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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To mention no Bounty reps on my pregnancy notes?

120 replies

LolaStarr · 18/10/2016 15:04

I'm 38+4 weeks pregnant and I've just had my last appointment with my midwife, I just have consultant appointments from now on. She was going through the labour checklist part of my notes, and after we'd discussed it all she asked if there was anything I'd like added on. When I had DS1 I had barely just had him when a Bounty rep came barging into the delivery room trying to sell me photos and demanding my email address; I was a bit younger and naive then and I went along with it, but looking back now I'm really pissed off about it and I don't want it happening again. I told my midwife that I don't want to see a Bounty rep and she pretty much laughed in my face and said that all of the midwives on the delivery ward would 'have a giggle about it'.

I feel absolutely stupid now. I know it's really a very insignificant thing but I wanted it on my notes so I wouldn't even have to think about it when I've had my baby. Was I being stupid asking her to put it on there?

OP posts:
Robinkitty · 18/10/2016 16:21

The bounty rep took one look at me and then carried on, she had been to the other mums as I was watching her but left me out. 3 times I've given birth and never had a bounty rep.

EverySongbirdSays · 18/10/2016 16:26

Perhaps the MW wasn't laughing AT you but WITH you? And that everyone hates Bounty reps and the staff on the ward equally? Or it's a running joke?

"Words spread, another one requesting no Bounty LOL"

Is it possible she was laughing at the Bounty Reps and NOT you?

Fluffsnuts · 18/10/2016 16:26

Whilst I don't think you are being unreasonable and I think bounty reps should be banned on wards I don't see the point in writing it in your notes, it isn't like the bounty rep will be reading them or that the ward staff can police who they see- they simply don't have time or resources for that.

ChocolateWombat · 18/10/2016 16:26

Do you know, I don't actually think she was laughing AT you. I think she probably sympathised with your view and just hadn't come across anyone who had expressed it before, she was probably laughing because most of the nurses feel similar sentiments to yours.
Go ahead with it in your notes, put a sign on the door if you want to and really really don't get all upset and offended by the nurse. I feel fairly sure that hers was a sympathetic laugh. It might have been a little ironic if she knows they are extremely persistent on that ward, so avoiding them can be hard work.....but I don't think it was unkindly meant.

ILostItInTheEarlyNineties · 18/10/2016 16:34

I quite liked getting my free goody bags. I somehow ended up with three on one stay.
The mini pots of Sudocreme are just right for your changing bag Smile.
Mind you, I didn't experience a pushy rep. I told her I had no money to spend and she admired my baby and moved on.

MerlinsBeard87 · 18/10/2016 16:36

Because of mumsnet I thought I would prepared for them when they turned up. I was on the ward with my curtains drawn and feeling very fragile after an emcs and struggling hopelessly with feeding when she pulled my curtain back and just walked in without asking. I assumed it was a midwife or doctor as so many had come in and out and she didn't actually identity herself, just started talking. When I realised who she was I asked her to leave. I think they exploit the fact women think they are an official hospital service you must endure. I think they are a menace, so you are not unreasonable!

Tiredtomybones · 18/10/2016 16:36

I stuck it on a flower shaped post-it note on the front of my green notes. It worked. The midwife came into my private room, confirmed I didn't want to see Bounty Lady and that was that. Worryingly, it was my MW when I was still pregnant who peddled the line about needing the pack for the child benefit form. I just said that even if that was true, it made no difference as we didn't qualify anyway.

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 18/10/2016 16:38

I don't think there's anything wrong with your request, but it would never have occurred to me to add it to my hospital notes - I've always thought that birth plans and/or discussions about preferences for labour (all being well) were centred on medical issues rather than photographic ones or sales preferences.

I wouldn't imagine that the midwives on the ward are terribly happy about having Bounty reps swarming about either TBH. On the post-natal ward I was on (three times), the midwives were so busy actually looking after their patients & new babies that I'm sure having to wait while a Bounty Rep. walks about taking photos and payment details is a tad annoying! They must get in the way to some extent.

AcademicNerd · 18/10/2016 16:41

The hospital where I'm due to give birth has Bounty reps Angry.

I don't think it's right to try to sell someone things when they're in a vulnerable state, and not long after you've given birth is pretty damn vulnerable.

I'm especially hostile to high-pressure sale tactics, so I might need to pack a sign in my hospital bag to tape up to warn them off

liquidrevolution · 18/10/2016 16:42

My labour care list I wrote with the midwife before my induction ended with '...and Bounty can fuck right off.'

She said I was within my rights to add this and its not unusual.

For everyone raving about the mini pots of sudocreme. Just contact sudocreme and they send you not 1, but 3 of them as samples. And no need to be on an annoying mailing list to get it.

