"Less than impressed of overall care, some..."

The quality of care I have received here has varied hugely depending on department/member of staff, so this is an overall view:

ANTENATAL APPOINTMENTS (Scans, Midwives and Consultants)

- Appointments were regularly issued in the wrong week of pregnancy

- No appointments available in the correct week of pregnancy (I was promised a call and a letter for my 40 week midwife appointment which I'm still waiting for - I have given birth now, so I won't need it anymore, but if you promise a call the same day you should follow through)

- Scan Operators - totally hit and miss, one told me I was too fat to see baby's gender!

MIDWIVES

- all lovely and friendly at every appointment I was measured and we listened to baby

CONSULTANTS

- seemed knowledgeable and respectfu

TRIAGE

I have always been encouraged to phone Triage if I have any concerns. I did so in the middle of the night because I had at this point been in early labour at home for about 2 days and I was in excruciating pain from a mysterious back ache. i couldn't feel or time the contractions because the pain was killing me. I was told to stay at home "since this is not the real thing and I knew if I was in labour properly" I had a bad feeling and went to Triage anyways in the mornings. I was again told the same thing and pretty much made to feel like I am wasting someone's time. In the end when I was checked it turned out I was at 7cm and should probably be getting ready to have baby! - When people come to Triage they should not be made to feel that way and they should be checked by default. Not everyone screams when they are in pain ;) The member of staff did apologise afterwards, and I have no hard feelings.

Then I was told that since baby is SGA birth centre (which I'd been looking forward to) was out the question and I'd have to go into a hospital room (the only thing I didn't want) - no one told me this before and I was v. disappointed.

LABOUR AND DELIVERY

I had the most amazing Midwife and want to thank them and student midwife for supporting us and respecting my wishes as much as possible in a hospital room. You were the only people that have actually stood up for my wish of not being strapped to a bed. We waited 6 hours for the new baby check to be done, another 2 hours for someone to take the canule out of my hand, and another 2 hours before we finally could go home. I was ready to discharge myself. It is a disgrace for new Mums. I asked twice for support with Bfeeding and was told to just "keep putting him on" which didn't work. I now have hugely swollen and painful boobs since no one helped me to get feeding right. Thank God for YouTube right?? My discharge notes have incorrect info on them.