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?

The one on our ward stuck her head round my closed curtain while I was airing my bleeding nipples. Why are they allowed to do this?

I fucking hate bounty.

There I said it. I don't care if IAU.

I feel better now.

Anyway, that aside, I think its pretty bad form to allow this to happen. I wasn't in the mood to WANT to say yay or nay to a lovely gurning smiley lady with a camera, but it didn't damage me either. They were at worst a mild irritant.

I can't get angry about it though I do think that if the curtain is closed they should never 'peek' through, and I suspect that they wouldn't be encouraged to do so.

Totally agree with most others, they should not be allowed onto the wards touting for business. I was waiting surgery on labour ward after a 4th degree tear when in she came, I assumed she was a HCP at first. But no f'in Bounty- my mum politely told her it wasn't a good time...

Once back on the Post-natal ward and within hours of a GA for the repair she was back with her camera and laptop- telling me and DH how brilliant this equipment was ( she spoke like we had never seen a computer before). Again we declined.

I did complain about my overall experience but included a section on this specifically. What particularly angered me was my mum was kicked out the moment we got to PN ward due to infection control yet they let these lizards on freely/daily to tout for business. The response was pretty much 'it's just what happens'.

Weeks off from being back in for DC2 and this time I don't think I will be so bloody polite to them. I think they should be at least told to hold off 24 hours from birth before approaching personally ( if at all).

Well I had the strangest bounty woman known to man with dd2. I had preeclampsia so was in for around a month before the birth (trying to delay the labour until 34 weeks), so I was sort of a fixture on the ward and they shoved me in a quiet three bed room. I was in all over Christmas and new year when it was very quiet, and bounty woman was at a bit of a loss as to what to do all day. So she took to wandering the corridors, bounty packs mournfully in hand. Literally every time she spied me going to the hot drink machine/ tv top up station/ passed my room she would give me a bounty pack. It was like groundhog day. I still haven't bought any baby wipes or hair conditioner and dd2 is nine weeks old! Was quite embarrassing carrying them all home though!

Dd was straight to scbu and covered in tubes but bounty woman did make a helpful appearance by the incubator, only to be given a look at which point she shoved another bounty pack in my face and rushed off.

I didn't know others felt like this! YADNBU, I was in a state of shock after DS1 and in she comes after 36 hour labour, forceps and EMCS; 'would you like me to take a photo?'

'Er, no I would like you to f* off and stay there, you random stranger'

YANBU

They are a awful! A very jolly bounty lady pulled back the curtains as I was in bed crying my eyes out after a knackering and distressing labour and trying to feed a screeching DS. She said 'oh shall I come back later then?' Yes, please do; come back when I'm having my first post partum shit and take a photo of that too...

I'm so glad it's not just me! I had a twenty six hr labour was plonked on an empty ward at four am and DP was sent home (hour drive away when he'd had no sleep either) I was knackered, very worried and completely bewildered by everything. Managed about an hours sleep then this woman arrives to take a photo of my baby and I thought she was part of the hospital. Had no idea what was going on, no nurse around, no DP. She started rearranging my pfb and took photos of us (looked awful as did I mention I'd had 1hrs sleep in the last 48hrs?!) so she said she'd come back. She arrived back at half ten when DP had just arrived and he told her it wasn't appropriate. We then got photos through and a request for money but DP phoned them (unknown to me) and told them to p off as they were exploiting women at an incredibly vulnerable time. Yay DP!

I came back from the loo after having DD and a photographer was lifting her out of her crib to take a photo

Lets just say she got the sharp end of my tongue.

This was 18 years ago, so its been going on far too bloody long.

It's really awful. I think at the very least, there should be strict rules!

They shouldn't be allowed to pull back a closed curtain, for a start!

If someone says no, they are not allowed to go back later, pull a face, argue, get nasty or indeed to say anything other than ok, bye.

