"Concerns about postnatal care"

I was induced at 40+3 weeks pregnant due to reporting reduced movements and high blood pressure. Staff at MAC were fantastic and so were the team on the delivery suite when I was admitted there.

Once baby was born (after a stressful few hours with constant monitoring but with little progress resulting in Kielland forceps in theatre in case emergency c-section was needed) and I was transferred to postnatal ward (ward 36) the care went downhill.

I had to wait hours for the most basic analgesia despite having a very painful episiotomy. I had to ask three times over the course of 6 hours at one point, while being alone with my baby and needing to care for her.

I wanted to breastfeed but had very little help starting this until several hours had passed and the midwife on duty reproached me for leaving it so long and told me to hand express and use a syringe to collect the colostrum. I felt I had been told off just hours after a traumatic delivery with little support or understanding.

I was left in pain and alone until visitors were allowed on the ward.