"Labour and aftercare"

In mid August my waters burst unexpectedly. I had a planned section for that week at Wishaw hospital due to a previously traumatising experience. My midwife during the pregnancy Gemma has been amazing! Gemma helped me to feel a sense of calm throughout my pregnancy which before I struggled with. 

Prior to attending the hospital I discussed with my partner not being comfortable with having a pelvic exam. They had me on a machine which monitored my contractions and babies heart rate. The first midwife I had respectfully accepted my wish. I then had a very rude staff come in who I feel pressured me into it and was not prepared to listen, to the extent I said please accept this is a firm no from me as they started to talk at me and made me feel uncomfortable. I said I thought this was my choice - to which they did not reply or reassure me otherwise. They said they would  need to speak to the labour ward about it as they are busy and that I might not get a section in that case as they cannot monitor my progress. I explained how can that be if my contractions are monitored and you don’t see a baby's head I imagine that is clear enough. They then said that it would likely be natural delivery and my wishes would not be met as a result. It was completely unprofessional.

Then they sent in a senior midwife who was informative and understanding once she seen I was visibly upset however, it was still clear to me that pressure was on for me to say yes and it felt like I was being hounded. This midwife gave me more information and understanding than the other staff member. However, made it clear that they needed to do some sort of examination to be able to proceed in the way I wished. I broke down in tears feeling powerless and worried I was distressing my baby that I just said yes. I could tell the midwife felt uncomfortable with the fact she knew I didn’t want to and had to essentially say yes to meet the hospitals requirements - even though it’s supposed to be our choice right? 

I was then taken to another midwife - who was quite honestly amazing. I was feeling sick and anxious after my interaction with the staff member that I even asked if they would be involved in the birth of my child - worried they would be. The midwife was the kindest, calming and caring person I’ve met. She made us feel calm, kept on top of pain relief and gave us an amazing experience before, during and after the birth of our son. She ensured I was washed and helped with changing me - I didn’t even need to ask. They talked me through the process and reassured us and totally changed my experience and trust in the hospital. The same goes for the team who were in the theatre - amazing, kind and caring! The anaesthetist was brilliant. Put us at ease and listened to our questions carefully. Reassuring us and explaining steps. I feel awful I can’t remember his name but excellent hair with Irish accent. 

I was transferred to ward and that when unfortunately my experience was again tainted. My bloods had been taken as my temp was high a few times and before I was transferred I was given my blood thinning injection. When I got to ward it was chaotic (understandably) but noticeable that the atmosphere was different. Some midwives were lovely, one in particular who I am actually sure was there with my first child. The majority of the rest I saw seemed pretty blunt, cold and uncaring. They fell behind the excuse of its busy, it’s takes nothing to be kind. A midwife came to me with another blood thinning injection on the same day and said right we need to give you one of these. I explained I already had it the same day and they said no it’s not in your notes … I said I can assure you I have. They didn’t seem happy with me and said they would check to which I agreed that they should. Well I never got an explanation but I sure as heck know if I wasn’t on the ball I could have been at serious risk after a double dose of something I shouldn’t have been given. They never gave me my blood results as at shift change nobody communicated and they in fact did not even know about my bloods. When I asked I was told they do not know but will probably be fine if nobody has came over - reassuring. 

I was left in unbearable pain multiple times after asking for pain relief as I could barely move. My partner could not stay to help long as we had a toddler at home with no childcare. I spent a lot of time in the ward crying due to being left in pain - constantly walking to the desk to ask for pain relief again or help to get pads on as I could barely move. I had to keep asking for answers to simple questions that were of ignored. I raised concerns about my son’s scrotum and feet, was told they checked with someone and no concerns but another midwife said oh a dr is wanting it checked. I was kept in because they said they had nobody to check over my son even though I asked multiple times as I had a toddler at home and better care/support from my partner than in that ward. I know they could have sent out community nurses to check him at home and they made me wait anyway until I kept on asking. It was always it will be passed on to next shift but it never was. My partner had to fight to get us home as he was worried.