"Mixed Maternity care at Northampton"

Care on the labour ward was very good. Despite sharing midwives with multiple patients the support I needed was present. The midwife did miss the fact that I was bleeding heavily, but luckily my husband noticed and pointed it out. I then received all the medical attention I needed to ensure that myself and my daughter were okay.

Lack of anywhere to drop off labouring women near to the labour ward was appalling - my husband received a parking ticket when he left the car in a disabled space outside a disused (boarded up) building opposite the labour ward for 10 minutes. He had to half carry me into the labour ward as I couldn't walk more than a couple of steps and there were no spaces in the nearest car parks. I think this needs to be resolved urgently, as his appeal was turned down and it is ridiculous that there is no way of getting a labouring woman into the labour ward in the absence of car park spaces near by.

Care on the maternity ward was sketchy. On admission I was not told anything about the ward routine etc other than where the toilet was. I was provided with no information regarding meals, how to summon a nurse, where the nurses could be located etc. The nurses were very, very busy at times and consequently I was left with little support when I needed it. On one morning I was deperately trying to feed my new daughter and had been trying to for 6 hours. She was crying during this time. Despite my asking for help on 3 occassions from the nurses, no-one came to help me. I was very upset by this. On other days the nurses did provide me with support (checking my C-section dressing and helping with breastfeeding).

Overall I was happy with labour care and disappointed with maternity care.