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"Good pregnancy care, but horrible birth..."

About: Queen Charlotte's Hospital / Maternity

Hi, I've just given birth in November 2017 in Queen Charlotte labour ward. They kept me dilated at 8cm for 12 hours which led to an infection and to us being in hospital for 5 days with antibiotics. I ended up in the operating theatre where the vacuum failed and had to have forceps delivery and episiotomy and lost 1.5l blood. The baby was on oxygen in the neonatal care unit until next day due to them breaking my water at 11pm on Friday night and giving birth next day at 2pm. They did not let me know that I lost so much blood and only when I still couldn't stand up after 4 days they gave me a transfusion. The first midwife I had in the labour ward did not take in consideration that I told that my veins are very hard to find and still tried to put a catheter in my hand which failed and had to wait for the anaesthetist to put in the other hand (that one failed after the delivery). The second midwife (day shift) was more helpful but a bit too late as we needed the doctor. The first doctor who came to see me next day when I was 8 cm for already 10h said to check me and then started turning the baby inside me without explaining what she was doing or my agreement although I requested to be informed at all times. After delivery they put me in a room alone for the night as the baby was in neonatal care unit where hardly any midwife came. Next day the baby and I were moved in another room with other 3 beds. Having been separated from the baby, my milk did not appear straight when the baby came to me and I've asked the senior night shift manager midwife to bring a formula bottle and show us how to feed him. While she was feeding him she kept on telling the baby "aw you don't like this milk do you? Nothing better than breast milk is it?" while I was there heartbroken as I have not able not even to hold & seen my baby properly but feed him. This midwife was very judgemental of wanting to mix feed and tried to make me feel so bad that I asked her what is the doing. The only painkillers they gave me for 2 days was paracetamol and some codeine although the episiotomy and other tears were very bad and painful. I was lucky to be seen by a another day midwife who looked at my stitches and advised I needed to be on morphine and also requested the doctor to check my iron levels which were very very low and I finally got the blood transfusion which I needed. The stay in QC was a horrible experience and I am grateful to God that the baby and I are now healthy at home.

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Responses

Response from Queen Charlotte's Hospital 6 years ago
Queen Charlotte's Hospital
Submitted on 03/01/2018 at 12:53
Published on nhs.uk at 13:37


Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust is concerned about your posting on NHS Choices and wishes to apologise for the experience you had with our Maternity Department at Queen Charlottes Hospital.

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) has passed on your comments to the relevant service managers.

We would really like to speak to you and be able to look into this matter further.

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) can be contacted on either 0203 313 0088 or email imperial.pals@nhs.net

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