"Maternity & Postnatal Ward"

Anything else?

I gave birth in June 2013 and was very disappointed with the care that I recieved. I had been in and out of hospital all weekend with irregular contractions but was admitted late on the sunday night due to high bp and protein in urine, I was then induced on the Monday. The day midwives on the maternity ward were very friendly and reassuring, but the night midwives were horrible. My partner was sent home when I was in early stages of labour on the Monday night due to people not being allowed partners until they're in established labour. Yet there was another person there who wasn't even in labour, was allowed her mum there and they stunk the ward out with takeaway late that night. None of my birth plan was read, I stated that I would prefer epidural but was only ever offered pethidine, and I had to ring my bell at least 3 times to get any pain relief. I started vomiting and when I told one of the midwives she just gave me a dirty look. I carried on vomiting for a while and had a high temperature so I was moved to a separate room and given a designated toilet in case I had a bug. They just left me and closed the door, the only time that they checked on me was when I rang. One of them put me on a drip for the vomiting, I rang for some help going to the toilet as I was doubled over in pain and had to take the drip thing with me, she just walked out again so I had to go alone. She then started panicking when she realised how much I was bleeding and couldn't tell the baby's heartbeat from mine and called for a doctor. When a doctor finally came he said that I was ready for delivery and told them to ring my partner, telling him to come quickly as we live in Bexhill. The midwife lied to him, when he asked when she last checked me she said 2am, the only time she checked was 10pm when she gave pethidine. Which was about 6 hours before. They took me to a delivery suite and just left me there alone, I could hear them all outside talking and laughing. My partner arrived in time luckily but I went through my whole first labour completely alone. Mine and my partner's mum's came to the hospital and the staff were really rude to them. They said that they had 'snuck in' to the ward (because it was 7am), when someone had actually let them in. Once I had the baby I said that I wanted my mum and they told me I'd have to wait until 2pm. The postnatal ward was pretty much the same. Where I was so tired from not sleeping all weekend my partner cared for our baby mostly and one of the midwives wrote in my notes and told me I couldn't leave until I 'cared more for my baby'. As a first time new mum I think anyone can understand how hurtful saying something like that. The cleaners were alot more friendlier and caring than the midwives. What was meant to be one of the most precious memory I'll remember is also my most traumatic, due to the way that I was treated.