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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Bounty women on maternity wards

157 replies

FasterThanASnakeAndAMongoose · 30/08/2016 22:04

I know this has been done before, but ho hum.

AIBU to say that marketing companies have no place on maternity wards?

After giving birth to my babies I was exhausted and vulnerable. It was a massive invasion of privacy for the Bounty women to barge in trying to harvest my details before my own parents had even met their dgc. They were waiting downstairs for visiting to start.

Hospital should be a sanctuary. Women on postnatal wards aren't necessarily ill, but I've never felt more ill in my life. On no other ward would it be acceptable for a marketing company to prey on patients, so why is it still ok on maternity?

Gives me the rage Angry

OP posts:
Mummyme1987 · 30/08/2016 22:05

Wasn't there a mumsnet thing about this a few years ago? Or am I dreaming it? I totally agree.

Mummyme1987 · 30/08/2016 22:07

why just photos, why not baby clothes, fast food, etc. One rule for them, another for other businesses.

SalemSaberhagen · 30/08/2016 22:07

I hate them. I refused their stupid photos and the woman took a pointed look at the angry forceps mark down poor, hours old, DD's face and said 'yeah, maybe wait until THAT has gone before you take any photos'. The cunt.

ateapotandacake · 30/08/2016 22:08

Completely totally and utterly agree. And I'm a midwife. Have tried for ages to campaign for it to stop. Suspect Bounty pay the unit for the visiting rights as the unit are completely unwillinging to stop them.
Am with you, 100%.

Original poster
FasterThanASnakeAndAMongoose · 30/08/2016 22:08

There certainly was. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to have worked! My youngest was born in Feb and the Bounty woman arrived within an hour of us getting onto the ward.

She was the worst one yet. She breezed in with her clipboard and implied that she was doing her rounds. I was high on morphine at the time and told her to eff off. If it'd been my first baby though, or I hadn't known to expect it, then I might well have given her all my details. Grrrrr.

OP posts:
PaulAnkaTheDog · 30/08/2016 22:10

I was 17, alone, worried about my son and in a lot of pain and had been awake for almost 48 hours when those fuckers appeared. I was upset, confused and didn't know who they were, my dad walked in soon after and booted them out quite swiftly. It was not a nice experience. Sad

Dizzylizzie29 · 30/08/2016 22:11

Sad to see this is still happening
I put on my notes that I didn't want any bounty visits and when I did eventually get on the post natal ward made it very clear I wasn't to be disturbed by bounty rep.

I wasn't thank god

MintyGlint · 30/08/2016 22:11

Youngest born in February too. There was some concern about her pelvis and the Bounty woman came in while I was in years waiting for the consultant. Why the fuck would I want to save that moment forever?!

blossombottom · 30/08/2016 22:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

peaceloveandshitmoms · 30/08/2016 22:13

I remember being pretty terrified when I had my DS two years ago after reading all the horror stories about them taking your details when you're asleep etc. I put it in my birth plan notes that I didn't want her anywhere near me, and she didn't bother me at all. But the family opposite were having loads of photos taken and the huge flashes were really annoying when you're trying to recover and settle your baby.

angeldiver · 30/08/2016 22:14

I didn't see them for either of my dc.
Dc1 I left after 4 hours but was in 24hrs with dc2.

What do they actually do?

Original poster
FasterThanASnakeAndAMongoose · 30/08/2016 22:14

Shocking comment about the forceps marks! My eldest was a forceps baby too. The marks were part of who she was at the time, just like the scab on her knee at the moment is a badge of honour! How disgraceful. Thank goodness your dad was there. You shouldn't have needed to deal with that.

Paul that sounds awful.

OP posts:
NataliaOsipova · 30/08/2016 22:15

My DH terrified the Bounty woman. I felt so bad I had to talk her back again (for which I am grateful as I now have a really lovely photo of my DD!). But I agree (with him and on principle) that it's wrong for them to be allowed on wards.

