"The last minute move caused me unnecessary stress"

I had a planned C section with placenta previa. I was assured that I could give birth at my choice of hospital St Johns and so I had moved to stay with family. 2 days before my section I was told by St Johns that I could not give birth due to  the high risk of blood loss and I had to go to the RIE.

The last minute move caused me unnecessary stress and upheaval and although I appreciate things can change last minute I believe this could've been avoided if there had been better communication between colleagues and hospitals. I felt that two hospitals and even between services within the same area, important information was not communicated I was often the source of information, which as a patient who is already under stress this is difficult. 

My experience with the staff, midwives, anaesthetists and consultants before my c section was amazing, each one introduced themselves before hand and gave me time to explain what will happen and express any concerns and wishes I had, Also the proceedure preparation and surgery it self was the best experience I could ever have and all the staff went out there way to make me feel safe and less anxious and worried.

Unfortunately there are aspects of my care that was not good and I belive needs to addressed,

An aspect of my care that needs to be examined is the food and nutrition, I was taken by ambulance to the RIE, I was not given an evening meal there, despite the midwives from St Johns who travelled with me, telling staff I had not eaten since lunch and was hungry, (it was 7pm) I waited until I saw staff and I was told they had no meals left (at 9pm) and I could have a piece of toast.

Luckily I had family to get me food but again for people who don't have additional support and would not have had anyone to get them food this unacceptable. I was in a similar situation after birth in HDU where I hadn't eaten after giving birth and they didn't give me lunch or dinner and was in a state to get it myself and when I requested food was told I could have a piece of toast, again late at night I had family give me food thankfully but as a women just recovering from birth and had blood loss this is not acceptable.

Also I believe that I was not listened to after birth in the labour ward, I was still had a catheter in 2 days after giving birth and was in a lot of pain, I was given pain medication morphine, and one tablet of paracetemol (which I queried as being low but was told the dosage was due to my low weight which I later realised they were referring to my pre pregnancy weight not my current weight). The pain medication was not working and despite asking for another option several times, it wasnt until my husband advocated on my behalf that another treatment option was given and I was put on an IV drip and finally able to remove the catheter, walk around which resulted in a reduction in pain.

In terms of my experience in maternity services, I gave birth at the RIE in 2023 and right after birth received breast feeding support from a mix of midwives, students  and health care assistants. immediately after birth I was HDU and expressed my desire to breastfeed, I received amazing support from two student midwives from Napier, who helped me express collostrum.

Also a few of the healthcare assistants in HDU were amazing providing me support so I can rest. When I was transferred to the labour ward I received mixed support. As a first time mum I required help with latching and support on how to establish breastfeeding. Although help was always given when requested, each member staff gave different and often conflicting advice. It was clear that there wasn't a clear understanding from staff in the labour ward and HDU on how to support breastfeeding. I had no experience and often just tried anything they told me unfortunately to my detriment. This was very difficult to navigate who to listen to and many of the staff gave incorrect advice regarding using nipple shields or how to latch on or use the pump.

I also had requested support from the infant feeding team and was told that they couldn't refer and there was specific criteria which I found out later contacting the team myself for support that this was not true and that I should've been given support. Midwives on the ward have a high clinical work load and expertise that is required for observations and ongoing care. To get any additional support from them e.g for breastfeeding was understandably extremely difficult.  I think that healthcare assistants should be given formal training to support breast feeding, as well as having breastfeeding support volunteers similar to those available in community on the labour and other maternity wards as well as the infant feeding support team. 

One midwife offered me correct support in the ward but due to the nature of being a nurse in a busy ward she wasn't always on shift or available. In order support women to establish and continue breastfeeding, there needs to be better support from the beginning and proactive help as right now if you aren't able to navigate the system then you don't get the support which increases health inequalities.

St Johns has breast feeding support volunteers in the wards and I'm surprised to find that the RIE does not. 

I received great help from the infant feeding team by in West Lothian. However due to the delay in receiving support (almost 4 weeks after giving birth) I wasn't not able to establish breastfeeding.