Not sure if it's worth considering making a formal complaint about this, or if it's just me being extra sensitive post partum!
I gave birth to my 2nd child recently. I lost a lot of blood, had a 2nd degree tear, and injured my chest (costochondritis) during labour. I gave birth late afternoon, and was moved onto the post delivery suite after 10pm. I broke down a little after the birth and I suspect this was flagged before moving to the post delivery suite (was overwhelmed with everything snd physically feeling very rough). My DH had to go home to take care of our child. The midwives that looked after me overnight were amazing. They took my son to let me sleep for a couple of hours, and were just very caring and considerate.
The next morning around 8am, I had another midwife introduce herself to me. She told me that I didn't have to go home that day, and could stay another night to recuperate, but also to get a chance to speak to the infant feeding team since I was struggling with breast feeding. I had initially planned to go home that day, but I was still feeling very rough, so decided to speak to my DH about staying another night.
Around 9am a lady was moved into the bed next to mine. Her baby was born at 34wks and remained in NICU. I could hear her complaining about having to share the bay with others, and could hear the midwife that came to speak to me an hour previous affirm how awful it was and apologise profusely. Within about 15mins, the lady started complaining about my son crying and how distressing this was for her. She made about 2 or 3 complaints within about an hour. I could hear her very clearly (only a curtain separated us), and I could hear the same midwife promise that she was going to clear the bay for her, and that she was going to send 2 ladies home that day.
Around 10am, the midwife came to my bed with 2 other clinicians. One to administer my anti D injection, and another to give me my discharge information. After this, the midwife asked me to confirm I was going home that day. I'd had very little sleep after a labour that started the night before I was in hospital, I'd lost blood, was still nauseous from the pain meds, and was generally not able to think straight. I was also feeling very uncomfortable about the lady next to me who continued complaining about my son crying. I confirmed that I would by going home that day, but ddidn't tell her when. My husband wasn't even at the hospital yet. My mother and daughter who we planned on visiting me at hospital, still hadn't. And a catering lady had that morning taken my food order for the entire day, so I had assumed I'd at least have a chance to have lunch if not dinner before heading home.
I called my DH and told him to come as soon as he could, so that he could help me pack my things. He arrived just before midday. He held the baby while I got changed. Then I breast fed the baby while he packed up. While he was there, the lady next door made another 2 complaints about my baby crying, and the midwife came twice asking me if I was leaving.
At around 1pm, I got so anxious about staying there and the lady's complaints, I took my son to the common room while leaving my husband to finish tidying up/packing up. At 1pm I asked the midwife if I was good to go and she just said yes. We left shortly thereafter.
I left without any meds or conversation about meds (pain meds, stool softener, anti sickness meds, iron supplements), and before a chance for my mother and daughter to visit me and the baby. No one had physically examined my chest.
Since then, I've had to contact the GP to arrange medication for pain, haemorrhoids, they've arranged a blood test since suspecting anemia, and arranged a chest xray following chest pain and breathlessness (which I communicated to the midwives on numerous occassions). I feel so incredibly let down. I feel like I was rushed out to appease the lady next to me. It was so awkward hearing her complaining endlessly, but even more awkward hearing the midwife promising her repeatedly that she would clear the bay for her.
Is it worth complaining about this through PALS?
Thanks if you've got this far!