"Birth experience at Antrim hospital"

During my pregnancy I attended my appointments at Causeway hospital, my midwife was Caitlin (lotus). From my booking appointment throughout my whole pregnancy I seen Caitlin. She is a credit to the lotus team, professional, kind, caring and friendly. Any worries or concerns I had during my pregnancy she made me feel at ease and confident about everything. She did my home visits after having my daughter and I can say she left feeling like a friend. 

I gave birth in Antrim hospital in July 2024. I choose to be admitted in as my waters had broke but irregular contractions. My partner left that night. 2 hours later as midwives were doing checks I told them my labour was progressing and I desperately needed pain relief and to be examined so I could go to delivery suite. She actually smirked and said something along the lines of darling with your first baby your labour wouldn't progress this quickly. I told her to read my pregnancy notes as this was Infact my 3rd pregnancy and I had to beg to be examined 5 times as I knew I was in active labour. They kept refusing as my waters had broke and incase of infection. I informed another midwife I was calling my partner to make his way up as the journey is 40 minutes and was told he can sit out in the corridor "but it's freezing".

By the time they checked me I was 7cm with no pain relief and thankfully my partner was already up waiting on me. My baby was born 20 minutes after going to the delivery suite. The 2 midwives who delivered my baby were amazing and I could not fault their care towards us. I didn't get the full benefit of skin to skin with my baby which is disappointing as I was rushed to the shower. I was told I needed to get back to the ward because breakfast was coming. I had to tell midwife it was impossible for me to stand up and shower I had only gave birth 45 minutes ago?! I wished to have a positive birth story but the 2 midwives who were on nightshift looking after me unfortunately made it a negative experience for me.