I came to the hospital at 11 that morning to be induced as I was 12 days over. When I arrived I was shown to a bed and was told to get changed into my nighty and then I would be seen by a midwife. It was an hour later before I was seen by a midwife as they were short-staffed. The midwife attached some wires to check myself and the baby's heartbeat and movements. I was attached to this for a few hours before being induced.
During this time the midwives would check up on me to make sure I was doing well along with the baby. I was then induced at 3 o clock and was taken off the machine. My waters broke a couple of hours later and I rang the bell for the midwife to come. The midwife didn't come for about 5-10 minutes but luckily I had some family members visiting me at the time and they helped me.
My contractions were coming more often and I was told I would be transferred to the labour ward from the antenatal ward. In the meantime I was to be monitored again. By the time they had a free bed in the labour ward it was 1: 30am. I was taken to my own room and was looked after by a lovely and attentive midwife. They checked up on me regularly and made sure I was doing okay.
Once their shift was over, they were taken over by two others who were just as lovely. I had got a high temperature and low blood pressure and had only dilated 6cm and needed to deliver right then as there would be complications with the baby as she was distressed in the womb. I was to have an emergency caesarean. My midwives were there throughout and supported me. They encouraged me when it was needed and gave me lots of useful advice.
After my baby was born, one of them helped me with breastfeeding and gave me lots of tips. My time in the labour ward was great and I really appreciated all the help and care I received from the midwives, nurses and consultants. My baby and I were both on antibiotics and so had to stay in the hospital til the baby's dose was finished which would take a week. I was taken to the postnatal ward where I was looked after by a number of midwives. They all made sure baby and I were both fine and checked up on us and came within minutes of me ringing the bell.
There was two incidents where I was in a lot of pain and I had to bear through it. The first one was due to the computers being down and they couldn't administer the medications. The midwives were very apologetic and gave me the medicine as soon as they could. Another incident was when I was in pain, I had rang the bell and a nurse came and I asked them if I could have some painkillers. They told me they would get the midwife looking after me to come. Unfortunately the midwife didn't come and see me and I was laid in bed in agony for a couple of hours.
When a midwife finally came to see me it was one that had just started their shift and didn't know that I had called for one earlier. However, they did apologise and got me some painkillers. The nurses and baby doctors in the neonatal ward were also very nice when my baby went to have a lumber puncture. They made sure to look after my baby for the hours she was away from me. One especially looked after my baby and gave her lots of cuddles.
My overall care experience at Royal Oldham Hospital was very good. The cleaners were also very nice and did their job as quick and well as they could. They could do with more staff (midwives and nurses) at busy periods though. I also feel there could be a bigger variety of snacks in the beverage room.
"The care I received at Oldham Royal Hospital"
About: Royal Oldham Hospital / Maternity Royal Oldham Hospital Maternity OL1 2JH
Posted by LK91 (as ),
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