"maternity ward, how I was treated."

I was in labour for four days, the staff didn't believe me and kept telling me I was exaggerating. One time I was sent home at 3am to ashburton, knowing I didn't drive, whilst still in labour. I was young and they kept just telling me I didn't know. I kept dilating and going back to normal, for days. Rather than discussing it they would just say "the other doctor must have wrote it wrong" and completely dismissed it. For 4 days. This was a problem as I almost lost my son. One time I had just been given diamorphene so was throwing up, I was left alone whilst all the midwifes went chasing a lady around, all I wanted was some water after being in labour for days. On the last day, the dilating carried on, my waters were popped as I couldn't take the pain. Hours and hours later I decided I needed the epidural as I couldn't bare it. Well, as I wasn't examined after the first day, if I didn't ask for the epidural on the 4th I wouldn't have been either. When a doctor finally came and examined me they realised that my son had the cord around his neck twice, which was acting like a bungee cord pulling him back every time we was coming out.

Hense the contracting and dilating. My son was fine on the first day, and I has to have an emergency cat 1 c section on the 4th because nobody listened to me, being young they just told me I was exaggerating. The communication between them was dreadful. My health got bad in the op, and it took a long time but they were good and got my son out, and I was fine once the fitting stopped. The operating team were amazing. After that, I got really sick. I was ridiculed because I didn't have the energy to do things, I couldn't move and didn't have the energy to lift my son, let alone produce milk. They moved me up and down wards, again not listening to me, convinced I had an infection although just needing rest. They forgot to feed me for 2 days. Every time my partner complained and I had to have whatever was left 4 hours later. I was told I needed to stay yet more nights to have my blood checked etc, although nobody took any bloods or even monitored me throughout the night (which was the reason for staying). When I finally was allowed to leave, I had to wait for 7 hours to have my notes etc, where as everybody else only waited 1, the memeber of staff doing it would go and make beds, rather than signing my notes, no matter how many times I asked. I had a horrific time, and If I'm honest, I am petrified about coming back for my pregnancy this time. The communication between staff was worse than i have ever seen, and the way I was treated was dreadful. Although I am very greatful for the team that got my son out safely, and always will be.