after care on ward

[lorie]

I've been reading about your experiences of childbirth and how some ladies still feel concerned and distressed about the labour and birth itself, which is a terrible shame and my heart goes out to you...but something has been on my mind since I gave birth 2 months ago...
can I just ask if it is normal not to be seen by a nurse or any proffesional after you've given birth for 7 hrs?

Wont go into details but I was shocked that I was not greeted on the ward, not immediatley checked over (blood loss, stiches, BP etc), like I said no one came to see me from 5am-1pm lunch time. And then told I could go home straight away. I did and left at 2pm.

Is this normal?! I will be honest my time spent on the labour ward makes me worry about next time...

thanks

[belgo]

That's quite shocking Lorie, if no one checked on you until 8 hours after arriving on the ward?

[belgo]

do a nurse bring you breakfast, lunch and check on you then? What about how your baby was feeding?

[belgo]

'did a nurse' I mean!

[Weegle]

Not sure if that is a) correct practice or b) normal but I had a similar experience when taken up to the ward after my emergency CS. I figured it was because it was late at night though. The next morning for various reasons we were transferred to the special care ward and there we got loads of attention so I went from one extreme to the other! I expect it comes down to staff shortages etc. One thing I would definitely take away from my last experience is to be more assertive in asking for help/assistance next time, I was far too meek and mild!

[nogoes]

I had a c-section and was admitted to the ward following my section around 4.00pm, noone came to see me, at 9.00pm my cathetar bag was overflowing and when dh went to find a nurse to ask her to change it she told him that they were too busy as it was handover time. During the night I had to call nurses to help with bfeeding (a long story) but noone checked on me. The next day the day nurse checked on me when she came on duty in the morning I didn't see another nurse until the following morning when she checked on me again.

Then they had the audacity to get arsey with me when I asked to be discharged.

[belgo]

gosh what shocking care.

[Summerfruit]

Message withdrawn

[specialmagiclady]

In my experience - and that of friends - the postnatal ward is where things all go tits up in terms of the level of care you get. They're just so stretched for MWs that it seems to me you get one poor harassed woman between about 9 of you. NO wonder nobody comes to see you.

I have to say it's the aftercare that's making me opt for a HB this time (that and seeing the state of the mop that they 'cleaned' the bathroom floor with.... foul. At least my home is full of my own filth)

[lorie]

thanks for replies, I was breast feeding, ofcourse being my first I just muddled through,I wasn't sure if I had it cracked- no one helped me. The cleaner told me where to get breakfast!

I was 'okay' but I would have liked to atleast have been greeted on the ward, you know just someone to say 'hello, congratulations, if you need anything let us know'...I was in a room on my own and felt shut away and so isolated. I didn't even know where the bathroom was and stuff like that.

I can see why people opt fot home births...

[belgo]

Even with a lack of midwives that is no excuse for the lack of care you recieved, that was potentially very dangerous. I have worked for the NHS and for the Belgian health care system, and I know what it's like to be understaffed. But the thought of a nurse not even meeting a patient at the start of a shift, or even during a shift is terrifying and inexcusable.

[lorie]

Yeah agree belgo. I actually work for the NHS myself, at the same hospital infact, perhaps thats why I was so suprised and disappointed with the lack of care.