to think that a Bounty photo salesperson has no place on a post natal ward?

[Boboli]

Is this the norm nationwide? At our hospital, one of the first people you'll see after you've given birth is a photographer from Bounty who will give you a sales pitch for photos of your newborn. The photos are not cheap and I find it pretty incredible that mums are approached hours after given birth when they are likely not quite in the state of mind to decide on pricy photo packages.

My SIL had the pleasure of this Bounty lady an hour after reaching the post natal ward in the morning having been in labour all night. She had to specifically insist that she did not want her baby woken and photographed.

When had DD1, no-one except birth partners were allowed on the wards because of the swine flu outbreak yet the Bounty lady made it through. In other words, she was allowed to my bedside but my mum wasn't. This can't be right, can it?

"I think its ridiculas to have commision based sales on a medical ward! " I thinly we are going to have to get used to it with the nhs bill

Another one with a prem in NICU. The bounty lady came in while I wasn't sure if DS would live, and asked where he was. she then came back every day until I was discharged, sometimes more than once. Funnilty enough he was still in NICU.

Fortunately I was and am quite forthright and giving birth didn't change that!

I had no idea this would happen, and I'm disgusted, and glad to be forewarned.

I agree they shouldn't be allowed. However, because in my befuddled state I thought my DH had agreed to the photos, and when it came to paying he assumed I had agreed to the photos, I do now have the most stunning photo of my gorgeous DS at just a few hours old, and was able to send out the mini size ones to all the family. So I'm glad they visited me, but agree it shouldn't be allowed.

Glad I've cleared that one up.

Well it would seem the company has a code of conduct that a lot of bounty ladies are ignoring.
www.bounty.com/what-we-do/approach-and-commitments

The hospital where I had DD last week does not have the photos done by Bounty but by another company, so I got two sets of reps. The Bounty lady told me she needed to take my details for CB and as routine, and I had just had an emcs and no sleep the night before. I still had my catheter in and couldn't move and was too weepy to realise that argument was even possible! Not on a level with other people's stories here, but I am very angry since reading this thread. I even work in sales and I hadn't realised that this was what Bounty was all about!

I have complained to Bounty online and demanded they remove mine and DD's details from their lists before I take this further, and am about to complain to the hospital too.

The photographer was pushy too, but not Bounty so not really relevant to the thread, but will be included in my complaint to the hospital.

Incidentally, the mws told me to call the registrars in town to make an appointment to register the birth and that they would give us the CB forms and process the application for us. It was dead easy, and Bounty had nothing to do with it!

blimey, if I end up in hospital and get harassed like this I know where I'm going to be shoving their cameras. And after they have 'birthed them' I will ask if they want me to take their picture for them.

I don't think salespeople of any sort should be permitted onto post natal wards. I think it is sufficient to allow people to leave their flyers at ward reception, and allow interested parties to make their own arrangements.

We had the foot and hand casting woman in to our room. What a pity we had just discovered that our baby has a limb deformity. We were ok, but that could have really tipped some over the edge.

First time round, the bounty rep seemed to give the impression that they were the custodians of the sacred child benefit form, but as it turns out, i found them on the relevant govt website in pdf form.

Well I'm due to have a caesarian in a couple of weeks so I shall play dumb and see if they actually claim that I can't get child benefit without giving my details and record the conversation on my phone.

Just posted complaints letters. I doubt the hospital will take much notice, but the more people complain the more likely it is that something will be done eventually. At least they won't be able to say that they didn't know there were any issues!

I'm sure you're right, Viking.

If there are as many dissatisfied people as there seem to be, a good barrage of letters, describing personal experiences and complaints, will raise awareness within the hospitals.

Unless Bounty is bunging them a wedge of the profits, or a few free events, I can't see what the hosps are getting out of it.

Just adding my story to the list....

I got bounty womaned three times (as I kept being moved rooms).

The first time she was in the ward before my DH was even allowed back in, I was off face on pain relief and still unable to stand for more than minute required to grab baby for feeding. All I can remember her saying to me is 'I'm here to photograph the baby' and then 'Don't you have anything nicer than the hospital blanket for her to be wrapped in'.

