To say postnatal wards are the least conducive environment for a mum/baby recovery

[cheesemumma]

Currently sitting on a ward at 11.30pm. 6th night. No exaggeration I think in total I must have had 4 hours sleep. My physical and mental health is suffering. I'm going to have to talk to the Drs tomorrow and say we're going home whatever, as we're getting more ill staying. Its not just the other selfish fucker couples that decide to talk on phone /watch films/ have conversations with each other but the staff seem to not give 2 shits it's the middle of the night. I realise my tiredness and hormones are a big contributing factor but I can feel a full tantrum /meltdown coming on. It's also 10000000 degrees and the enviable screaming babies plus the fact you get 3 teeny portions of food a day so I'm really hungry as ebf.

Did you ever think that some women need their partner there because of the shit care they receive?

Did you ever think that some women need their partner there because of the shit care they receive
Tough, not at the expense of all other women feeling safe and dignified.

Tough. It's now excepted and encouraged in a majority of hospitals.

All wards on the NHS are variations of hell. I've never seen one that was conducive to actual healing. Maternity wards are the most horrific of them all.

The worst things are the heat, not being able to sleep, and other people. However I think I was lucky at my hospital to have very attentive midwives and I really felt that every conversation with a health care professional had a point and got me closer to going home. I'm due again very soon and hopeful for similar care. I do think it helps to be polite but assertive and clear about wanting to go home.

I'm due to give birth by elective section shortly and even more keen to book a private room now! Is it something to discuss with the midwife as the only contact number I have is for the post-labour ward?

Tough. It's now excepted and encouraged in a majority of hospitals
Unfortunately, until a new mum is inevitably assaulted or raped on the ward, or a midwife attacked, and a safeguarding incident becomes public. Then common sense should prevail. Utterly awful polocy ruining many women's experiences, should be illegal as with mixed sex wards.

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How much 'care' does one really need if the birth etc is straightforward?I just wanted to be left in peace with my baby, if a man must be there they should be given their own room away from women in their most vulnerable state. We all know contraception is my friend really Hates her fellow mothers, though so it's not surprising she doesn't consider their dignity safety and comfort matters a jot.

I wish I hadn't read this! I've moved house since having DS (in the hospital where I had him I had my own room for 2 nights, DH could stay which was good as I'd had a spinal block and couldn't feel my legs)

New town and I think theres only a postnatal ward, no private rooms. Vaguely dreading it.

It will be fine Camomila just be assertive and ready to take no shit.

Im just posting to counteract and say my experience was ok. Was brought meals in bed (although lack of fresh fruit and vegetables but my visitors brought me more food ).
Men/extra people weren't allowed to stay over. Felt treated respectfully by everyone. Sympathetic people(don't think they were all midwives) helped me latch the baby in the middle of the night. Bounty lady went away promptly when I told her to. Got no sleep but don't think that was much to do with the ward. Am in Scotland though so maybe funding not as bad here.

How much 'care' does one really need if the birth etc is straightforward?

Well, even assuming there are no stitches, and baby is feeding well, the mother will have an internal wound the size of a dinner plate plus an external wound if she had a c section. So I'd say yes, she does need care. 🙄

cam yy, what ohtheroses said.

I took no shit second time around. Everytime I saw a midwife I asked when a private room would be available, got one with 12 hrs to make my c-section recovery bearable. I also refused to get up with a cathetar in and asked the staff to do nappies that first night, they loved me . My mental and physical health had to come first.

God the wards are awful. I was really poorly due to blood lass after having DD. Spent 24 hours in the special care ward and then got moved to regular mat ward. It was awful and I was really struggling with breastfeeding and also just being able to get out of bed as I kept getting dizzy spells. I knew they'd be sending DH away soon due to visiting hours but I genuinely was panicking at the thought of hot having his help. Basically got my stroppy head on and told them I'd self discharge and they transferred us to a side room with a pop up bed for DH. We ended up staying in for 4 days and it was bad enough in a side room, can't imagine the hell it would have been on a ward!

One thing that did annoy me though the beginning of my first labour to the end was traumatic I had no stitches or tears and birthed natural however they wouldn't believe I was in labour so ended up delivering on the maternity day ward infront of people screaming in agony then got rushed upstairs to labour ward or delivery whatever it's called and pushed my DD out, second time they left me again to just see how I get on and I laboured and delivered within 15 minutes again no stitches no tears, but the care after was shocking.
The ward it self was nice etc but the missing meals and being given cold toast was awful I had to get my dad to bring up something to eat as I was starving and I tried to leave the baby with a midwife and take myself to the cafe and nearly fainted my belly was so tender it was such a bizarre thing to do I'd not long delivered but the midwifes just said yes go

I get women need care but what are the women who don't have someone to stay with and help or chaperone them on a mixed ward meant to do?

Ours doesn't do bounty anymore thank god

FFS, the fact that you're not fed as a patient in a hospital if you're unable to get up and get it yourself is appalling! And let's not forget, women have died as a result of this neglect. Last year, a women was transferred from the Borders region of Scotland to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary as she had delivered prematurely due to pre-eclampsia. Yet this woman was allowed to leave the postnatal unit alone to make her way to the NICU alone to visit her baby son. Her absence was not noted for seven hours! By which time she was found dead in a disused stairwell from brain haemorrhage. No one had been monitoring this woman's condition, which had obviously worsened to the point that she had cerebral issues. She is dead, leaving behind 2 young children.

So even the ol' Mum and Baby Alive all good mantra doesn't apply anymore.

Perhaps every pregnant woman should add this or something like it to their birth plan.

After the birth of my baby I expect good, kind care, cognizant off the trauma albeit natural my body has suffered. I expect a comfortable quiet environment, good food to be brought to me, immaculate bathrooms, and for the general environme.t to be peaceful and conducive to rest, bonding and recovery.

If I need help with feeding, breast or formula I expect it to be given in a kind and expert manner. I do not expect any hand to be laid on me roughly or without my permission.

I expect clarity of information, no raised voices and impeccable care at all timea which affords me dignity and privacy.

It is not negotiable and will herald the success of my fourth trimester.

What would be the point of that, Roses? It won't change a thing. They'd get a laugh at the 'fourth trimster' lingo is all.

This is the reason I had a home birth for my second and now have a severe phobia of hospitals after the trauma of my first birth. Never ever again. The lack of care and respect from the post natal ward is shocking. I see nothing has changed and so glad I could have a home birth.

No oral change happens when enough people make a noise. That's how women got the vote.

Roses, writing a bunch of twaddle like that won't change a thing, it's not active enough.

Well what do you suggest oral.

Why is it so bad though? Lack of funds? Or they just don't give a shit?

Not enough staff and the staff that are on duty often do 12 hour shifts o with no breaks and have to endure the hot temperatures as well. This lowers morale and increases the sickness rate of staff. Old buildings with no air con. Overcrowded & not enough beds or private/quiet areas for new mums to recover, bond with baby or establish b/f before they go home. Lack of money which means lack of resources. Population growing but new hospitals not being built to keep up with the increasing demand.