Care Opinion

Text size

Theme

Language

Videos in BSL or ISL
Help with language translation
Help with reading or listening

Bad labour and birth experience

Posted By beidkq67

"Bad labour and birth experience"

About: Maternity care / Labour Suite Maternity care / Obstetric In-patients

(as a service user),

I was told I had to give birth on labour ward despite my preference being the midwifery unit. I didn’t feel like anybody was listening to my preferences or reasons - I really felt bullied into an induction which I didn’t want and I said no several times. I notice they say work has been done to improve induction pathways - what about women who want to decline it and why is that not allowed? In my experience they just told me my baby will die if I decline it. After when I looked up the data for my condition after the birth - there is actually minimal evidence for induction and it’s a local pathway. I really don’t think this is fair for them to make decisions or pressure them into that. I have feedback on this at my debrief and was told it wasn’t necessary, but so many women I spoke to have the same experience. 

After a horrific induction where I felt the staff member wasn’t interested in supporting me throughout, we had to have an emergency caesarean. Again, I wasn’t given a choice but told it had to happen my baby was at risk. This is a disaster for me as I want a big family and I know how poorly VBACS are supported in the NHS. I feel no doubt I’ll be told I have to give birth by 41 weeks else it will fail.

The staff member doing my epidural seemed more concerned with teaching another member of staff instead of actually speaking to me. I felt it was clear they had no interest in childbirth and lying on the table numbed out I felt so vulnerable and like a piece of meat. I cannot tell you how many times my mind goes back to this scene and I have to relive it. They kept giving me more medications even when I said no they said it had to be given. Again I dont think this should happen - i should have a choice on what my body and baby are being exposed to. 

I feel really down about everything that happened to me and it feels like I had no choice in anything and without having any ability to get away even though I repeatedly said I didn’t want these things. 

More about:
Do you have a similar story to tell? Tell your story & make a difference ››

Responses

Response from Stephanie Gardiner, Senior charge midwife, Obs and Gynaecology, NHS Tayside 2 months ago
Stephanie Gardiner
Senior charge midwife, Obs and Gynaecology,
NHS Tayside

Submitted on 21/03/2025 at 13:09
Published on Care Opinion at 13:09

Dear beidkq67

I wish to firstly congratulate you on the birth of your baby, I hope you are both now doing well at home and enjoying the exciting times introducing a newborn baby into the family dynamic brings

I wish to thank you for taking the time to provide feedback of your birth experience within our service, it is extremely valuable to us to understand the experiences of our families, to ensure we use your voice to guide and drive improvements for the future.

I am sorry you felt coerced to make a decision in relation to an Induction of Labour, this would never be advocated within our service, and we work hard to ensure women's voices are central to the individualised care provision recognising their unique feelings and wishes in relation to their mode and place of birth choices. I note you informed you have met with a member of the Obstetric team who informed they felt the rationale for Induction of Labour was possibly not considering of your wishes, and I would expect this would have been addressed for wider learning within the service following your debrief discussion.

I also wish to apologise that you did not feel heard during your labour admission and access to epidural analgesia or subsequent transfer to maternity theatre to support safe birth. If you would wish to share further details regarding your experience to enable us to review the circumstances and provide a formal response, you can send an email to tay.feedback@nhs.scot.

I wish to offer you some reassurance in relation to planning for any future births, We absolutely will support you with your choices for VBAC where you would have the opportunity to meet with a Consultant obstetrician to discuss your birth choices and an additional option to meet with our Consultant midwife to discuss any particular intricacies or considerations you may have to create a birth plan with your voice as the fundamental basis upon which the plan is developed.

I hope this offers you some hope for your next birth and please if you do wish further information regarding your last birth or an opportunity to meet a midwife within the birth reflection service, you can self refer at tay.birthreflections@nhs.scot

KIndest regards

Steph Gardiner

Senior Midwife

NHS Tayside

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful
Opinions
Next Response j
Previous Response k