To Ask for your experiences of post natal wards

[RozziPringle]

Mine was Noisy and hot with incredibly overworked midwives. The most memorable incident was around 12 hours after a c-section i was made to get out of bed to walk along 5 corridors to shower, doubled over in agony. When i told the widwife i wasnt going to make it and i felt faint she tutted and muttered about me been lazy under her breath.
There were some fantastic midwives Don't get me wrong but they seemed few and far between.
Im due to give birth in 3 weeks and im dreading going through all this again

Amazing birth experience at mw-led birthing centre at Leicester royal.

Hideous postnatal "care".

catgirl I think we're at cross purposes; honouring visiting hours and having a partner stay overnight on an antenatal ward are very different things!

Both times I had great experiences, at the same hospital, however my dsis is a mw there and I worked there myself as a bf peer supporter before having my kids, so I knew all the staff and which ones were approachable and which were grumpy. Our hospital has now closed and the nearest consultant unit is 15 miles away, my sister still works there, but the unit has twice as many beds, is frequently full to the rafters and guess what, they still have the same number of mw that they had in the old unit. Me thinks I will be booking with the Portland for an induction (live 180 miles from London so not a great journey in hard labour) if I get pg again!

sorry :) - I mean having my DH stay overnight on a PN ward is not something I have done but something I would insist on and something I know other people have insisted on and been allowed. I expect they could call security if they wanted to but have not know this to be the case of the people I know who have insisted on staying overnight on PN wards

sorry - that should say "somehting I have NOT done but something I would insisit on"

The birth of my 1st dd was probably the best out of all my hospital experiences as I was too out it to care.

When going into hospital with my son I was told I was not in labour but had possibleappendicitis and was put on a ward with other not in labour pregnant mums. I stayed there for 3 hrs, no one checked on mr. Then the contraction became to much and I was on my hands and knees on the floor, curtains pulled. My dp went and spoke to nurse who came with 2 paracetomol but did not examine me, 15 mins later my dp erupted and demanded a doctor, who came, took a look, my son was crowning, I was placed in a bed and rushed into and lift to delivery. Afterwards I was given a bath and sent to a ward where they had let family and friends wait withoutevenasking me, I had leaked blood all over my nightie and was mortified as my brother and young nephew were there. I was then encouraged to breastfeed and disturbed even Shem my son was sleeping. I eventually gained freedom the next day through pleading and went home to the privacy and sanity of my home.

On having my third child I was placed on Ashley stay ward in the middle of the night, this ward ran like a day ward all night so all mums and babies were released the next morning. I was totally shocked when a 2 in the morning my baby was bathed and my release forms were signed so I could leave any time after 6. My dd was born at 1.15 am, and in that hour I was given toast, tea,stitched, bathed, moved ward, settled in ward, informed about baby bathing, pelvic exercising and had established breast feeding, amazing stuff.

Fantastic. I had a home birth, but we ended up in a post-natal ward for a few days later on due to DS being unwell. It was an MLU and we all had our own rooms. There were plenty of midwives, with time to give one to one support including during the night. There also seemed to be a cleaner constantly on duty, the toilets and bathroom were always spotless. Food was fine and there was somewhere we could make tea and toast anytime and an HCA would make them if you couldn't manage. I got great support with breastfeeding and emotional support about ds being ill. The midwives cared for the baby of the woman in the room next door during the night, to give her a break after a difficult birth.

I had great NHS care, from my community midwives during pregnancy and at my homebirth, through the pregnancy assessment unit, special care baby unit and postnatal care. It's not terrible everywhere.

northern, please believe I am not diminishing your or anyone else's experience or reality. What I am pointing out is alongside, not instead of personal experiences.

If it helps at all, my post natal care was excellent. The ward was understaffed, but the midwives still came every time anyone pressed their buzzer and were friendly and helpful. I learnt loads from them and think that it is largely due to their fantastic care that I managed to breastfeed as it took a while for us to get it. I buzzed them every time my DD needed feeding and they came straight away day or night and helped.

