"Sketchy post-natal care"

I was admitted to Lewisham hospital in labour with meconium in my waters, which meant no birth centre admission and extra monitoring care was needed. I had a very mixed experience whilst there.

- Labour ward midwives were generally excellent, except the one who delivered my baby who at one stage told me to ‘stop making so much noise’ and that I ‘wasnt pushing very well’.

- The anaesthetists on post-natal whom I dealt with were amazing.

- My mobility during labour was hugely reduced because no one could work out how to use the wireless monitor.I was astounded at this level of incompetence over a piece of kit that could have improved my comfort dramatically.

- The midwive delivering my baby was exceptionally poor at communicating to me and my husband. She did not speak to us about what was happening and expected us to fall in line with their decisions.

- We had to stay in the delivery room for 24 hours. It was not cleaned well, the room was splattered with dried blood and the bins were overflowing

Lewisham postnatal ward formed the most upsetting part of my stay for many reasons outlined below. We were there for 5 days.

- I was chastised for supplementing my baby with formula. Due to my medical situation, not even my colostrum had come in. No one had read my notes, and I had the paediatrician telling me to supplement with formula on one hand, and a brusque midwife telling me that ‘I shouldnt be bottle feeding’ on the other

- If you are on meds, expect to be harangued from 5am through until midnight by various medical professionals who are of course all doing their job,but there is no joined up thinking and too much division in labour. You will answer the same questions over, and over... its like there are no centralised notes on you. Do not expect to get any rest or recovery time.

- The food is utterly inedible and of poor quality. No one will recover well eating the food here, its disgraceful.

- Midwives on this ward generally seemed over worked, unapproachable and often put-out if you ask for help.

- Breastfeeding support on the surface initially seemed good, but in actual fact mainly involved watching a video, with a chance to ask a few questions at the end. You will be hounded and guilted by the knitted-boob brigade to attend this session.

- When asking midwives for help with breastfeeding and latching, their main response seemed to just be forcefully pushing my babies head onto my nipple. Not very helpful for me in my understanding of how breatfeeding really works.

- No one asked about my tear stitiches, or offered any aftercare information.

- Our welcome pack to the post-natal ward which contained lots of useful information was given to us upon discharge on Day 6 of our stay. GOOD WORK, GUYS.

I would not reccomend the post natal care at Lewisham. The labour ward was great if you can avoid the atrocious midwife that I sadly had for my delivery.