"Birth of my daughter"

I had high blood pressure towards the end of my pregnancy.

This meant that I had to go to the antenatal day unit every 2 days for the last three weeks of my pregnancy.

This was quite scary as anyone who has have severly high blood pressure will know. I was put on medication to control it (it stayed stabl but high). I had to wait up to three hours on occasions to see a midwife.

When I did see them they were all very nice and professional, but hugely under staffed and stressed due to constant staff shortages.

I couldn't help but feel I was the only english woman giving birth in London.

It was decided that I needed to be induced (don't do it unless absolutely necessary).

This was the worst experience of my life and this is no exageration.

The room was filthy blood on the stirups, floor, bathroom and birthing bars.

It took nearly 3 days all in all the first midwife was nice and very kind. Her shift ended and I wasn't even checked on for hours on end .

I felt the next midwife was very rude and quite agressive - not something you need if your in pain.

To cut a very very long story short because of staff shortages my birth was very poorly managed. I went through every process to get the baby out and very nearly ended in emeregency ceasaren after 3 days!!

I had to have several epidurals and am still suffering now 5 months later.

I was a perfectly healthy person before all this and since have had constant problems and I can't help but feeling let down by the national health service.