"Elective C Section for breech twins"

At 36 weeks and 6 days my OB consultant Mr Pembridge decided to get the twins out as they were no longer growing. I turned up on the labour ward one morning last month at 7am to be greeted by Sian our midwife who would see us through the procedure. Sian's support and guidance was fantastic, very informative and reassuring. Mr Pembridge carried out the procedure and experienced difficulty in stopping me losing blood, but again fantastic work by him to stop the bleeding and finish off the procedure. Andrea was the scrub nurse midwife who also assisted Sian and was also great. My twins were born weighing 5lb and 5lb 4oz.

Sian's support in me breastfeeding colostrum to the twins was amazing and also the handover to the HDU ward was faultless. 18 hours in HDU was also a faultless service, Sam was the midwife on duty and the level of service and support from her was brilliant.

Day 2 of my stay I was transferred to a separate room on ward 10. On this ward it was clear to me that the midwives are short staffed and pushed on their workload with the amount of patients. As my twins were born premature, for 24 hours they had to have their blood sugars measured by heel pricking every 3 hours with the 3 feeding regime. This clearly traumatised one of my twins who would not settle, when the night came my baby would not settle but I was left alone as my hubby had to leave the ward after 10pm but having had surgery I was not in a position to deal with the twins on my own.

The nursing night nanny came every 3 hours to feed them but she had to move on but my baby cried all night with me trying to passify. The midwives on Ward 10 just didn't have the time or resource to assist even though they wanted to.

Day 3 - I was so glad to be seen by my consultant and paediatrician to be given the all clear to go home. At least my hubby and family could help me settle the twins in at home and get better rest.

Overall the c section proceedure and support on the HDU ward was amazing, but ward 10 feels like a cattle market where all patients are on a conveyor belt. Service levels drop significantly but not for the service the midwives provide, it is obviously under staffed and the midwives want to do more but are restricted.

I am grateful my twins were delivered safe and sound and a big thanks to the RGH maternity dept, especially Mr Pembridge, Sian & Andrea (labour ward), Sam (HDU), Rachel and Andrea again (ward 10).

I really hope the Cwn Taff health board read this feedback and take comments on board.