I think I was pretty monosyllabic but I can't really remember much from that day.

To be honest it didn't wind me up too much at the time but I got really pissed off at them the 2nd and 3rd time they came round to do the same thing....and I was really really angry when they put the pressure on the woman in the bed opposite who signed up in the end in spite of spending almost all of the time I was on the same ward as her, talking to her mum/partner about how they could scrape together the money to get the bus home and still buy a bottle for the baby.

Piglet, I though each hosp got £5k from bounty for allowing their reps in.

"they put the pressure on the woman in the bed opposite who signed up in the end in spite of spending almost all of the time I was on the same ward as her, talking to her mum/partner about how they could scrape together the money to get the bus home and still buy a bottle for the baby."

Shameful.

Oh God are they still doing it? I hated it when they came to me 9 and 7 years ago. I didn't buy their pictures, but was too shy to tell them what i thought of them. I found them really intrusive! They totally take advantage of the emotional wrecks that most new mothers are. It was my precious new born baby and you feel like you are rejecting the baby if you are rejecting the photos. It's wicked.

If I am lucky enough to have another I hope that I will have the forethought to print out the CB form to put in my hospital bag to wave in their faces so they leave me alone, also NO BOUNTY will go in my notes.

Make me furious this practise is allowed to continue.

Hi everyone, I told community MW this morning I didn't want Bounty rep near me and she agreed and said they were a nuisance and there was no place for them on a post natal ward. I will also specify in my notes that I don't want to see the rep. They have to check in at the midwife station when they arrive so if they are told to stay away and don't, I'll have even more solid grounds to complain afterwards. I think if more of us take a stand and fight this hideous practice, it will change policy. Imagine the outcry if funeral expenses insurance reps prowled cardiac wards or critical care units.

ahhhh am I the only person who actually went out to seek the Bounty woman ? I didnt find them pushy at all with DS1, she took a lovely pic and they were really nice to give out to family and friends and alot cheaper than I thought they would be. with DS2 there was no sign of them and I was only in for 3 days so got a bit worried I might miss them so went for a waddle mooch about the ward to hunt her down. Again really nice photo and I again I thought they were really good value especially as they sent me two sets by mistake

I agree that they shouldnt skulk about special care units though. Maybe just put a notice up or something asking people to contact them if they want pics done?

I got a Bounty pack, but there was no mention of any pictures. As I recall, the Bounty lady came in and asked if I'd had a pack, I said no so she handed one over, told me a form for CB was in the pack, smiled at my DD and left. I saw her again a few days later (was on the ward from Fri-Mon) and she said she thought I'd had one already, but wasn't 100%, so I assured her I'd already got one. Nothing pushy or unkind, but I can see how another person might easily go another way.

YANBU. I've always politely declined but feel embarrassed and a bit harrassed at the same time. People are quite capable of taking nice pictures of baby with thier phones / own cameras.

I've never been asked about photos. I had the pack handed to me both times - but no suggestion of her taking any pictures for me.

You can opt out of having your details sold on. I got a very polite reply from Bounty today in response to my complaint saying that the rep would be retrained and that mine and dd1's details had been removed.

Told my husband about this thread in the context of 'thank goodness this didn't happen to us' only to be told that two bounty ladies came in to see me in the RECOVERY ROOM, minutes after coming out of theatre after spinal and forceps. They weren't taking photos but gaveme the pack and took some details..clearlyfor marketing urposes. DH didn't really register what was happening and I have no memory whatsoever, because I was IN RECOVERY!! I am furious - why the hell were marketing representatives allowed in to my recovery room to take details when I was at my most vulnerable and clearly off my head on medication

I am considering printing off this entire thread and bobbing it in an envelope along with a letter to my bounty lady explaining why I think it's morally wrong that this practice is allowed! I feel for some of the horrific stories I've seen on here and I pray for the bw safety that I am unable to get up as I may not be responsible for my actions!

I never had a visit from bounty, although my midwives were so horrible and I so nippy with them, that they probably advised them to stay away from me lol