to want to say to ATYOURCERVIX and other midwives on here...

[poshme]

I think you are wonderful.

I havent read the whole thread about postnatal care... but I'm aware it has a lot about m/w and how badly people feel they have been treated by m/w.

I have had 3 DC. My prenatal/during labour and postnatal care was not always perfect, it was not always how I had dreamed it could be, but I know that the m/w were there for me, and were in many cases working under incredible strain/ pressure with many women.
I just wanted to say that for every complaint I'm sure there are hundereds of women who will never forget you - for good reasons.
I know that is not everyone's experiences and that MN can be a good place to vent/ share/ work through this...
I just wanted to say - I had great midwives, and I will always remember them.

oh god and the doctor who done my stitches whilst i hissed very very loudly bitch! fucking bitch! im going to tear her fucking head off fucking biiiiitch!!!! thank you so kindly for treating DD when she was 2 and even tho you recognised me you didnt evil me at all and i know i wouldve done it if i were you

I had a MW during my pregnancy and an equally brilliant MW during labour. After spending 12 hours with my MW during labour, you realise HOW HARD they work and HOW TIRED they must get....they work 12 hour shifts without ANY planned breaks. My husband and I had to tell our MW to go and have a break because even though I was in labour, we both felt sorry for her.

I had DS on Christmas Day, was supposed to be a home birth but it went a bit wrong and I ended up being transferred into hospital. My community midwife stayed with me, past her shift end time, on Christmas Day just to be there to reassure me and to encourage me when I was so so very tired and couldn't push anymore.

Thank you - you all do wonderful job.

Hear hear! I've had 3 DC, each delivery with complications so I've spent quite a lot of time in hospital and seen a lot of midwives.

Yes, I've had some dud midwives - in their case I wonder why the heck they wanted to be midwives as they seemed to hate women and babies so much. However the vast majority - at least 95% - have been lovely - utterly overworked and usually completely underappreciated but still usually with a smile on their face and a willingness to help and listen. And still give that extra beyond what they're required to do.

And my local community midwives here are also absolute angels - amazingly kind people with the patience of a saint. I just wish I could have had a homebirth with them but my complications always meant a hospital or c-section.

I've seen plenty of doctors I've not been keen on, but very few midwives.

I met a lot of MW during my antenatal care, time on the AN ward, in delivery and the postnatal ward (about 15 probably). All were great except 1. However I did have a shocking time postnatally and that was in no way the fault of the MW on the postnatal ward. It was due to the poor funding and staffing of the PN ward. I don't think I could work in those conditions and not turn into a miserable whining cow, so hats off to all of those MW who are able to do it every day and night.

My midwives were all, bar none, amazing. But the amount of work they are faced with sometimes requires them to be superhuman and therein lay the problem with my first post natal experience.

It's not hand wringing to expect correct advice on how to feed your child.

Hats off to all the brilliant staff at The Norfolk & Norwich. And the Castle team midwives. Amazing. 'Nuff said.

hugely that is mean. While being pregnant and giving birth in themselves are not illnesses some women do actually become unwell in various ways during the process. Quite often through no fault of their own or anyone else's.

I think their is a big difference between expecting a hotel service and wanting to avoid being sworn at and accused of not loving your baby. These are unnecessary and manners cost nothing and believe it or not good manners and showing compassion are not the reserve of a hotel. If I had gone to a hotel to have dd we would be both be dead. I lost so much blood I was unconcious. Should I be apologising to the staff for that?

Having said that this thread is a good idea, not least because it can be held up as an example to the rotten MW (yes some are awful) as how they should behave. Also how it is possible to behave as they have colleagues doing the same job yet acting appropriately.