"i gave birth to my first child ..."

What I liked

i gave birth to my first child in the maternity wing in kingston hospital last year (bearing in mind i was only 18 years old at the time) . the care leading up to the birth was excellent, the support team was fantastic (the young mums antenatal group) the options and pain relief i was given during the birth was exactly what i wanted and i was thouroughly impressed even though the wing was very busy.unfourtunately i was extreamely dissapointed with the way i was treated after the birth, i was left for four hours lying in my own blood (i could of have been bleading to death as no one came to check me) my mum eventually had to clean me up and give me a wash. when i was transferred to the ward i was left in my own room and felt completely issolated, and a couple of hours after being there was expected to get up and get my own breakfast (i couldnt move). no one came and told me when the meals were outside. 12 hours after the birth and in my own room still no on had been in to check how i was doing. i was left with dirty water and had to ask 2 or 3 times on several occasions for someone to bring me some pain relief. when eventually things became to much and i asked for some help i got told it was my own fault that the baby was crying as she had no sleep suit on ( at this time i was changing her nappy, this comment actually made me cry). the only reliable source on this wing were the cleaners who came in and changed my bins. no one came to see how i was doing and often when my relatives came to see me the midwives were standing at the front desk gossiping. it was so dissapointing that the after care was so bad as the birth had been wonderful, i couldnt wait to get home, i felt like a nuisance, maybe it was because i was a young mum they thought i could cope without the help but really i think it should have been the otherway around.

What could be improved

the after care could definately be improved, the attitude of the nurses and midwives certainly could be a bit cheerier and talk to you a bit more pleasantly. i felt after the birth someone should of been allowed to stay with me till the morning as i felt alone and scared especialy as no one came to check up on me and the door in my room was always shut i felt completely cut off. the food was ok but it would have been helpful f someone had come in and told me it was there or even offered to get it for me.generally the whole after care experience could have been improved.