"Lack of basic compassion and promised support"

I wanted to share my experience from my elective C-section last year, as it highlights both excellent and concerning aspects of maternity care.

The surgical team conducting my C-section were truly exceptional. They were extremely caring, made me feel completely safe and at ease throughout the procedure. Even when I experienced significant blood loss after surgery, the theatre staff were amazing in their response and care. I cannot praise this team enough.

Unfortunately, my experience on the maternity ward was drastically different and deeply concerning. I came up from the theatre quite late, and my birthing partner was told they couldn't stay due to the late hour and would need to return tomorrow. Staff assured me a midwife would help with breastfeeding and that they'd check on the baby regularly, especially since my legs weren't functioning post-surgery. Despite being positioned right outside the nurses' desk, no one came to assist with breastfeeding as promised.

Within hours, I needed to call for assistance just to lift my baby for nappy changes. The first time, a student nurse was lovely and helpful. Two hours later, when I buzzed again, a different nurse was unpleasant, barely spoke to me, and deliberately moved my buzzer out of reach when they left. I had to phone the hospital's main number to be put through to the ward to get help. When the unhelpful nurse finally returned, they said they'd remove my catheter an hour later, even though I'd been told it wouldn't come out until lunch the next day. This felt punitive rather than medically appropriate.

I spent that hour desperately trying to regain sensation in my legs, knowing I'd receive no help from night staff. The following evening was equally awful - at 4 am, two nurses came in to change the bed of a discharged patient, loudly discussing their upcoming holiday with no regard for the recovering mothers and newborn babies trying to sleep.

The daytime staff were much more pleasant, but I found  the night care appalling. The lack of promised breastfeeding support led to nipple issues that ultimately prevented me from continuing breastfeeding my son. These are women who have just given birth, often after major surgery, trying to care for newborn babies. The lack of basic compassion and promised support is unacceptable.

The contrast between the exceptional surgical team and the ward care was stark.