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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be a tad annoyed with maternity unit

472 replies

sstewart2016 · 17/02/2016 19:14

I phoned the maternity unit at 11am today after contracting since yesterday, they told me to come in for 5 tonight. Still contracting and I haven't been checked on
Just on a bed right next to the nurses station where I can here one nurse saying "bed 3 (me) can't possibly be in Labour she must have ate too much" is this standard Confused this is my first so no idea. Just in so much pain and not really sure what I expected Blush

OP posts:
DisappointedOne · 23/02/2016 14:45

Don't stop BF If you don't want to. Can't imagine your milk has come in properly yet. Ask for a pump if you can't get baby to your boobs.

AliceThrewTheFookingGlass · 23/02/2016 14:45

I'm confused. What do you mean they gave you two epidurals? Did they insert the first one incorrectly and have to remove it and do it again?

hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman · 23/02/2016 15:00

Your care has been appalling, someone should be supporting you to breastfeed helping you to latch him and find a position that you can feed in. I hope Leon feels better soon so that you can be reunited and get out of that place. And yes, complain!

Original poster
sstewart2016 · 23/02/2016 15:11

No the first one worked so they decided to give me another one. So I've got two different bruising on my back from them, I've jus read my notes on what happened
Canula was put on the back of my right hand and back of my left. I've also got one of the crook of my left hand ready for a transfusion so as you can imagine is hard to pick him up
Leon has an infection in his eye, they've ruled out chlamydia but don't know what it is yet 😢
Thanks will ask about a pump

OP posts:
tangerinesarenottheonlyfruit · 23/02/2016 15:36

It wpild be great if you were getting some support with BF as this would be a tricky start for anyone!

You could ask if there is a breast feeding advocate or support person you can speak to.

Alternatively La Leche League are great. Through them you can speak to other mothers who are trained breastfeeding counsellors at any time of day or evening (weekends too) on 0845 120 2918.

whatevva · 23/02/2016 15:46

They used to have big pumps for SCBU when my twins were in (born a month early) Must say, heard a lot of odd stories from people about them, but I found it way easier than trying to feed the babies, once I got the hang of it. Mine were tube fed by the staff, and they sometimes used to try and give them bottles to see if they would suck. They did bf in the end.

Sometimes they do put the needles/canula in annoying places [grrr]

AliceThrewTheFookingGlass · 23/02/2016 16:04

So you had two epidural cannulas administering the epidural into your back all at one time? Who administered these? Was it the midwife?

TBH I would be discharging both myself and the baby and buggering off to a hospital that didn't come straight from the set of 'scrubs' your care has been shocking.

Lj8893 · 23/02/2016 18:34

A midwife cannot administer an epidural, it will have been an anaesthetist who administered this and I am absolutely appauled they did even one, let alone two, without consent. They should be struck off for that.

They should also be giving you all the support possible to bf.

I am disgusted with the care you have been given (or not given in some cases) since the first time you entered the unit op. I urge you to make a big complaint, or at least contact PALS.

AliceThrewTheFookingGlass · 23/02/2016 19:04

Oh yes I know that a midwife cannot do it. I had to wait an age for an anaesthetist to become available for mine. I just thought I would ask because if the rest of her care is anything to go by I wouldn't be surprised if a MW did try to do it. They've done everything else wrong after all.

I hope little Leon is doing okay OP

WhoTheFuckIsSimon · 23/02/2016 19:07

Where does the OP say she didn't consent to an epidural? It's a pretty hard thing to site without someone agreeing to it.

I think a second one would only be sited if the first one wasn't effective. So the tubing would be removed and they'd have another go. Or sometimes when first siting it the Dr will know they're not in the right space, take it out and start again.

Lj8893 · 23/02/2016 19:15

She said she didn't consent in her post today at 13.02.

Lj8893 · 23/02/2016 19:16

alice I didn't even consider the possibility a midwife tried to do it Shock

WhoTheFuckIsSimon · 23/02/2016 19:18

Oh I hadn't seen that post. Still don't understand how someone managed to get an epidural without consenting to it, never mind two!