Original poster
FasterThanASnakeAndAMongoose · 30/08/2016 22:16

The text on my previous comment seems to have jumped around a bit!

OP posts:
Geekmama · 30/08/2016 22:18

What's a Bounty woman? I adopted my DS. I'm a little bit lost Smile

Original poster
FasterThanASnakeAndAMongoose · 30/08/2016 22:20

angel they give you a pack of free samples and vouchers. They try to collect your contact info and info on your child for future junk mail, and they take pictures of your baby which they then charge you a fortune for.

I was also given a bounty pack at my booking in appointments, now I think about it.

OP posts:
FlappyRose · 30/08/2016 22:21

I saw the Bounty woman after my DS was born. She came to see the other woman on the ward who had just given birth. My DS was in special care after a traumatic birth and, when I asked if she could have a pack (I didn't really know what it was), she refused to give me one. After a short conversation where she refused to believe I'd had a baby, she walked out. Found it quite upsetting at the time.

Sandsnake · 30/08/2016 22:21

It's unbelievable that it's allowed, really. I had three visits - first visit I was breastfeeding and they immediately dropped the bag and left, second I was recovering from an anaphylactic shock and was totally out of it and third I was asleep. Got three bags without having to interact once (think there's still some trial baby shampoo knocking around somewhere...!).

Original poster
FasterThanASnakeAndAMongoose · 30/08/2016 22:24

And they're allowed on maternity wards outside of visiting times, and they're allowed to approach you regardless of the fact that you've just given birth and you're in the middle of precious time with your newborn and in my case you also resemble a cavewoman

A resting bitch face is no deterrent to these people.

OP posts:
ColdTeaAgain · 30/08/2016 22:28

YADNBU.

I always look back with regret that I was so naive to it all when I had DD and filled in their stupid form. She didn't have a camera though and only learnt on mumsnet that this is common practice to also flog newborn pics. Perhaps my maternity ward has said no to photo sales but still allows them to come in to hand out the bounty packs and get ppl to fill out the forms which then get you signed up to all the fucking mailing lists.

Salem that comment she made is appalling! But sadly you hear of things like that all the time on Bounty threads.
I hate how they get away with such rudeness and intrusiveness since women who've just given birth are so tired and drained and not really in a good position to give them what for!

In my case the Bounty didn't say anything rude but my curtain was pulled over and she just let herself in sort of saying "bounty lady!" as she did so, so not exactly giving me a chance to know what was happening. Well I'm ready for you next time Bounty lady!

LifeInJeneral · 30/08/2016 22:29

I'm embarrassed to say I bought some photo's Blush nobody warned me about them so when she came in I didn't really know what was going in. I was on my own and vulnerable and too polite and timid to say no. It's absolutely disgusting that they are allowed to go in and pressure vulnerable women into spending money they can't afford.

ThisIslandGirl · 30/08/2016 22:31

DH and I were talking about this the other day when I came across the email with the photos on. We both said how, in retrospect it was really uncomfortable and inappropriate for her to be putting our PFB in silly hats and uncomfortable positions when we were so tired and vulnerable. I can't believe I allowed it now, normal me wouldn't.

SpaceDinosaur · 30/08/2016 22:31

OOOH this thread reminds me that I need to put "no bounty" in my notes and tell DH to be aware of the bloody witches.

The whole thing is utterly utterly wrong but the NHS is desperate for money and the Torres are trashing it. You wouldn't have pharma companies peddling painkillers in orthopaedics or oncology but because it's "only women" and "babies" it's an easy market and sell.
Bounty are used as a tool to deliver various forms and given access to vulnerable women.

It is wrong.

Aeroflotgirl · 30/08/2016 22:34

It is disgusting hospitals allow salespeople into maternity units, to sell to vvulnerable women. This should be stopped. Is there a system of complaint! Can you contact PALS, or head of the hospital trust.

peaceloveandshitmoms · 30/08/2016 22:35

Also needs to be made clear that you CAN apply for child benefit without their form, even if they tell you you can't.