"Lack of support"

My hope is that by sharing my experience that others won’t feel the same as I did. 

I gave birth to a baby girl in August, this following being induced. The experience of being induced was fine, the staff on that ward could not have been more supportive. After a couple of days I was ready to be moved to labour ward to start the process I was offered the opportunity to go for a bath and have lunch and move to the ward at 12pm that day. I waited until around 3pm, I had not yet been moved yet no one came to inform me of any delays. I had to actively seek this out by pressing the buzzer. My partner was allowed to stay from 9am-9pm during this process. At no point was my partner asked to wear a mask as we were in our own room. 

I was moved at 6pm, almost six hours, this was on the Wednesday after having started the induction process on Tuesday afternoon. Again when on the labour suite the midwife and student midwife were amazing. However one staff member was particularly rude to my partner due to not wearing a mask, they were however at the other side of a very large private room. I was in labour from 6pm that evening until the early hours of the morning however no concerns were flagged due to the lack of progress and the fact that the baby was back to back and very far up the birth canal. This was not flagged until a change of shift and a new midwife. Despite consideration being given to an emergency c-section at 4am due to lack of progress. I was left until 8am until decisions were made, this resulted in a very rushed and dramatic trip to theatre. Luckily my baby was born safe and sound, however this could have been a different situation given the decelerations that were noted during monitoring. 

Within the theatre, the team were amazing however I was slightly annoyed that I and my partner was asked to wear a mask, I protested and given I was throwing up the mask was reluctantly removed. My partner did however have to meet her daughter for the first time with a mask on which I feel is completely unacceptable. 

I was then moved to the post natal ward, I had my own very large room and my partner was only allowed to stay six hours post-birth. As you can imagine I was extremely sore and had not even had the Catheter removed when they asked her to leave. She left and we were then informed that she would only be permitted to visit for two hours the following day, this despite me having a newborn and recovering from surgery. I could barely get on and off the bed or attend to any of my own personal care let alone look after a baby with little support. We were also surprised given she was permitted to stay from 9-9 during induction yet limited after her daughter had been born. 

I was also provided with paracetamol and ibuprofen as my pain relief, only when being discharged was I provided with a prescription of Dihydrocodine and advised I should have been having these throughout. During the overnight stay I missed a dose of painkillers, this resulted in waking in extreme pain, it was only after I asked for them three times that I was provided with pain relief. 

The support within the postnatal ward was extremely lacking given partners were not permitted. I waited three hours on the feeding team supporting me which resulted in an upset mum and baby. This for me damaged my preference of breastfeeding and as a result I opted to give her a bottle. I was not offered a demonstration bath for the baby nor did anyone even check I had the appropriate supplies at home. 

I feel the general care and wellbeing aspect within Wishaw General, more so within the postnatal ward was completely lacking. The food was awful, barely any fruit or veg to be seen. The room was disgusting, there were smear marks up the wall in the shower, which I cleaned myself with antibacterial wipes. 

Given the overall care I received within the postnatal ward I decided to leave at 4pm the following day after having an emergency section. I was in no way physically or emotionally ready to leave the hospital however I felt I had no choice due to the restrictions, poor conditions and lack of support.