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Birth experience

Posted By Rach1234abc

"Birth experience"

About: Altnagelvin Area Hospital / Maternity care Maternity care / Ward 46 (post-natal) Maternity care / Ward 48 (labour ward)

(as the patient),

I had a traumatic birthing experience which ended with an emergency c-section in September 2024. The worst part about my birth was the aftermath that meant my husband could only stay one hour in the recovery room before being asked to leave as I was moved to the maternity ward in Altnagelvin hospital.

I was unable to move due to the numbness from the spinal and left to care for a newborn baby in a room with 3 other mums and their newborns. The staff were too busy on the ward to assist me and I was therefore forced to let my newborn cry as I had no other option. This was the hardest part of my birth and pregnancy. Being left alone after such a traumatic experience was incredibly difficult and has left me with deep rooted issues.

Partners should be allowed to stay to assist new mums, especially those who cannot move due to sections or traumatic births. I think the rules should be reconsidered to allow birthing partners to stay with newborns and their partners. 

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Responses

Response from Shonagh Clifford, Lead midwife, Maternity Services Altnagelvin Hospital, WHSCT 5 months ago
Shonagh Clifford
Lead midwife, Maternity Services Altnagelvin Hospital,
WHSCT

Submitted on 25/11/2024 at 13:15
Published on Care Opinion at 13:15

Hi Rach1234abc,

I am very grateful that you have taken the time to give your feedback to our maternity service.

Currently our policy is for birthing partners to have access to the postnatal ward between 1pm to 9pm to support postnatal mothers. Mothers on this ward should have access to a buzzer 24/7 to get support from midwives, maternity support workers and nursing auxiliaries. If you feel your buzzer was not answered I would be keen to explore this further with you.

I appreciate that a preference would be for your partner to be there at night however this policy is made on the balance of respect to ALL the mothers on the ward to get appropriate rest, privacy and for staff to have an awareness of who is on the ward at any given time (security).

If you feel you would like to speak to me in person or over the phone, I would be very open to discussing this further to find a solution that works for all.

To touch on your traumatic experience, I am hopeful that you have had ongoing support and if not I am happy to support in signposting you appropriately.

Kind regards,

Shonagh Clifford

Delivery suite manager

Altnagelvin

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