"Told if I refused a covid test, my baby would be taken away"

In September I gave birth to my first child. An experience that should have been the most special time of my life quickly turned into one of the worst.

I had already carried out my own research prior to going in for the birth with regards to covid testing. This is something that for my own reasons and beliefs i did not wish to partake in. I found information on the rcog.org.uk website that stated with regards to declining testing for covid19 that if you decline testing for COVID-19 prior to attending hospital for urgent or planned maternity care (including labour and birth) your care will be the same as any woman who is admitted to hospital and does not yet have a covid result. It also stated that if you do not have symptoms you will be treated as other asymptomatic women who do not yet have a test result. For most units, this will mean that you are presumed not to have COVID-19 Upon reading this my anxieties were put at ease.

I arrived at Wishaw general and on arrival was asked to do a covid test, I refused. I was questioned as to why I refused to which I advised I just did not want to do a test. I then went on to have my baby a few hours later. I asked when we were likely to get home and my midwife advised I should be able to go home that evening at around 7pm once checks were carried out. I was moved to a room from the birthing pool (still in the labour ward) where I stayed for hours, my partner had to clean my bed and ask for new sheets after I had been left to sit in my own blood, it was hours before I was given towels to shower and there was blood all over the floor which stayed there until the next morning when a horrified nurse came in and had to call for the room to be cleaned getting on her hands and knees to clean the blood from the floor herself.

7pm came and we were still awaiting a consultant to give our child a check to be able to go home, my partner had to ask what was going on to be told they did not know we were waiting for anyone and thought we were staying. A midwife then came a while later to check our son at which point she advised she was concerned he was breathing a bit fast and then was told she was going to get another opinion from a paediatrics nurse. She advised when on the phone the nurse wasn't concerned however as the midwife has raised her concerns she would come and check on him.. again hours later she checked and advised she was going to run some tests. It then came to light his infection levels were raised and that we would not be going home.

I was then told by the midwife they wanted to do a covid test on me and my baby. I refused both... my partner left as he had to attend to matters at home when both the midwife and the paediatric nurse entered my room. The moments that followed will haunt me forever. I was questioned about my choice not to be tested. I advised it was my personal choice. I was then told that if I refused to take a test or allow my newborn to be tested my baby would be taken away from me and moved to a different hospital where I would not be allowed to follow. I would not be allowed to be with or see my son or even be allowed to breastfeed my son.. the reason being that they couldn't risk me and him mixing with other parents and babies and they didn't have the facilities to isolate him during treatment for his infection. Can I also say nor me or my son were showing any signs of covid and therefore there were no grounds at all for them to request a negative test.

After continuing to refuse despite feeling like they were trying to scare me and bully me I was then told that the paediatric nurse would speak to a consultant in the morning and if he said my baby was to be tested he would be tested against my wishes. All of this happened when I was alone and vulnerable. Hours after giving birth. Just hours after giving birth to my son I was being told my baby was going to be taken away from me if I did not comply. I was in a complete state during this time, crying inconsolably, shaking uncontrollably. I also note none of this was entered into my badger notes. The whole experience has left me very traumatised and find anytime anyone asks me how my birth was I break down. This was my first child and I will never get those moments back.

I should also add that we stayed in the hospital for a week, on discharge I was advised that he may not have even had an infection and that some babies are just born with high infection levels... this was after him being exposed to multiple heel pricks, lumbar puncture, daily blood tests and even being fed via a tube for 24hrs. The way I was treated by that midwife and especially the pediatrics nurse that evening of the 1st was disgusting. I was a vulnerable woman, full of hormones trying to make a bond with my child. No one should ever be threatened with their baby being taken away from them.