"Maternity services"

Overall maternity experience from pregnancy to labour.

Pregnancy

Positives:

Very nice community midwife who was supportive and easy to contact.

Negatives:

I felt isolated during my pregnancy as I didn’t have the option to attend an antenatal class. 

My midwife kindly did a 1-2-1 antenatal appointment but I would have preferred to go to a class and meet other mums to be. 

I was referred to physio for pelvic girdle pain but never heard back. Baby was born and another referral has been submitted due to still experiencing pain.

At my 20 week scan, I explained I didn’t want to know the sex of my baby but might change my mind in the future/during labour. I asked if they could write it down for me but they said they couldn’t do that, which I understood. They said they could write it on my notes for my midwife to see and if I changed my mind and wanted to know the sex of my baby I could ask my midwife who would then be able to tell me. I didn’t want to know the sex of my baby and wanted to keep it as a surprise until they were born. I was excited about the prospect of labour and finding out then. At 38 weeks I went onto my Badger notes and saw on my scan notes - Sonographer opinion, male baby. I felt like a pane of glass shattering. The one thing I felt I had control over had been taken away from me, along with the surprise of not knowing what I was having. My mood plummeted, a referral to mental health was submitted but baby arrived before this. I no longer felt excited about labour and all the feelings I had felt previously were gone. I tried to focus on the positives but it was hard. The note should only have been visible to my midwife, I should not have been able to see the note on my Badger app. 

Labour

Positives:

My experience in the birthing suite and maternity ward was extremely positive.

All the staff were lovely and supportive, taking into account my preferences and birthing plan.

The midwives during my labour were lovely and friendly and made me feel relaxed. Everything was always explained clearly and I always had good support and advice from midwives and assistants. As a first time Mum, they were very supportive and helped with any questions I had.

Good support and regular check-ups from community midwife after discharge from hospital and at home with baby. Always answering any questions I had and easy to contact.

Negative:

I feel I could have had more support regarding baby care. I didn’t have a clue how to change a nappy, bath, or burp/wind a baby. We did go through breastfeeding and colostrum harvesting but there was a lot I felt like I had to research myself and watch videos about.