They have to tell you actually TELL you - that you don't HAVE to have their pack in order to claim CB, and tell you how you can get the form.

YADNBU!
I remember when the bounty photorapher turned up 10 hours after my horrendous first birth. DD was in her little basinette and crying so the photographer stuck her knuckle in DDs mouth to stop her crying for the photo.

It happened so quickly and not being quite compos mentis, it was only after she had left I started to wonder how many filthy germs she had given my PFB. It was nearly 16 years ago now but still makes me
The photo was crap too so I never bought it.

YANBU - I had just given birth when she came to me and DS was sleeping

I asked her to come back later

When she came back I was in the shower and DH had no clue who she was. I was too to care but he was horrified that they let someone do a strong sales pitch on women who have just given birth. I think the packages started at about £60 which is not cheap. DH said he watched her pitch a ery young couple who clearly felt pressured but didn't lok like they could afford it. He was - I was less bothered as my mind was elsewhere but looking back I can see his point

Do the hospitals get some kick back?

We had a Bounty Lady and a photograph lady. They both attempted to get details from a lady opposite me who only spoke a few words of English. (Usually her SIL was with her who was English) I could have told them, but found it funny that they carried on anyway!

They must do or it wouldn't happen. There should be very strict guidelines about these people swooping round. If I had another baby (unlikely) I would complain v loudly. Sadly I had other complaints last time,I could have swung for the women doing it.

YANBU. I think it's disgusting that salespeople are allowed on a post-natal ward, where women (some of whom have had major surgery ) are trying to recover from birth, bond with their babies, establish BF etc.

I understand that some women may want photos- maybe Bounty representatives should only be allowed in the day room. And they definitely shouldn't be implying that you have to sign up to them to get CB, what a shower of bastards.

Is there a petition about this?

YANBU I was HARRASSED by some stupid woman from Bounty after a traumatic emergency c section and though I sent her way she returned DAILY to harangue me....I'd bloody slap her if I saw her now that I'm no longer weak, traumatized and drugged up...they need BANNING.

I actually think this is deserving of a MN campaign now I have read more stories from others on here! WHo agrees?

I was upset with mine because I did want pictures but he said " Well, we won't do them now with all those nasty tubes" - ds was in SCUBU at the time. We never got them done in the end but that throwaway comment really upset me

Its not only the photograph thing that is bad but the way they come and try to get your name and address from you.....in exchange for a mini tub of bepanthen and frigging pack of wipes!

Oh not to forget the 79 useless leaflets and single nappy! Totally unethical....do they pay the NHS for the privelege of being allowed to stalk the wards bullying vulnerable women?

YANBU.
My Bounty woman was a sarky cow. When I explained that I would not need photos as I knew a professional photographer who was my friend, she said "It's amazing how many people have those"
Cheeky mare.
I gave them fake details

valium what a twat....do these people recieve NO training??? I was angry after having DD but kind of forgot about it....this brought it back.

I say ban them the effers.

I refused my bounty pack on principle with dd and we didn't get child benefit for 6 months :)

ARe the two linked?

Yes the child benefit forms are in the pack

When the Bounty lady popped into my room the day after giving birth her opener was "I wanted to talk to you about baby's first photograhps! :) :) :)"

I chattered on for about 10 minutes about how DH's cousin was a professional photographer and he'd taken some lovely pictures yesterday and was coming back today and weren't we lucky and I had some on my phone and would she like to see and on and on and on. Poor lady couldn't wait to get away.

I wasn't trying to be clever, I was a bit delerious from lack of sleep and excitement. Funny in retrospect though.

What has your CB got to do with Bounty naughty?

WHat gets me about Bounty is that it has got a reputation now...it's KNOWN...s new Mums think it's something they have to sign up to or they'll miss out if they don't....I assumed it was an official NHS thing when I had DD1 because it's presented like that and you're in frigging HOSPITAL!

You just don't expect sales people then!