"Every call should be treated with respect to the woman's intuition"

This was my 3rd pregnancy. First pregnancy I was low risk but I haemorrhaged after the birth losing a significant amount of blood requiring surgery and a transfusion. He was born at 38 weeks. My second, I was booked into the Ulster and travelling from Moira, this is quite a distance. My labour was very quick, baby born less than 4 hours after cramping started. This was 39 weeks.

It is my 3rd pregnancy that I wish to discuss. Still considered low risk I was booked into the Ulster. At my 36 week appointment baby was still breech so an ECV was booked for week 37. At 36 weeks plus 6 I had a large tablespoon amount very pale pink discharge and random cramping. I called EOU and told them this and that I was having lots of loose bowels. I was worried body was prepping for labour. Advice on that call was that it could be something I ate, take 2 paracetamol. I was welcome to come down but wouldn't be seen as an emergency (despite baby being breech). I was told they were very busy so I felt like I was being an inconvenience by the tone of the conversation.

Less than 90 minutes later my waters broke suddenly and contractions started instantly. I called EOU and was advised to call an ambulance. The first paramedic arrived at my house after around 20min of the 999 call and advised me not to push but I felt so much pressure to push at this point.  I was in my bedroom. My mother and husband were also present. The second set of paramedics arrived and the baby's foot was out. I was encouraged to turn on my front and after a short time, I delivered my baby. The paramedic had to help his head come out due to being footling breech. Air ambulance were also in attendance and put a line in me. Baby was born within an hour. The baby had cord round his neck and CPR was performed. He thankfully cried and I held him before being walked downstairs to the ambulance to be brought to the Royal were I delivered the placenta.

This was an extremely traumatic ordeal for me and my family to witness. I am so grateful to the paramedics who saved me and my baby.  However  I feel that i was dismissed by the Ulster and having had 2 babies already (both before 40 weeks) I feel that i should have been listened to on that call and advised to come down immediately especially due to baby still being breech. I felt like a time waster when I called, but I knew something wasn't right and if my intuition had been listened to, then perhaps baby would have been born in a safe environment and not at home surrounded by paramedics. The paramedics informed me that this was a highly irregular birth and it is something that they are not usually trained in. I was extremely lucky that one of the paramedics had recently received advanced training in obstetrics and knew what to do.

The Ulster put me and baby in danger by dismissing my concerns. Every call should be treated with respect to the woman's intuition, and women shouldn't be dismissed or made to feel like an inconvenience.