To ask if postnatal care is still bad?

[Penguinandminipenguin]

I'm due pfb in 3 weeks, and I'm trying to mentally prepare myself for the birth, as up until now I've had my head in the sand about it all!

Due to a few medical issues, it's likely I may need close monitoring after birth so would need to stay in, or it's likely I might need a c-section meaning I'd need to stay in because of that. To try and get my head around it all, I was reading a post on here from 2011 about postnatal wards/care and some of the stories were just awful.

I just wondered if peoples experiences were any better 4 years on, or if the care is still pretty poor?

It depends where you are and then I suppose it further depends on what staff are in. I don't think anyone can tell you anything that'll be useful unless someone has stayed in the same hospital a few days ago or something

Which hospital? I had a very good experience at Kingston.

Yes, it depends where you are. The postnatal ward I was on was fine and the staff were great.

I don't think it's particularly awful but then again it's certainly not what I would class as good. I had my 2nd DS a few weeks ago and have been pretty much left alone, I stayed on the ward overnight and after having trouble breast feeding I made the decision to formula feed. Once I made that decision I barely saw any of the midwives despite being there to be monitored for a medical condition. I had to go to the midwives station to request painkillers when they didn't return, I suppose I could have pressed the buzzer but I felt bad doing that when it was so busy.

The positives were that the ward was clean and the midwives I saw were lovely and genuinely caring people who helped me with my anxiety a lot. The things which weren't great we're purely because they were so busy, I did complain a bit in the end because we were waiting so long to be discharged when there was no need.

Once I was home it transpired I'd been missed off the list for home visits from the community midwives. I think because we didn't endure any complications I didn't consider any of these things that serious, but they actually could have been if we did have complications.

My first experience 3 years ago was bad, I was left and despite explaining how strange I felt it was ignored. I was sent home at about 10pm with an undiagnosed infection, the midwives still dismissed me when I explained again. I was re admitted to the ward 2 days later with a massive infection, I think that could definitely have been avoided if someone had taken the time to listen to me and to keep the ward clean.

I'll be interested in stories too, I'm expecting pfb in October.

We have opted for home birth all being well, if not I will be in the local maternity hospital, which is apparently lovely. All the midwives we have seen so far have been really lovely too- which has helped keep my anxiety levels down!

It really depends where you are. I was in for three days after a section and they were just fabulous. Very attentive to both me and baby DS, hours spent helping us establish breastfeeding, even the food was good! I would have happily stayed in longer. However a friend was at the same hospital a few years earlier and had pretty much the opposite experience.

The trick is to find the strength to say if something isnâ??t right. If you feel it isnt right.
Your partner or whoever is by your side right now needs to be ready to be your advocate.
I had a rubbish experience but others had a positive one. A lot turns, I think, on being strong enough or letting someone be strong for you if you need it.

I was in two nights and it was the inconsiderate other mums that made it a nightmare. The one opposite that constantly slammed the heavy bins waking all the babies up multiple times a night. The lady next to me who couldn't have a conversation without screaming.

The nurses and midwives were great though.

Kingston were fantastic, we had to stay in a week unexpectedly and I couldn't fault them for anything.

Good luck

Which hospital are you going to OP? I had a not great but not bad experience at Southmead in Bristol. I was in for 4 nights because of breastfeeding problems. The wards are a but grubby and tired - remember flip-flops for wearing in the shower - but the staff are what makes it. On all but one night the staff were extremely caring and attentive. I was feeling very low and vulnerable and it was hard when dh had to leave for the night, so the lovely midwives and care assistants were a godsend. On one night it seemed to be the shift of grumpy old dragons who made me feel guilty for using my buzzer.

Congratulations and good luck

By the way, I wouldn't personally consider a home birth for my first born - I just think that you can't really know what to expect. If I hadn't been in hospital then the consequences could have been serious. I'll be back on delivery suite when dc2 comes along in a few months.