"Awful labour treatment"

I gave birth 19 months ago to my darling boy. A first time mother at 25, like all first timers, you never know what to expect. My contractions started on in late evening early Dec - I had been awake from 5am that morning with bad diarrhoea. Contractions came every 6-8 minutes and they were strong enough for early contractions and very regular.

I contacted the hospital at around 2.30am as I was in a lot of pain and scared with no idea what to expect. I was told to come on up and I got checked. I was only 1cm at this point and knew I had a long way to go so went home calm and relaxed to labour at home. I spent the next 12/13 hours labouring at home contractions were still strong and around 3pm the next day I contacted the hospital and explained how I was checked and I’ve been labouring for the last 13 hours I need pain relief as I’m exhausted I’ve been awake for 34 hours with strong contractions 5 minutes apart.

I was told, look delivery is full, your better at home with until your contractions are closer. So I waited another couple of hours and I rang again and said how strong and long they were and really needed pain relief, again I was told that delivery is flat out and there was no rooms available but come up to get checked. So I went in and waited a couple of hours before getting checked in the assessment area and I was 4cm at 6.30pm.

I was told to go home again. I said how I am exhausted again and really need pain relief, the roads were full of ice outside & I was afraid. I lived 40 mins away also. They said right ok we will keep you in this area and get into the bath if you want but your partner will need to go home soon. I was having severe contractions at this point and the girl asked me what my pain relief thoughts are. I said a water birth if available and if my labour lasts hours on top I will need an epidural due to exhaustion.

I asked if there was any pain relief now and she said only co codomol and I said how they make me feel sick. She said you’ll love these they’ll help. so I took them in the bath and about 20 mins after I started overheating and my partners face was turning weird and I said to help me out of the bath. I went to the bed I was on and I started being sick everywhere. I got an anti sickness jag and could barely speak as contractions were so strong.

One midwife said  I still had a long way to go yet so sit tight. This was at 7pm or so. I felt my waters had broke but wasn’t sure if it was the pressure from being sick. I begged for pain relief again and standing against the wall as I had practiced hypnobirthing. The staff member had said to me I wouldn’t be standing against that wall if I were further on.

At this point I was terrified because if this was the pain I was in, what was I in for. I was holding back my screams as there was people in the other beds around me with their partners. All the curtains kept being pulled back so I was exposed to so many random patients will trying to hold in my labour cries. I started panicking and said I needed checked as I am in agony again. Another girl checked me and I was 8.5cm around 10pm.

They  said Oh God! we need to get you delivery now!

I was rushed on a wheelchair and started having a panic attack afraid, in extreme agony and exhausted. I begged for an epidural as I knew I wouldn’t last more hours without sleep. I got told I was too late. I said how when I’ve been here waiting for hours! I then had to wait as he was busy. She kept the lights on and if I turned them off she said keep these on. I had light music on to relax me and got told to turn it off. I finally had gas & air at this point, she rammed it in my mouth my lips started bleeding. 

They couldn’t find his heart rate at one point with the clip. I thought he died. New midwife comes in , they start bickering about how I need to change positions. My midwife refused. New midwife tried the clip and she got it in first go.

 I  then got the epidural. The liquid ran down my back burning my bum I asked my midwife to help me clean it and she said it’ll be fine. I got left with 2 massive burns on my bum with photos. Epidural failed. I told my midwife and  I was just told its all in your head.

Contractions come back stronger than ever. She accidentally rips Cannula out of my hand, oops sorry, her papers drop on top of me on the bed. Oops sorry, again she tells me it’s time to push. Babies heart rate drops. I’m told to push every other contraction. She leaves the room for ages. I was so afraid I didn’t know what to do. His heart rate kept dropping. I almost pass out from exhaustion at this point. Another hour passes of pushing and I’m getting nowhere contractions front and back no breaks in between. Emergency called and I end up with episiotomy and vacuum delivery as baby wasn’t doing well and I was exhausted. My midwife I had in that room was so cold and horrible. Nothing did she do to help me stay calm or relaxed. I felt like a nuisance to her really. I was failed by this hospital & left traumatised. 13 weeks Pregnant again, I won’t be back here.