 (as ),
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Responses
See more responses from Brenda McClafferty
Update posted by rainss75 (the patient) about a year and a half ago
See more responses from Helen Weir