"Birthing Experience Mixed"

Written by Healthwatch Cornwall on behalf of the story provider:

Mum has been here for [several] days in maternity and on the postnatal ward for one day. The food is good.

Now on postnatal ward and pain relief was not good. Relative and partner have asked for pain relief four times this morning and have asked three different people. Have only just received mum's iron tablet and should have received both several hours ago. Asked for pain relief at [X]am and received it 4 hours later and asked for something stronger, which was not provided.

There was a delay in feeding baby of two hours due to waiting for staff, so had to raise this with staff who then came a further hour later. The ward was busier yesterday. Staff are supposed to check baby's feeding before being discharged but the right person still hasn't been so have had to ask again to remind them. Partner able to stay overnight on postnatal ward but not on the antenatal ward but they were able to access facilities to prepare a meal there, however were not able to do so on the PN ward.

Mum was told on four occasions she was going to be induced. Mum came in due to reduced foetal movement and states the doctor wrote on her notes that mum reported reduced foetal movement, but wanted to be induced, which mum says implied she was lying and the midwife read this out to her.

Staff have been helpful with breastfeeding. Praise for some staff/midwives in particular on both the delivery suite and postnatal ward and regarding communication.

A note from Healthwatch Cornwall