"Giving birth"

In October 2023 I gave birth to my son at New Cross Hospital. Bearing in mind I had few problems like anemia, underactive thyroid and anxiety about birth.

I arrived and only one nurse I could not remember the name was lovely, the rest of the nurses I was traumatised by apart from one.

I was begging for an epidural for 13 whole hours with no one giving me any recognition. A nurse came in shouting and telling me whether I know I am not always allowed epidurals.

I knew something was wrong as my labour was not progressing yet they were not allowing me to go the epidural room. I finally got to the epidural room after begging from 1pm to 2am. Which actually resulted in them saying I should have had a epidural as my sons head was stuck the wrong way and my sons heart rate was going down and I also developed sepsis pathway. I was told I needed to go to theatre and in the most careless way possible the doctor said I might die. I was crying in pain and they said to my partner to calm me down as I am getting out of hand.

A staff member while I was giving birth was literally messing with the star light and facing the other way just telling me to push, push and walking out the room, coming back in again saying ‘push’ not paying attention to me what’s so ever and looking at me like dirt.

After finally giving birth I had a catheter on. They left me in the catheter for 4 hours after me begging them to get rid of it as it’s full and leaking, yet they took another hour to come as they, including the previous staff member, were all having a meeting in the other room.

I also needed an injection for my sepsis infection and no cane for hours. They refused to let my mother and mother in law come and see the baby and said they weren’t allowed.

The hospital experience was worse bearing in mind I’m in my early twenties had no idea what I’m doing, I kept pressing the light for help and no one came for hours. I got looked at like dirt as if I was a silly young mom. I didn’t know what I was doing, I was hallucinating as I didn’t sleep for 3 nights in the hospital and begged to be discharged yet I wasn’t being listened to.

A midwife was saying if I discharge I will be reported for safe guarding issues as my son had congenital malformation at birth. Then they ended up saying sorry as they didn’t realise that issue had already been resolved.

Horrible experience and I do not want to give birth ever again. I will never forget that specific staff member and the other doctor treating me horribly. The only nice people were nurse Barb and Matt who did my epidural calming me down as I suffer from depression and anxiety and OCD.

I want to raise awareness as I don’t want anyone to experience what I experienced.