"Midwives are great, but are being let down by the system"

Almost a year ago I gave birth to my second child at Chelsea + Westminster hospital. My first birth had been traumatic at 34 weeks and we were hoping this time would be better. 

Sadly that didn't happen and I've been left traumatised again. When my baby was born he was in respiratory distress and so taken to the resuscitate and treated with oxygen and air by the paediatric doctor - but then the oxygen tank ran out and she started panicking - we were left wondering whether our baby boy was going to survive or be brain damaged . It was terrifying, and I relive this memory daily. They couldn't pull the trolley into the wall but switched to another one and took him, with my husband, to the NICU. I was then left on my own in the delivery room, legs in stirrups for what felt like ages ( but was about half an hour) for my placenta to deliver. I felt lonely, worried sick, scared and incredibly vulnerable.

When I was eventually taken to see my baby it was fairly undignified - my hospital gown gaped and the wheelchair backs aren't solid so people kept having to put towels over the back - perhaps an alternative cover up could be provided in these situations.

back on the postnatal ward, without my baby, I don't recall anyone coming to talk to me or even comfort me. I felt very lonely and unsupported and ended up discharging myself after one night.

I knew our midwives are under immense pressure and are short staffed. Individually they are great but are being let down by the system.