OvariesBeforeBrovaries · 18/10/2016 16:44

I think she was probably trying to laugh with you about the Bounty ladies but missed the mark a little?

YANBU to not want them there. Salespeople wouldn't be allowed onto any other ward.

BarInSpace · 18/10/2016 16:46

I think she was probably trying to laugh with you about the Bounty ladies but missed the mark a little?

Yes, I thought this. Perhaps the hospital staff get fed up with them too!

Justjoseph · 18/10/2016 16:47

I woke up to find a fucking bounty rep in my room.
Absolute disgrace. They should be banned.

Print the sign it's good.

NickyEds · 18/10/2016 16:53

A pp asked if they're really allowed into delivery rooms- I gave birth in a closed induction suite (mw didn't agree that I was in labour until it was too late!)and the bloody Bounty woman came down there to find me! The induction suite had started to fill up with women waiting to be induced and the bounty lady blustered through my curtains saying 'I knew this bay would he you as you're the only one with closed curtains!' Dp said 'and why do you think that might be?' and I told her to clear off.

minipie · 18/10/2016 16:53

YANBU

Have signed the petition. Cannot believe it's still allowed. I can only presume the NHS gets a kickback from the companies involved?

Stiddleficks · 18/10/2016 16:58

YANBU, whilst waiting for dh to bring in my other Dd to meet her baby sister for the first time I was being nagged about photographs. As they came into the ward she came rushing over to suggest photos of the baby and her big sister. My eldest is very shy and was overwhelmed enough with out being asked if she wanted a photo, she was 4 ffs she didn't care! How I didn't hit her I'll never know, totally ruined the moment we were all together.

DinosaursRoar · 18/10/2016 17:01

They are vile! I put it on my notes and told the midwives on the ward - they made sure she knew to stay away.

More woman should complain about them. It's a scummy business model.

Noodledoodledoo · 18/10/2016 17:01

In two births I have never had issues with them, they come round to the postnatal wards - if curtains were closed didn't disturb, I was asked re photos I said no thank you - and was offered the bag. Less than a 3 minute conversation and no hard sell on the photo.

One was on the Post Natal ward on Labour ward, the other on the post natal ward on the Birthing unit.

RueDeWakening · 18/10/2016 17:16

Bounty are a horrorshow. One lady came into my cubicle after DS1 was born (he's a surviving triplet), looked at me and said something like "where's the baby? oh yes, you're the one with the dead baby, you probably don't want this" and swanned off again.

I complained! And cried, extensively, all over the lovely NICU nurses caring for DS.

ColdTeaAgain · 18/10/2016 17:30

Flowers Rue, that's just horrendous.

Sugarcoma · 18/10/2016 17:30

I'm pregnant with my first and am in total shock and horror at even the idea of Bountry reps - have never heard of this before and I think it is outrageous! And apparently the government pays them £90,000!!!!!!

I just signed the petition but I don't have high hopes there was another one a few years ago but clearly it didn't work: www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/the-womens-blog-with-jane-martinson/2013/sep/26/kick-bounty-out-maternity-wards-parenting-clubs

Am seriously in shock that a) competition laws allow one private company and b) common decency allows door to door salesman to come peddling to women who have just given birth. WITAF.

TheFreaksShallInheritTheEarth · 18/10/2016 17:43

What bothered me the most is that I received a phone call when I was pregnant, not long after logging in with the Drs, asking me to confirm a few details so they could register me for free bumf.
For one thing, stranger phoning asking personal details: no!
For another, the Drs must actively TELL these vultures who's pregnant. How can that even be legal? I told her to fuck off and vowed to complain that my medical details were being shared. I didn't.

When I was admitted to the postnatal ward at 3 am, a photographer woman came loudly in, switching on the lights at 7am. She said "Oh, very dark and quiet in here!" midwife, clearly annoyed said "yes, these ladies have all delivered during the night and need to rest!" Didn't stop her.

Why are they allowed in wards outside of visiting times? Or at all, even.

Nicketynac · 18/10/2016 17:53

I work in a hospital and saw a car parked in a clearly marked no-parking zone right outside a main door. Saw a sign stuck on the dashboard and assumed it was some kind of emergency parking, like a surgeon or anaesthetist... Nope. "Bounty rep on-call."

Original poster
LolaStarr · 18/10/2016 17:53

Thanks for the replies, I feel a bit better about it now! She was 100% definitely laughing at me rather than with me. She's a bit of a strange one, she's been my community midwife for both my pregnancies and she's always been a bit funny now and again. She's not very well liked by most of the other midwives from what I've been told. Anyway like I say I don't have any more appointments with her now thank god!

OP posts:
Katinkka · 18/10/2016 17:54

I had the bounty rep and the local paper!

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