NeedACleverNN · 23/02/2016 19:19

My back is bruised from the epidural, I'm silently seething about that. How can they give me Two without me even consenting to one?!

Lj8893 · 23/02/2016 19:23

Me neither simon but I suppose if she was really out of it from the diamorphine, they could have done it then.

Original poster
sstewart2016 · 23/02/2016 19:26

No idea who did the epidural I wasn't even aware of it happening, I can only remember being forced to sit up away from the bed. I absolutely did not consent to this. It was done about 3.30am and i was crying at the mention of the epidural, that was in my notes
I also had a spinal block which I didn't consent to, but not sure if I needed to consent for those
Had two blood tests already today so my arms are feeling knackered

OP posts:
WhoTheFuckIsSimon · 23/02/2016 19:29

I think you should ask someone to go through your notes with you and explain stuff before you leave. You can ask to see a supervisor of midwives. It might be that some stuff is a bit jumbled because of diamorphine or you may still feel that stuff happened which shouldn't have and then you can decide what to do.

Lj8893 · 23/02/2016 19:32

Definetly ask to speak to the supervisor of midwives, and PALS. It's disgraceful.

Original poster
sstewart2016 · 23/02/2016 19:32

Thanks, they did mention that the consultant wanted to speak to me as apparently I need a section for any future babies now after I had such a bad time.
But the annoying thing is I was begging for a section but wasn't aloud as they wanted me to 'try for a natural birth'
Oh and baby has ecoli in his eyes 😢 he is on anti biotics and a drip in scbu now 😢

OP posts:
Lj8893 · 23/02/2016 19:37

You had an awful time because of everything they put you through. For no good reason. You should have never been induced in the first place.

Please make a complaint op, especially now while it's all still fresh and you can try and make sense of it all. If you let it all go, it's the sort of thing that can lead to all sorts of emotional issues for you in the future.

Flowers for you and baby Leon.

AliceThrewTheFookingGlass · 23/02/2016 19:38

My back is bruised from the epidural, I'm silently seething about that. How can they give me Two without me even consenting to one?

WhoTheFuckIsSimon love the name btw!

I assume that when OP says she didn't give consent she means she was perhaps too out of it from the morphine to give informed consent. As you say it would be extremely hard to site an epidural without any consent as It takes quite a while of sitting perfectly still after all.

As an aside I complained to my DP after dc2 was born because the MW was trying to get me to consent to a completely unnecessary procedure ( putting a heart trace monitor into his head?!?) I was in no fit state to consent to anything. I had never been so high and out of it in my life (well since labour with Dc1) and i was quite partial to a 'smoke' pre DC. I find it strange that they would accept consent from someone in that state.

AliceThrewTheFookingGlass · 23/02/2016 19:39

Oh bugger it. Feeding Ds2 while typing so X posted with everyone.

Lightbulbon · 23/02/2016 19:39

Sue them!

What a f*ing disgrace!

Sparklycat · 23/02/2016 19:40

What hospital where you in if you don't mind me asking? Def speak to the lead midwife.

purplepingu · 23/02/2016 19:43

Forgive me because I haven't read all the posts but your birth sounds a bit similar to mine with the exception that I had been asking for an epidural since having the syncontin drip started.

Midwife made me try gas and air plus a shot of diamorphine (that I didn't want but had to try before having an epidural). I can't remember anything after the injection until the anaesthetist was there putting the epidural in.

I was talking with my husband about how my signature signing consent for forceps must not have even looked like mine at that point and said how odd it was that they didn't get me to consent to the epidural. And he told me that while I'd been out of it they'd read all the complications and dangers out to me and I'd signed quite happily. But I genuinely cannot remember a thing!

I don't know if you had diamorphine or not OP but if you had it caused me to lose about three hours of my life so it may be possible that you consented whilst you were still dozy from the drugs.

Congratulations on the birth of your little boy, try and focus on that for now rather than the horrendous experience you had bringing him into the world!

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