"Delivery and postnatal"

I recently gave birth via planned C-section due to my baby being breech, and I want to begin by expressing my sincere gratitude to the delivery team. From the moment I arrived, the staff involved in my surgery were absolutely outstanding. They took the time to reassure me, explained everything clearly, and genuinely put me at ease during what could have been a very anxious time. I felt incredibly well cared for and supported throughout the procedure itself.

The team who looked after me immediately post-surgery were also fantastic — kind, attentive, and professional. They ensured I was comfortable and safe as I came out of theatre, and I’m very thankful for their care.

However, unfortunately, my experience on the postnatal ward over the following three days was very disappointing and fell short of what I believe new mothers should expect after major surgery.

The ward itself was cramped, overly hot, and not conducive to rest or recovery. One of the most concerning issues was the state of the toilets, which frequently failed to flush properly and often blocked. Given that women are naturally bleeding post-delivery and are at risk of infection, this raises serious cleanliness and infection control concerns. In my own case, I experienced complications with my spinal anaesthetic wearing off, yet had to walk further to another toilet due to the unusable ones nearby. On more than one occasion, I fainted while trying to manage this. It simply wasn’t safe.

In addition, the ward environment was very poorly managed in terms of visitor policy. There were instances where families were still on the ward well past midnight, and it fell to other patients — including myself — to ask staff to intervene. It should not be the responsibility of recovering mothers to police visiting hours. Staff must be more proactive in monitoring and enforcing these policies, not only to ensure rest for all patients but to maintain dignity and order on the ward.

Another recurring disturbance came from individuals making FaceTime calls on loudspeaker during the early hours of the morning. Again, there appeared to be no staff intervention, and no encouragement of quiet or respectful behaviour in shared spaces.

Overall, the contrast between the exceptional delivery care and the poor postnatal ward experience was stark. It’s upsetting that what should have been a healing and bonding time with my newborn was instead marked by discomfort, distress, and lack of privacy. I strongly urge the hospital to review the environment, hygiene standards, and ward policies, particularly around visitor management and patient dignity. Women recovering from major surgery deserve far better.