In fact the only bad experience I had at the hospital was when I was in labour. We rocked up at the hospital and a midwife looked at me (literally just looked at me, no examination etc) and basically sent me home saying I wasn't in labour as I wasn't screaming the place down. We were back 1.5 hours later to be told that I was 10 cm and my DD was breech (unexpectedly) and on her way out - ended up having an emergency c-section. Clearly the emergency section wasn't her fault, but it would have been nice to have known before I was actually pushing and was being told to, 'STOP PUSHING'. Everyone else was totally great though.

Equally hideous at Homerton 12 yrs ago. Only done it once. Antenatal and birth - fine. Midwives, anaesthetist, all OK. Except, neither of us had any sleep the night before (too hot). Could have slept during night of the long labour (30 hrs) except the machine bleeping and the 2 midwives chatting, walking about, banging doors ALL bloody night. Dd finally born. My legs in stirrups (black PVC + silver chains), gallons of haemorrage, piles of blood soaked bandages and a man cutting my vagina (epesiotomy). Seemingly, no thought of how women might feel about that . Get up to post natal for food and rest. Ha ha ha. The agency midwives chatted, banged doors, turned lights on, etc .Moaned at me for weeing on the floor (MS had started, infection from catheter, epidural not worn off) Lay in bed muttering "Shut the fuck up!" - which got me the dr in the morning asking me who the PM was, the date, etc. Because I was a bit crazy, you see? Only had no sleep for 3 nights, massive blood loss, no food. Unreasonable of me. Only got breakfast by accidentally finding it. Needed transfusion, just went home. Relief. It was truly hideous. All my friends have said they had similar experiences. It seems the actual medical stuff is fine but the pastoral convalescent care is crap.

Been in two city post birth wards - they were good mostly.

While i have also twice stayed in a midwife led unit and that was just amazing. Great care and lots of attention/support.

With the exception of one lady the staff have seemed very dedicated

I had wonderful care -the midwife who delivered DS came to the ward to see me on her way home.
Also had 1 to 1 help with breastfeeding -lovely, patient staff.
Only complaint was lack of food- the antenatal mums would scoff everything ! If you were feeding and a few minutes late-tough ! DH would bring me in M&S sarnies and salads.
Community midwife care was also excellent.

DS1 I had an EMCS in an east london hospital and honestly thought I was going to die there. Nasty, rude uncaring midwives, filthy postnatal ward (blood up walls, curtains and even on the ceiling!), food was ok if you liked halal curry otherwise it was unrecognisable slop, no painkillers and I was made to feel like a failure as I couldnt move (nerve damage to my legs from a botched spinal). Emptied my own catheter as mine and ladies next to me was overflowing onto the floor and midwives uninterested. No buzzers working and no lights- only emergency lighting for nearly 2 days! I was covered in blood and unable to get up...no -one would help me. My drip was left in for 2 days and my bag filled up with blood- no-one seemed to know why it was still connected as i wasnt being given fluids or even painkillers despite being in agony. After 5 days I pulled out my own drip as they couldnt decide if I needed more blood tests even tho I was due to be discharged. I am amazed I didnt develop PND as well as my mastitis afterwards. The hospital I had DS1 in is now on special measures and their death rate is over 4x the national average. I cry whenever I hear a story on the news about another woman going through what I did. I consider it a miracle myself and DS1 came away relatively physically unharmed (I had 2 uterine infections and mastitis...also all my skin peeled away from my bikini line ?!).

I had counselling several years later for something else and was amazed at how DS1's birth had affected me and many of my subsequent decisions. I think events like that shape you as a person and although I have moved on, I will never forget my experience there. It took me 6 months to physically recover.

DS2 was a totally different experience in a different hospital. The midwives couldnt have been nicer, the facilities excellent and my recovery was swift.

I had a positive experience.

Aside from the boot that made me get in the shower 11 hours post-birth and surgery by myself, then told me I was breastfeeding wrong (first baby, not exactly a pro!) all the midwives were lovely, more than willing to help, offer support with breastfeeding etc, and the ward was clean with lots of bathrooms and toilets etc. Also they had lots of helpers - mostly young girls training to be nurses/midwives/nursery nurses I think that would come in and help bathe all the babies. I remember being disappointed at the food but still wolfing it down

I was in a shared room with 5 other women though, so it was very noisy. My two were the least noisy in the room as they were the smallest!

