"Traumatising"

What I liked

I had a horrible experience when I gave birth at the woman's. What I hoped would be a calm drug free experience became overly medicalised. I felt pressured into having an induction I didn't want or need in order to birth within the timeframe they felt I should.

I was forced to lie on my back for baby to be monitored despite there being no reason for continuous monitoring. Once forced onto my back I felt unable to cope with the contractions I'd been managing well for 21 hours, I requested diamorphine, my progress halted at this stage and led to a second lot of diamorphine, a failed epidural, induction and eventual ventouse delivery.

The care I received from one midwife post natally and some of her I'll advised comments made me lose all faith in my ability to breastfeed and ultimately I bowed to her pressure to formula feed.

I would not recommend the women's to anymore. Although their treatment of me following my son's birth has been faultless. The care and compassion from the consultant midwife has been amazing and it is largely due to him that I am happy to be pregnant again. Although I am planning a homebirth this time.

What could be improved

The staff could take the time to understand that whilst they've seen it all hundreds of times for a lot of women in their care it's their first baby and they're scared and need compassion, understanding, patience, time and to feel involved in decision making. Not made to feel like an inconvenience and a petulant child.