"Problmes at Sanctuary Birth Centre"

This is my first baby. I started having contractions and called the hospital twice before they agreed for me to go in after telling them I had started bleeding. They were trying to send me away despite my contractions being 2-3 minutes apart. They were reluctant to examine me but upon examination I was 6cm dilated. I was then admitted and had a water birth which I think went quite smoothly.

However, my treatment after the birth was horrendous. I was left in stirrups uncovered and exposed for 30 minutes whilst they found someone to stitch me up. I was then left to sit in my own blood for about 3 hours not knowing if I was allowed to move. Alongside this my baby had been taken away from me and was left for 20 minutes naked on the baby examination table whilst a doctor was called to check her over.

Eventually when I was up and dressed we had to take baby to the paediatrician and walking up to the floor they sat me down as I came over all faint and dizzy. Despite this treatment, the midwife was actually very nice who delivered my baby but she seemed to have thought I had asked for an early discharge. Upon delivering my baby at 10: 05 I was discharged at 4: 30 despite me telling her that I was struggling to get my baby to latch on. She gave me a beaker and syringes and sent me on my way. I later found that she had gave us some leaflets and told us to read them before we left but I don't even remember being given these leaflets. I was so exhausted from the labour I just went along with the motions and went home.

However, 3 days later I still could not feed my baby and was getting no support. My mental health took a turn for the worse and I was not eating, sleeping or washing. I have had no choice but to start bottle feeding my baby which has really upset me and everyone is now worried that I am developing postnatal depression. I feel that this has all stemmed from my treatment at the hospital and being sent home too early without knowing how to feed my baby.