Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
MissMooMoo · 19/10/2016 09:46

YANBU!
I am expecting my first baby in the spring and have read endless posts about these reps. I will let my DH know how pushy they are so he can hopefully ward them off.

RedToothBrush · 19/10/2016 15:08

Bounty are a commercial company operating in hospital wards dealing with women who may be sleep deprived, deeply emotional, anxious or otherwise vulnerable.

Trading standards have laws that prevent 'vulnerable' groups being targeted unfairly and rules on hard sales practices. This includes references to the customer being free to walk away. If you are in hospital recovering from child birth then you may well be a captive audience and may not feel able to say no, like you would in normal circumstances.

It would not be acceptable to let sales people on a geriatric ward but its perfectly fine in a maternity ward...

The trouble is there is financial conflict of interest between the NHS and their patients here and Bounty have embedded themselves so far in the system, no one really wants to probably address this ethical question.

I have spoken many times on the subject on MN.

I do believe that if someone was able to challenge them through these trading laws they would stand a very good chance of winning. Unfortunately this can only be done by someone who has directly had a poor experience rather than a group or someone acting on behalf of an individual unless explicitly directed to do so.

CoffeeCoffeeAndLotsOfIt · 19/10/2016 15:09

I'm sure I put no bounty reps on my notes - and one still came to my bedside.

They seem to have free rein to wander about. At least in the hospital I was in.

minipie · 19/10/2016 15:21

Have to say until this thread I didn't realise Bounty reps took photos (and tried to sell them to you!) The ones I came across only tried to hand over the pack of samples and get your mailing details in return. Never saw one taking photos.

Photo selling makes it even worse.

BlackbirdSingsInTheDeadOfNight · 19/10/2016 15:25

To be fair, this wasn't an actual Bounty rep but a midwife on the postnatal ward who tried on several different occasions to force me to take a Bounty bag. DS had just been born 16 weeks early, was unlikely to survive and I was absolutely beside myself - what the fuck was I going to do with a massive bag of baby goodies?!!! The midwife was well aware of my situation and I simply can't understand how she could have been so insensitive, literally trying to thrust it into my hands even though I was sobbing at her repeatedly that I didn't want it. This was 11 years ago and Bounty bags still give me the rage!

LavenderHills · 20/10/2016 04:54

Are Bounty reps allowed in private maternity hospitals/wards?

Kpo58 · 20/10/2016 05:04

When I was in hospital, I said yes to the Bounty pack and no to giving you my details. It meant that I got the free items and no details sold. Smile

mum11970 · 20/10/2016 05:07

A Bounty rep in the delivery suite? They may be able to wander the post natal wards but not the delivery suites.

3luckystars · 20/10/2016 05:30

I am shocked that this goes on. Although I think ideally there shouldn't even be visitors allowed in the hospital. Yes some women are fine, but some are far from fine.

If they must be in the hospital,
Why isn't there a system available so patients can approach them and not the other way around. Its intrusive.

I cant understand why a third party is needed for child benefit forms either?
I wonder if there has ever been a case where someone who really needed it, forgot to apply.

Newmanwannabe · 20/10/2016 05:45

Most midwives hate the bounty bags, and do not appreciate their dispruption. I wouldn't be surprised if she was laughing with you not at you. (Not that you found it funny of course)

Original poster
LolaStarr · 20/10/2016 07:37

mum I can assure you with my DS she definitely came into my delivery room Hmm

OP posts:
Starryeyed16 · 20/10/2016 07:47

I have to agree they are a nuisance. After my third baby they came in when I had just given birth and still immobile. They asked if I wanted photos I said no then they just left the pack but I do agree they shouldn't be on the labour wards.

Muser54321 · 20/10/2016 07:51

I said that 11 years ago before it was fashionable to hate Bounty. That was because the Bounty rep pulled a face at my dc1's name. Told me it was her daughter's dog's name. The second bounty rep asked my son's name and told me it was just to see what the popular names were and she replied with a slight head shake eye roll combo ''well,it won't be that '' i know that is partly why i chose it

good luck giving them the shake!

Muser54321 · 20/10/2016 07:54

blackbird that's awful. I don't blame you. what do you do with a bag of nappy rash cream when you are watching a heart rate monitor. I feel so trivial now, so they breathed instant coffee breath over me as I lay in bed. So what.

NotCitrus · 20/10/2016 08:14

My birth note (like a plan only short and not a plan) the second time round just summarised my medical history, then 1. Really, really do not want to stay on a postnatal ward overnight thanks to previous neglect. 2. Please tell the Bounty woman to fuck off so I don't have to!

