"Superb birth experience - shame about the postnatal care"

After having my first baby via forceps I was taken to Summerfield ward. I arrived in the afternoon and baby was born late at night so I didn't know where anything was and still had a catheter in and couldn't stand after the spinal.

The midwife doing my and baby's observations was lovely and friendly that night and after removing my catheter asked if I wanted to get out of bed, it was 6am though and I wanted to try to get some sleep before breakfast so she said someone would help me after breakfast time instead.

Sadly this did not happen, and the doctor came to do baby's initial checks around 9.30am and I couldn't go with her as I hadn't mobilised yet, no one came to check on me or help me, I didn't know where the toilet and shower were and my bed sheets were dirty as my canula had leaked blood.

Two Health Care Support Workers came and asked if I wanted clean sheets so they helped me into a chair and changed my bed, so grateful for them. Another hour or so passed and I still didn't know where the facilities were which is shocking after having a catheter! Luckily a student midwife, asked if I was OK, I burst into tears and she then took me under her wing for the day. I am so so grateful for her as I was totally lost and vulnerable and she gave me constant attention all day. She will make a fabulous midwife!

I stayed in another night after this and again felt let down by the support I had, I was struggling to move and lift my baby from their crib due to the pain of forceps and episiotomy so I called the buzzer when baby needed a change. I was told to deal with it on my own as I would have to do that at home - which isn't true as my husband would help at home whilst I'm unable to mobilise!

I then needed the toilet and asked another midwife who attended to my buzzer if I could leave the baby or needed to take them with me, she said I could only leave them if they were asleep. He wasn't but was settled so I sat for half an hour desperate for the toilet until I had to buzz again and tell them I needed someone to watch him so I could use the loo, and they said of course!! I was very upset by the lack of support overnight, especially as a first time mum.

The following day the pain was excruciating and the two midwives on the day shift were so lovely and supportive, they examined me and reassured me there was no issues but I had a lot of grazes which added to the pain. They kept checking on me until my discharge that afternoon, and it made up for the terrible night support. 

My birth experience was superb and it was a shame the postnatal care didn't completely match up to that, especially for a first time mum who was scared and in pain. But a special mention to the student midwife who was like an angel that first day and I'll forever be grateful!