DS: overcrowded, noisy, hot: 8 beds with one bathroom - no bath, just a shower/toilet/sink in one small space. I had just had a 28 hour labour with massive epesiotomy, ventouse delivery and waaay too much epidural (made delivery even harder) so couldn't find my legs.

Was told
a) no painkillers as they didn't know where my drugs chart was, and no drs around until the morning (was 7pm when I got onto the ward)
b) that dh had to leave at 8pm
c) no dinner as I hadn't ordered the day before
d) no help with anything - no BF support despite repeated requests, no help with baby: " you don't get help unless you've had a C-section" "but I still can't stand from the epidural" "no, you don't get help unless you've had a c-section"

It was at the point I was phoning my parents to bring in painkillers (and making them hurry as they wouldn't be allowed in unless they got there in 30 mins) that it dawned on me and DH that being there might be utterly pointless.

So we asked why we were staying. Apparently its 'standard practise' after a ventouse delivery. Thats all.

So we phoned a friend. Luckily several of our friends are paediatricians. They confirmed there was no reason to stay and offered to be on-call for us if required...and one of them lives 200 yards away.

So we self-discharged, which they totally hated, and went home. Hurrah.

For DD1 and DD2 we went to an entirely different hospital and managed to get our own separate broom cupboard room each time.

Oh, forgot to add, I was at Liverpool Women's Hospital so dedicated to maternity care et al.

Also post-care was excellent, aside from one midwife who was a bit miserable but still ok! My only complaint was that really they sent me home too early - the doctor said I could go home 3 days after the birth (36 weeks; pre-eclamptic multiple birth; surgery after; milk hadn't come in yet) so of course I wanted to go. As my milk hadn't come in we spent that whole first night with 2 screaming boys who were starving. Normally they would give you a bottle to take home but as I was BF they didn't. THe community midwife that came in the morning was livid, showed me how to make up a bottle and they slept for 6 hours.

This time round I will be prepared with some ready-made formula!

Have had 3 births in the same hospital in the past 6 years - most recently 5 months ago.

Very pleased with care -in the midwifery led unit - small wards with 6 beds in each - loads of room, no problem getting pain relief. Had breast feeding mentors there and also midwives to show how to make up bottles, bath the baby, had pelvic floor instruction etc before we left. Thankfully they were strict re visitors, no partners staying all night etc. Food was shite but to be honest its a hospital, breakfast was ok, anything hot was reminiscent of school dinners Oh couldn't believe when I joined MN that some women had to go and get their own food

Bog standard NHS care in Northern Ireland but couldn't fault it.

My care was absolutely fine.
Food fine (hot tuna pasta/pork roast dinner, both fine)
Midwives helpful, ward quiet, clean and calm. Was 2 of us in 6 bed room.
Well organised in terms of where bathrooms were, who could use what.
Shown how to bath baby and change nappies , cord care, helped with feeding, given advice and asked if wanted to stay another night.

Bog standard NHS hospital (Whiston)

I feel really sorry for everyone else posting here.

I've had two pretty positive experiences. Two c-sections, two 3 day stays. One or two grotty midwives, but otherwise I found them ok, many of them very helpful. They were still VERY understaffed, and worst bit was when I set a (v quiet) alarm to wake up at midnight to feed my prem baby and by the time midwife had got around to taking me my baby had been fed and was back in incubator. Other than that though they were really good, and many took time to talk to a teen single mum in the bed next to me who had no visitors at all.

I also loved the food. But that's mainly cos it was cooked for me, and in the weeks after having both my babies I'll eat absolutely anything!

I had fairly straightforward births, apart from being induced first time, and of course I had nothing to compare it to at that time.

I stayed in two nights, and my only memories are of the paediatrician checking ds before we left, and one midwife or nurse trying to force painkillers on me when I was awake in the middle of the night. I didn't want painkillers, but I did want to look at my wide awake baby, and she just couldn't seem to accept that I didn't need painkillers.

Apart from that, I was completely ignored, and only ate what was brought into hospital by than dp and my Mum. I was offered no help with anything, no bf advice, although I did manage to establish it myself.

