"Post delivery it was the worst experience of my life"

I had my planned caesarean birth in September 2023, and post delivery it was the worst experience of my life.

My theatre experience was exceptional - my Anaesthetist was exceptional and professional. There was calm, despite blood loss, and I was well cared for.

I went to HDU on the labour ward afterward. The staff in HDU had left to get some painkillers and while they were away I noticed that the giving set had not been run through and it was just full of air. I had to get my partner to close the drip to make sure no air would be infused. This staff member did not return for a long time - informing me that they had had to attend an emergency outside the hospital on the street! On reflection it's unacceptable to use the HDU staff (with no replacement) to attend another emergency, especially when there could have been an unwitnessed emergency in HDU. My anaesthetist came to assess me and fixed the drip.

I was transferred to a 6 bedded bay. This is categorically cruel for birthing people to have to endure. The woman across from me kept facetiming her friends and family at all hours of the night, the woman next to me kept watching youtube loudly through the night, another woman's baby was on NICU and her partner was allowed to stay until at least 2am - chatting in the bed space. There were two admissions during the night which were loud with inane chatter - where the staff spoke at full volume and the woman whispered because they clearly knew it was the middle of the night. The ward team shouted up and down the corridor to each other all night on shift. If someone buzzed for help the staff would come into the room and shout who buzzed? instead of discreetly realising it was surely the bed space with the light on...

This continued into my second night on the ward.

The care I received was embarrassingly awful. I had had some ongoing bleeding, but was made to walk to the toilet to empty my catheter bag. I trailed blood there and when I said I didn't feel well the healthcare worker told me to walk back to bed and not to worry as they would clear up the floor.

After making my way back to the bedspace trying not to faint, I got to the chair and put my head between my knees. My partner buzzed for help. The staff member came in and told me not to worry about clearing up the blood on the floor, they would get it for me (!) and I had to ask for help to get into bed because I felt faint.

No observations were taken, no repeat review to make sure I was ok. No review by any medical team despite ongoing blood loss.

I had bloods taken in the morning and my Hb had almost halved. My anaesthetic team had asked (had to ask!) for a review by the obstetric team, who attended, stood at the end of my bed, arms folded and asked me questions. No examination, no explanation of what would happen.

I asked if I'd have bloods taken later, and was told no, it would be in the morning as there was no point in doing it later in the same day (!). The next day the bloods showed another (small) drop in Hb, and was asked to have a blood transfusion. I didn't want a blood transfusion, instead requested an iron infusion. You'd have thought I'd asked for the moon on a stick.

One team saying I should stay until the infusion, staff was getting me ready for discharge that day. At that point I had decided that I would rather self discharge (and come in via A and E with ongoing bleeding if I had to) than stay another night in the post delivery ward. There was no rest, no help, no compassion at all in the members of staff there. If it wasn't for my partner I wouldn't have had anything to eat as I couldn't get to the room where the food cart was. Though I didn't actually want anything.

We left after the second night. I got a phonecall from someone from the obstetric team to attend the ward for iron infusion on Tuesday.

When we arrived I was promptly informed noone knew I was coming. Some of the staff were so rude and abrasive that once they had left to 'phone someone' I went to the toilet and cried. I had been called and told to attend - but was treated as if I had just turned up without any prior warning.

Doctor attended and set up and gave me the iron infusion. He was very kind and stayed with me until it was complete, as no staff on the ward was willing to be involved. I left later that day with great relief. And would never come back.

I have only reached the time where I have felt able to complete this care opinion, a year and 8 months later. And I do not want more children now.

I am angry that I was made to feel like such an inconvenience. Dismissed by staff at every turn. Treated so poorly with no compassion at all by healthcare workers is both unacceptable and saddening that this is what is on offer to the public.

Treated like a troublemaker when I honestly didn't buzz for anything except when I felt faint. Kept quiet, got on with looking after my new baby - where I got zero input or help with breast feeding except for trying to use the hospital breast pump - and asked for an iron infusion instead of a blood transfusion.

I would not recommend PRM to other expectant mothers/people after my 'care' there. Except for the wonderful experience I had in theatre during my childs birth - that was exceptional care and a great experience.