"Maternity Hell"

I gave birth at this hospital and it was honestly a traumatic and terrible experience. I had gestational diabeties and asked for a C section as my baby was measuring above the 95th centile, but was persuaded to have a vaginal birth and induction. I agreed on the basis that forceps wernt used. A doctor wrote in my notes that forceps should not be used. On the second day of my induction my waters were broken by a midwife and contractions began. Many hours later I was told to begin pushing, after 2 hours I was making no progress and a doctor was called. I begged him for a C section. I told him I did not want forceps. He insisted that forceps be used and eventually, tired after almost 12 hours in labour and terrified for my baby I signed the consent form for forceps and a C section if this failed. My baby was still fairly high up although at the time I was told he wasnt. The delivery took place in the operating theatre. I was terrified. This was my worst nightmare. It took three attempts with the forceps to deliver my son who then had to be resuscitated and taken to Neonatal Care. I had a second degree tear that was quite bad along with the episiotomy that the doctor cut.

I was understanibly devastated. I actually thought he was dead to begin with. My distress was met with an interrigation about my mental health and accusations of being too anxious as if I was making a fuss about nothing. My son was diagnosed with suspected Sepsis and given IV antibiotics but he was thankfully ok. We stayed in the hospital on the Wheal Fortune ward for 5 days. The waed was not clean and nobody changed my bloodstained sheets for my entire stay. There was mould in the shower. My stitches were agony but most of the staff failed to notice any issues even on examination,

I later foubd out from my GP after being discharged from the hospital that my stitches had all come undone, I had a gaping open wound and an infection. All the staff on the ward also kept giving me mixed advice about feeding my son. One memeber of staff noticed my son was breathing noisily and arranged for a doctor to come and check him. All seemed ok, however over the bext few days I noticed his breathing was irregualr but nobody believed me and treated me like i was lying and a paranoid wreck. Thankfully it was nothing seriousm my son was also not producing wet nappies and nobody believed this either one comment was made that I coukd not possibly know if his nappies were wet as the ones i was using did not have a wetness indicator! Evebtually after placing cotton wool in his nappy to prove this the staff investigated and found he was slightly jaundice and having issues with feeding enough.

I went back to the Day Assessment Unit several times about my gaping open perinium and vagina and was told it would heal naturally, of course it didnt and I was then told that the appearance was normal. It wasnt and I eventually saw a private Consultant and paid for a repair. I have made a formal complaint.