I did have to stay overnight but they cared for me very well, and practically every member of staff told me they'd told the Bounty women to fuck off in those words.

Previous one had told me I wouldn't be able to get child benefit if I didn't get details. When I disagreed she said she'd check with her superiors and then stood outside the door for a few minutes before coming back in and pulling out the form.

Ifitquackslikeaduck · 20/10/2016 08:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Liiinoo · 20/10/2016 08:34

Have a home birth.

When I was planning DD2s home delivery I was a bit sad I wouldn't get my bag of freebies (but not sad enough to plan another hospital delivery). To my happy surprise, when the midwife dropped off the birthpack a couple of weeks before my due date, she also dropped off the Bounty bag.

GrinchyMcGrincherson · 20/10/2016 08:34

They wouldn't have them on the delivery suite here Shock

In fact I don't recall seeing one at all. I think one may have come with DD1 but I was in the bathroom and DH told her we weren't interested.

NickyEds · 20/10/2016 08:45

Honestly Grinchy, it was ridiculous- with my dd they must have told the bounty lady up on the ward that I might be discharged before coming up to the ward so she rushed down to the delivery suite to find me, saw that I was still in the induction suite where I'd had dd and blustered through the only closed curtains to find me there.

DontStopMovinToTheSClubBeat · 20/10/2016 08:51

YANBU! I had my curtains clipped shut as I was expressing milk for 1 day old premature DS who was in NICU after a traumatic Emergency CS, needless to say I was an emotional wreck! the bounty rep just barged in and started talking to me while I was expressing, I burst into tears when I told her where DS was, she beat a hasty retreat and left me two bounty bags with no request for me to give her my email address, but then left the curtains wide open! Angry I didn't complain as I had so much going on at the time, but if I ever have another DC I'll tell the bounty rep what happened last time and where to go!

UterusUterusGhali · 20/10/2016 09:00

I'd put money on her not laughingat you, as pp said. It was probably a droll laugh of recognition.

MWs etc generally hate them too. Obviously they're real people, and sometimes lovely ladies, but they're so intrusive. I've lost count of the times I've gone to do a set of obs or pre feed BM and found baby draped over a bloody cushion in a headband. Hmm, and had to wait.

There are suppression forms, in case of neonatal deaths etc, but I've heard of them not getting through. One bounty lady I knew quit after she accidentally popped into a grieving mother.

By all means say no, but it's quite likely the info won't get handed over to all staff, I'm afraid. If you tell the PN midwife you're handed over to, she might be able to pop a note on their door.

BrianCoxWithBellsOn · 20/10/2016 09:13

Just politely decline when the Bounty lady comes by.

I did.

She took my politeness as a way in, told me she'd come back later. Didn't give me a chance to say "no thanks" Came back later, camera poised and I told her to not take a picture of my son. She then began waving the child benefit form thingy and trying to use it as leverage. So I firmly (but still politely) told her I'd already downloaded it and didn't want to sign up. She was not happy. Went to the cubicle next to me (with the vile vile woman who'd ignored her baby crying all night and spent all day with her tv/phone/gob set to "loud") and they had a good ol chat about how fabulous Bounty is and how good it is to get all the freebies.

My lovely MW came to me, asked if I'd had a Bounty pack and I explained that I didn't support them and didn't want them near me. I told her how Bounty woman had behaved and she went away and came back with a bounty pack she had behind the desk, complete with child benefit form Grin

I didn't use any of it, as that would have been hypocritical, I gave it to tbee lady opposite. The gesture was greatly appreciated though.

So, OP, be firm. Take no shit. Your baby is your "property" (that's how Bounty think of them - as business opportunities) and they've no right to come near.

Kel1234 · 20/10/2016 09:15

I had my baby in a birth centre and was in my own room, and luckily the only people there were myself, my husband, the midwife and the student midwife.
I didn't even see a rep, the midwife went to get me a pack before I left.
But I'd go mental if someone barged in at that time.

londonrach · 20/10/2016 09:30

Ifit...no i work for the nhs in the community by at the other side of the life cycle. My experience was 12 weeks ago in the midlands. Im loving this being a mum!!! 😍

Nan0second · 20/10/2016 09:40

I let her take photos whilst my husband quizzed her on camera settings so he could learn how to take newborn photos.
I then declined to buy any and didn't give her any of my details. I also declined the bag of freebies (and declined all the ones in pregnancy too).
I work in obstetrics and don't agree with bounty. However our ladies are polite and a simple no thank you is always respected.
No midwife I work with would laugh or think anything about your wish for seeing or not seeing them!