To mention no Bounty reps on my pregnancy notes?

[LolaStarr]

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?

Can't believe some people on this thread are more inclined to believe the OP is lying than that a Bounty rep behaved inappropriately.

It is totally shocking Bounty are allowed on the wards. Everyone should have access to a child benefit form - not everyone births in hospital - they should be given out by registrars when you register the birth.

I birthed in hospital first time but was immediately discharged so never saw the PN ward - women on PN wards are inherently vulnerable, it's not right that they are targeted in this way

Out of interest, what do you get in the birth Bounty packs that's worth having?
I got numbers 1-4 with ds, which boiled down to two nappies, pack of about 10 baby wipes, one laundry wash sachet and a sachet of hot chocolate, and the tiny pot of Sudocrem.
With dd I likewise got packs 1-4 only it was pretty much all paper and the chance to sign up for even more mailing lists, discounts on stuff I wasn't going to buy, and I think the sudocrem and detergent. MW said the main value was the waterproof folder was good to protect your maternity notes, and by the way you can turn it inside out!

Dinky pots of Sudocrem can be ordered online for about £1 for three. If I wanted, which I didn't because I've only just chucked the pot I used for both ds and dd.

So what did I miss?

I got a hooded towel with 'persil' branded on it not. The rest was crap though!

I think they've got a lot worse in recent years - got one a few months ago and it had the tiny sudocrem pot (which you can get free from sudocren if you ask for a sample) and otherwise just leaflets and crap, all went in the bin.

They do come in thnot delivery suite as one came in when I had my third DC hat was only 6months ago

The'

I got absolutely nothing that was worthwhile to me. A pack of Johnson wipes that completely dried my hands out. The thimble of sudocrem ended up in the bin, as sudocrem did nothing for DS, Doc said use zinc & castor.

I am totally shocked that this is allowed on UK maternity wards - and especially pressure selling of photos and blackmail over child benefits,

I gave birth in Sweden and no-one was allowed on the wards apart from dh/dp and baby's siblings.

• I did get a bag of samples including a mini washbag of creams, lotions and wipes etc which lasted years - but the MW just gave them out for a cupboard with no reps and no sign-up etc
• Photos were available for those that wanted them but not in patient rooms/wards and no pressure selling at all - in a room on the otherside of the hospital had a professional photographer who did photos and newspaper birth announcements came a couple of times a week and those that wanted to went over and some people came back after discharge.
• Registration and child benefits was all done electronically (no idea why the UK cannot do this). The hospital sends a report of babies born to the registrar which in turn sends child benefit and registration forms

Lunde. Agree 100%

I had no idea they existed until they barged in on me and my newborn. I'm usually pretty straight about this stuff but two days postpartum after a difficult birth, I wasn't firm and now I'm on their shitlist for life. They even wanted to wake my daughter up for the pic and that was when I told her enough was enough.

Be prepared, OP and expectant mums. Just tell them to sod off.

Definitely NBU! I am hoping to have a home birth with baby #2 and will be very glad to avoid and run-ins with the Bounty lady. For DS, she barged in approximately half an hour after we'd been settled into our post natal room following surgery and time on the recovery suite. We'd all just gone to sleep... my husband gave her very short shrift, she waved the child benefit form in our face, we told her in no uncertain terms we weren't entitled to it anyway and to fuck off. We were not feeling at our most empathetic...

Ps petition signed and shared.

Have the Bounty people changed a lot in 10 years? When my DC were born, they appeared, thrust a sealed bag of stuff at you and disappeared again. All over and done with in under 30 seconds.

I don't think they asked for my name or anything - its been a long time -, but if they had, then i'd have dispatched them with the same speed that I end the conversation with the person trying to sell RAC insurance outside Sainsbury's.

I didn't have my babies on the ward. The rep popped in, asked about my twins on nicu and came back with packs and packs of stuff. Mostly pampers bedmats for toilet training, lasted me years! Loads of stuff. She was nice, when you are in hospital for weeks anyone who has time to say hello is a welcome visitor

That wasn't nice of the midwife, and I think it's a reasonable request, but I would definitely make your own sign for the door and put it in your hospital bag.
I didn't even know about the bounty ladies first time round. Mine came into the delivery room while I had my tits out trying to get her to latch on, and I felt so exposed to a complete stranger. Was raging about it later, but too tired and drugged to realise while it was happening.

Also she asked me to put my baby down in the cot wrapped in a blanket so she could take some nice pictures of her. I was trying to get her to feed and she probably should have left me well alone, but my husband was away for a sleep, and I just done what I was told.

I told the bounty rep to fuck off, she said excuse me?! I basically shouted I TOLD YOU TO FUCK OFF 😂 do not mess with a woman who has gone through a long back to back labour

I was really worried about this too as I didn't want a stranger barging in on me post delivery or when I was trying to BF etc.

As it happens, I was in for 3 days and only saw the rep once - she just came in and asked if I was interested in Bounty and as soon as I said no thank you she left and I didn't see her again... I think they are more wary now as there have been campaigns by Mumsnet etc and they know they are not wanted by a lot of women.

Your midwife sounds like a dick BTW.

Politely say, "no thanks", and turn away. If she persists, say, "get lost" in a firmer tone.