St Marys hospital Manchester and crap booking in apt

[Kimononono]

Good even all,

Just looking for some advice on what to do next. I'm 15w 2 days and only had my booking in apt yesterday even though I register pregnancy at 8 weeks. So I've missed my 12 week scan. ( I did pay privately for one as I wanted to see if all was well)

The midwife was very young and kept having to go out of the room and ask somebody questions I was asking her. I mentioned I wanted to book a private utility room after birth with she said wasn't possible as im asking for a elected section (2nd baby was emergency section and got a bit frantic) and I'd be put in a ward specifically for elected sections and encourage to be up and walking after six hours and home within 24 hours? ( I've got horrid visions of some nurse yelling ' come on ladies up and out'

She also asked about my mental health, when I said it was fine - she said she had looked through my file ( must have GP notes from years ago) and said she had seen that I'd had counciling for sexual abuse as a child and how was that going? Which to be honest actually floored me. How the hell is that relevant to my midwife what I had councilling for? It was years ago.

I was really upset when I got in the car to come home. She didn't have to bring the SA up and I'm petrified now at being asked to get up after six hours when my spinal bloke wears off so I can go home.

Is she talking nonsense? Who would I call to ask to see another midwife or to ask some one to explain this to me ?

Thank you

[Kimononono]

Bump ... Any one

[welshweasel]

It's standard practice to get you up and about as soon as your block has worn off, so within a few hours. This is to reduce the risk of blood clots and urinary retention so not because they want to kick you out. As you probably know, most postnatal wards are not the sort of places you'd want to stay for any length of time and most women are fine to be discarded after 24 hours. If you aren't ok, they'll keep you in another night.

[welshweasel]

Oh and a lot of hospitals don't like you to have a private room straight after a section as they like to keep a close eye on you and that's easier in the bay. I was able to move into a private room the morning after my section (stayed 3 nights because DS was early)

[SpeakNoWords]

There will be information about how to contact your midwifery team in your notes, or on the hospitals website. There will be a supervisor of midwifes who you can direct a complaint to. The first thing I would complain about is missing the window for the 12 week scan, I have no idea why it would have taken nearly 8 weeks to book a scan appointment for you.

[Kimononono]

Thanks welsh , I'm surprised at how fast they want you up. I can kind of understand regards clotting ect but when are you supposed to rest and heal :-(

Are they like this if you have major abdominal surgery else where in the hospital ?

[Kimononono]

speak I've just found a list of numbers for different midwifes so I'll give them a ring on Monday.

The late delay is down to multiple errors. The GP said I had to register at the sure start, sure start said I had to register at GP, then GP didn't fax referral so I had to call to see what was going on. It's been a bit of s nightmare.

[BeardMinge]

Yes, they encourage you to get moving as soon as possible after most surgeries, for the reasons mentioned above. I had my ELCS at 5pm and was up having a shower by 6.30am the next day. Nobody in their right mind would want to lie about on a post natal ward for any longer than they absolutely had to.

I wasn't allowed a side room on the first night as they like to keep an eye on you, but I probably could've got one for night two if I could've been arsed to move all my stuff.

[Kimononono]

I hated being on the ward and had no sleep for three days. Dd had a few problems and I needed a blood transfusion and was very tired. So I thought I'd try and book a private room so at least I could get sleep. Looks like that's not going to happen.

What's the point in offering them on the website then?

[mrschatty]

Hi congratulations on your pregnancy
I had my dd there in jan and honestly had a fantastic experience so sorry you've had a negative one so soon off the mark

They are one of the busiest maternity units in the country the chance of a private room are pretty slim - none! They are mainly reserved for women whose babies are in neonatal intensive care/special care baby unit as it's so horrendous being on a ward with mums and babies when yours is away from you (this is what happened to me and so I did have a private room)
Hope all goes smoothly in your pregnancy

[Kimononono]

Thanks chatty is every think ok for your little one now?

[mrschatty]

Aw she's ok!she has a heart condition with quite a few things wrong (surgeons have never seen her issues all in one person before and describe it as unusual and complex!) she's just had her first op at Birmingham children's at 17weeks old bless her but she's an absolute wee superstar!! The midwives and nurses at St Marys were all so fantastic to us I really hope they manage to turn around your first impressions because I understand you feeling frustrated by everything and pregnancy is such an intense time x

[Kimononono]

Bloody hell chatty what a lot for you all to go through heres me wingeing on :-(

Really hope she gets well I really do xx

[mrschatty]

Don't be daft!!!! Someone once said to me "were all mums and we all have things to worry about..." anyone else's concerns and worries are not more valid or important that anyone else's we all want the best for our selves/families and babies!!! Sounds like you've been through the mill in your first birth with your dd!!

[Kimononono]

It was my second! First one was four hours with just gas and air! 😂😂 dd2 certainly made an appearance!

