"I don't feel I had the support I should have had"

I was 35 weeks and 6 days pregnant when my waters broke, I went downstairs to Day Assessment, the midwives said that my husband had to go home and that he was able to come back later.

I tried to get some sleep but couldn’t really get much as I was feeling a little bit anxious of what was going to happen. My husband came back and I was fine throughout the day. I went on a couple of walks, had a bath and something to eat, I had slight mild contractions but they weren’t consistent, the day went on and quite quickly too.

In the evening I could start to feel my contractions a bit more coming and going. I asked to be monitored but the midwife said I wasn’t able unless I was contracting back-to-back minutes apart - I found this quite odd, the midwife explained that because I’m only 35 weeks 6days I possibly wouldn’t have the real contractions and it would only be Braxton hicks.

Time went on... I could start to feel them a bit more stronger, I asked if a doctor could examine me but when the doctor came to check they said that they don’t feel it being wise as I’m still not full term and they didn’t want to induce anything and to see how I got on. I told the doctor I will see how I go and let it be at that.

I started to bleed, it was on my pad and when going to the toilet, little spots of blood was passing in my wee. It was changeover with the staff, my contractions became more regular and stronger, I asked for pain relief but I was only allowed to have painkillers as I hadn’t been checked and wasn’t on delivery suite. I started to be sick, the contractions were quite strong and painful, my husband got asked to leave as they still didn’t check whether I was in established Labour - I believe if I had been checked before he went home, I would have been taken to delivery or they would have realized I was in Labour and let him stay.

My husband went home and I continued to be sick. I was in a lot of pain, I was still bleeding and I asked to have a doctor check me, when the midwife kept coming back they said the doctor was busy and maybe I should try to take a shower or have a bath. I explained that the pain was to much and that it was not safe for me to have a bath or shower.

I continued to have back-to-back contractions. I finally had someone come downstairs to me to check me and then take me straight up to delivery, I was 6-7cm. Within half hour to 40 minutes I then got to 9cm and started to need to push. My husband was called to come to the hospital and was with me 10 minutes before I started to push our baby out.

My baby was monitored for 20 minutes by the neonatal nurse and then needed to be taken to intensive care. I feel like my labour was very traumatic - I believe if someone had listened and come downstairs to check me sooner I could have had my husband with me, I don't feel I had the support I should have had and feel let down by my experience.

I understand that I was only 35 weeks and 6 days but I should have still been monitored more closely. I don't feel that the midwifes on duty that night downstairs listened to me or seemed to have cared and that I was just a nuisance. I felt really neglected by the team and alone. I was in a lot of pain, sleep deprived and dehydrated and still nothing was done.

It's a shame, as I think the midwifes are a great team at Treliske, I could not fault the midwife who checked me and listened and took me upstairs and the midwife who helped me deliver my baby, everyone was fantastic from that point, it was only downstairs that wasn't great. Thanks for reading my feedback.