"Put me off having another baby"

What I liked

The actual labour care unit was good, the staff were brilliant given the lateness of the night my labour went on til. I was offered music to calm my nerves and was allowed to check my blood pressure to calm my worries.

The doctors were brilliant, caring, understanding and not the least patranising. The doctor who delivered my baby took the time to explain what he was doing and why and he did an amazing job of sewing me back up! I couldn't wish for a better man to deliver my baby.

What could be improved

I am beyond words as to the appauling treatment I received upon my first visit to the hospital in labour pain. I was left waiting in agony in a grotty waiting room and my husband had to ask again for me to be seen. When I was eventually seen it was by a woman who couldn't be more patranising and blunt if she tried. My labour pains were over a minute long and just a couple of mins apart but because I wasn't screaming and was a first time mum I was treated as if I was having a bad period! I had been in pain for 11 hours before I went in so I didn't look like an over reacting new mum and delayed the 30minute drive in for as long as I could. I was told I was in the latent phase and was sent home with one dose of cocodamol and told to have my dinner and come back when contractions were longer and closer together. After protesting that they couldn't get closer I was offered a bed alone where I couldn't be with my husband or my mum. I literally felt this midwife was calling me a liar about how much pain I was in. We had to drive another 30mins home to then drive another 30mins back 15mins later where I deliberately screamed in pain to prove the point! and was diagnosed eventually as being in labour. Go home and have my dinner? Unbelievable!! To be treated as this typical over reacting first time mum is appauling.

My other gripe was the after labour care. I was supposed to have my bloods checked hours after but noone checked until I asked. I wasn't told how to get food or offered any. I wasn't told where spare sheets or nappies were for my baby, my husband had to ask for all these things as I couldn't walk with an epidural. I was asked if I could change my own blood soaked pads because they were doing the dinners?! I mean it was appauling. The after care midwives seemed obssessed with breast feeding rather than teach me how to even change a nappy.

Anything else?

All in all I have great memories of the care during my labour but I would never have another baby under the after care at this hospital again. There was no time for my worries or concerns or even basic health checks. I left the same day on advisement I didn't but I felt I would get more care and attention from the loving support of my family and husband (plus the food was much better! Even the nurses said they didn't know how we ate the stuff!)HypertensionAttentiveFoodNervousPatient careBlood pressure checkDoctorsNursing staffOpening hoursMidwifeEpiduralBeds