Ah hope your little dd keeps up her spirit and has a speedy recovery xx

[Vap0]

Hi, it's very normal to get you up and walking after an operation. I had an operation on my spine a couple of years ago and they had me up walking the next morning after the op, think the op was at about 6pm and lasted about 2-3hrs. I'm sure they would have had me up earlier if it had been a morning operation. It's the best thing for you to be up and about, they aren't just trying to be mean. Best of luck with the rest of your pregnancy

[Mummyme87]

You are at a higher risk of DVT when pregnant and for 6weeks postnatal hence why on maternity they are very keen to get you up and about.

Re counselling for abuse. She will have highlighted it as mental health is high in the agenda in maternity and lots of people of reluctant to talk about it, so requiring is always the best policy.

And with regards to her speaking to colleagues to answer your Q, better she does that and gives you an answer rather than give wrong info. Her age has bugger all to do with it, she is probably a new midwife or new to that area. She could have been 40 however and needed to ask colleagues for answers.

Everything you have said is reasonable. Apart from the mix up at the beginning

[FirstTimeInForever]

I'll be having section number 5 in around 14 weeks time. I've always spent the first night on the high dependency ward next to the nurses station for the first night, as is the norm for the first night after a section, and have then requested a private room which I've paid for. I can't think of anything worse than lying in bed for days on end...up and about asap is the way to go in my opinion! Mind you, my ultimate goal is to get out of there as soon as is humanly possible so by being mobile and fending for yourself, the midwives will discharge earlier...I think I only saw a midwife 4 or 5 times during my last section and those visits were just to take obs!

[thegoldenlemon]

Hi. I had my baby at St Marys last year. I also had a pretty disappointing booking in apt with a young and inexperienced midwife and I also had historical mh issues that were raised, but it was kind of relevant to me. The specialist midwife team also contacted me which was a shock bit actually they were bloody amazing.

As it happened I spent nearly my entire third trimester there due to complications so I know a lot about St Mary's! They are a VERY busy hospital and it's a bit luck of the draw as to how busy they may be when you give birth and also which staff are on. However, I owe my life and my babies life to the fantastic staff I was looked after by and I would hands down recommend the hospital. Neonatal care there is exemplary. I did have a private room as I'd had such a traumatic time and also my baby was early and a little bit ill. I wasn't expected to get up that soon but who knows if that was for any reason in particular. Might have been because they were busy! I had my section in the morning and got up the following morning. No one seemed remotely worried about me getting moving but I did anyway because well, I had nappies to change! I didn't find my section pain too bad, the spinal block worked well for me and also the midwives managed my pain well with drugs. Try not to worry. They have c section classes (lovely midwives run these) and you can ask all your questions there. Good luck!

[Noodledoodledoo]

I have been told if I opt for a C-Section for DC2 a private room is not an option, same as others have said they need to monitor you and its easier all in one bay.

All in my bay first time round had had C-sections or complex births.

I was up within 24 hours, took more time as they left my catheter in overnight but as soon as they removed it the midwife encouraged me to get up.

I had my appendix out at 15 weeks pregnant in January - I had the op at 10am Sunday morning - was told at 2pm I could go home that afternoon if I wished so yes up and out is definitely a thing. I was also offered the chance to stay one more night as they had spotted I had a toddler!

[snorepatrol]

I booked in there and was disappointed tbh.
I asked to be referred to Stockport instead. It was a bit far out but was wonderful, I couldn't fault my care there and highly recommend it. I had elcs and got a private room afterwards. Lots of pain relief before I got up on my feet which helped.

But in saying that my dsis was under smh and had magnificent care it was fantastic. She and her ds had quite a lot of issues going on and smh and dn needed a surgery as soon as he was born but everything went perfectly.
Smh is one of the biggest maternity hospitals in the North West if not the country so it is always going to be a very busy fast paced and oversubscribed.
I personally felt that staff are so used to such high tech specialist care that the mundane day to day stuff gets overlooked a bit. I genuinely don't mean that in a bad way about the hospital by the way, I just suppose it would only be natural to pay less attention to low risk pregnancies when you are dealing with so many high risk pregnancies and surgeries all the time.

[WutheringTights]

I've had two at Smh and am booked in to have my third there. I wasn't supposed to have DD or No 3 there because we're no longer in their area but I asked to go there both times. The midwifery and consultant led care is exemplary; Ive always had complete faith in their abilities and that they'll do their very best for me. BUT the post natal ward is hell on earth. Not because of the staff but because of the other patients talking on their phones all night, snoring, etc and also because they handle complex cases that need round the clock medical care. I didn't get a wink of sleep for the 48 hours I was there after having DS or the 24 hours after having DD. I was begging for an early discharge both times but both times they needed to keep me in (various reasons). They won't discharge you if they don't think you're not ready.

[Kimononono]

Thanks all for your replies

wuthering it's the patients in the post labour ward that's bothering me. I was at withynshaw last time and the midwifes were fab it was just the other ladies on the ward. I'm not a snob, I come from an estate but there was just no peace. I didn't get any real sleep for the three days I was there and it was hideous. I was glad to leave but I physically didn't feel ready, probally due to lack of sleep. When some one mentioned private post labour rooms at st Marys I jumped at the chance and got referred there.

Only now it seems I won't get one and the bloody hospital is on the other side of the city.