Thankfully, I was fine, but if I hadn't been, nobody would have noticed.

I have had 3 births at Pilgrim Hospital, Boston (dont mind naming as I've moved now anyway) and other than the midwives being overworked and not there very much my postnatal care was okay. I was out next day with all of them though.

I had both lots of antenatal care at an NHS teaching hospital, and my deliveries and post natal care privately, and sadly the difference between the two is night and day.
I had my own room, which I was checked into prior to delivery, so I could unpack and have my things around me. My consultant and the anaesthetist came to see me to explain what would happen and then we gowned up and went down to theatre. The deliveries were both textbook but during my first one the anaesthetist stroked my hair, and said she hoped I enjoyed my baby.
Postnatally I was taken back to my own room, and had soup and sandwiches.
There was room service, for both me and my visitors, I was checked very regularly, cleaned up and dressed. First time a lovely lady called Olivua washed me from head to toe whilst I sat in a drugged haze, in the privacy of my own clean bathroom. Second time I did it myself.
I was expressing second time round, and had left milk in my fridge and the midwives sneaked in and took it rather than wake me which I thought was nice, and my consultant also came to see me but I was asleep so he didn't wake me either, and came back later.
If I was tired and needed a break I could send the babies to the nursery, which I did whenever I needed sleep, and there was plenty of breastfeeding advice too, and I breastfed my first child for 13 months, and my twins for 7 weeks, which I don't think I'd have managed without the initial support.
I had several one to one sessions with the physio, which was helpful, and was also written up for plenty of pain meds.
My husband could stay with me overnight in the spare bed in my room, and it was open ended visiting. When I had my first delivery three girlfriends came to see me and we had a lovely tea party in my room!
The care was excellent, the service was great and although it's certainly not perfect - I discovered the nursery were a bit ambivalent about EBM and were pouring it away unless it was used immediately - I was always treated like a human being in a vulnerable position.
I'm not posting this as a boast - far from it - it makes me terribly sad that the post natal NHS care can be so awful, and I think it could go a LONG way in improving people's experiences without the posh toiletries and wine list that private care offers.

Brilliant care for us. Was in HDU for the first 48 hours, nurse literally at the end of my bed 24/7. Couldn't have been more lovely to me, expressing for me as I couldn't do it myself for all the drips in my hands! Lovely clean facilities and wards, helpful midwives and great food.

When I moved up to the post natal ward was equally as great. Only thing was I couldn't have a private room and wasn't keen on being in with mums and babies when my baby was in NICU. Midwives seemed to really care about every patient, really just couldn't recommend the hospital enough.

Southern General, Glasgow.

I joined the maternity feedback committe thingy and let them iknow my lowlites (I also praised the nuggets of care I felt had been really nice and had made the stay bareable)

Had emergency C section, then bled and had to be opened up again then later got infection. I also have low mobility and acute pain in arms, wrists and hands and even when in tip top health am unable to carry and dinner tray.

• Horrible midwife who constantly blamed my weight for everything; "You can;t pick your baby up 12 hours post op? Heavy Mothers find it more difficult to heal" When I told her I hadn;t eaten since three days earlier when labour started: " Well you wont starve in your [pat stomach] shape"....

• I fitted while breast feeding and couldn;t reach the bell. I was shouted at [and I mean shouted at] for asking the mum next door to get someone. She was moved to another room and i was told I was a trouble maker

• Lady doing photographs coming round 4 times a day trying to sell me a photo of my baby. She NEVER washed her hands and even tried to advise a lady how to bath her daughter and was holding the babies.

• Total ignorance of my existing health condition and I brought this up at the committee. The hospital now puts any existing health problems or disabiltiies in red on front of notes. I missed so many meals as midwives refused to help me get meals from down the corridor: "all the other ladies managed. Some of them had twins" etc etc Lady opposite was unable to read and was signing forms she had no idea what they said. I read her the deaf test form [she carried my breakfast that day:)

I have sincere respect and sympathy for staff. But I feel the above problems were a lack of curtesy, empathy and humanity. I work in a highly stressfulm busy job. A smile takes no more effort. I;d be sakced if I was a rude as these pepole treated me.