Prisoner!

[crazybutkind]

So I had a baby on Tuesday evening and I am still currently in hospital. We are ok baby's temp is just a little low but they have ruled out anything serious.

As you can imagine nobody wants to be in hospital on their own with a newborn at the minute but I have been in the same room now since 7:30pm on Tuesday. I'm not allowed to open the window because they don't want baby getting cold, I'm not allowed the fan on because of the same reason and I'm not allowed to go to leave the ward for some fresh air because of covid.

It's absolutely roasting outside, i am just stewing in my own sweat at the minute. All I want is 5 minutes of fresh air.

It's been 36 hours now and I feel ill.

I just want to go and stand at the entrance for 5 mins AIBU?

Wow, that sounds horrendous :-(
You poor thing op x

OP I hope you're ok. Take a deep breath and try and calm down and ask for a big jug of water and go take a cool shower to also clear your head.

This is shocking. I gave birth mid-March to a premature baby during the peak of covid. I can relate to the no partner rule etc. I had my baby in Scotland but they did allow my partner to drop me snacks. I had to stay in hospital before my baby was released (was in special care for 3 weeks) with my baby on the post natal ward. I understand how distressing it is and the hospital was boiling hot then too. However they were forever bringing big plates of toast and offering drinks and tea and coffee. I was in a very quiet hospital though. If I were you I'd open the window anyway no matter how often they close it. Close your door and open it. We had wee cardigans on the baby to maintain heat too. Do you have those?
Hang on in there. I hope they release you soon. Xxx

Social Services is being used as a scare tactic by Drs who should know better.

You can walk off that ward anytime you like. Alone or with your baby. Whether it’s the wisest move is not something we cant know, however, from your updates it sounds as though the issues are very small and easily managed at home. Plus the community midwife will kick in and do her job, checking on you and little one.

I went through this, almost exactly. Sweltering hot room, slowly going out of my mind, told I couldn't open a window because the baby would get cold.
I lost my shit in the end and said that I was leaving and taking my baby with me. They also threatened me with social services, but at that point I couldn't give a shit. I left and never did hear from SS.

@GimmeAy

Honestly - doctors have been known to note that smokers are least likely to get blood clots from lying in bed, as they're the first to walk out for a cigarette, come hell or high water. They will try to get you off it, but if you say, 'as soon as you provide me with patches, I'll start' they shut up. Unless you're a smoker you can't realise what 2.5 days without a cigarette does to your body. And unless you're a smoker, you can't understand what lengths you'll go to to prove that you're fit to go for a cigarette. The ones more likely to develop DVT are the overweight ones who don't move from the bed/can't move from the bed. It's been commented to me by more than more than one doctor during different admissions 'ah, I see you're a smoker and have been walking out a few times a day'.

* The ones more likely to develop DVT are the overweight ones*

Unbelievable.

I can't.

All your posts.

Having a newborn and a cigarette.

How did you cope for 9 months without one?

@crispysausagerolls

I feel like I’m on another planet than the other posters on here.

Complaining about not having ice for your water? Food portion sizes? Really?!

I understand it’s shit to be kept in hospital and not allowed to open window blah blah but they are medical professionals and they are trying to raise your baby’s temperature. Agree with a PP it would be different if you were at home, had a homebirth etc but you aren’t and you didn’t. They are responsible for the well-being of your baby. And of course they will contact SS if you discharge yourself and your baby against medical advice.

I had a very sick child in hospital during this pandemic and my husband was not allowed in. It’s horrible, yes. But it’s for the safety of other vulnerable babies. It’s just a couple more days.

This

Well baby was monitored over night. I got in the shower at 5:30am this morning and when I came out the bathroom a midwife was stood in my room and asked if I could make a phone call to be collected because we are being discharged and they need the room. By 6am the cleaners were cleaning around me and me and baby are sat just outside main entrance waiting for collection. I couldn't get hold of my partner so I had to wake my mother to go to my house and wake my partner to set off. Overall it's disgusting!!

That's shocking. Normally you don't leave the ward until the person collecting you is there.

Op I'm so sorry! Postnatal wards are awful and some of the staff are utter dicks.
I hope you recover from this quickly.
Contact pals by email.
The ridiculous obsession with babies getting cold is just plain weird. As soon as you get home the MW will tell you to keep the room cold.

Women in postnatal are treated worse than fucking cattle. At least cattle are given food and water! I'm glad you're out of there op, be kind to yourself once you get home. And pursue that complaint! Congratulations on your baby.

Please follow up the complaint with PALS if you can bring yourself to do it. Even if you just send them this thread and names of the people that gets the ball rolling.

Maybe one of them is on MN.

You have been treated appallingly, OP.

Please email them and try to get things changed for the other women gonig to give birth there in the next few weeks.

Lol it would be funny if it wasn’t so bloody annoying OP!

At least you’re going home though :) I hope you get to relax and cool off now!

I'm so pleased you're going home and can enjoy your time with your DP and your baby.

It's awful the way you've been treated, how can they just get you out within half an hour like that?!

Definitely make note of everyone you spoke to and exactly what they said and then write to PALS

Their response to my 'I'm trying to give up' is usually, 'No, from our viewpoint in hospital it means you're mobile'.

ok sure gimmeay

I guarantee you the nurses and doctors had the measure of you and it was easier to just ignore you nipping out for fags. they’ll also know you were trying to play them off against each other and again, easier to ignore

Complaining about not having ice for your water? Food portion sizes? Really?! Erm she asked for ice as all she was provided with was warm water, no access to cold water. And food is important for healing. I don't know why you think it's ok to feed someone at 4pm then not until 7am (which is only a slice of toast). I work in a care home and we'd be reported for neglect if we did that and rightly so.

The OP also tried to solve the problem herself by asking her partner to drop things off but the staff said no. She is recovering from having a baby. When I was in a few months ago and 5 years ago I had little access to food due to them not having gluten free food. I'm a coeliac. So my partner brought it in. Without that I'd have had nothing to eat other than a small jacket potato once a day and a banana if I was lucky. My male relative was in the same hospital and had a plate of food double what we were given on the postnatal ward (yes I know men need more calories but not double, plus breastfeeding women need more calories). They also got their breakfast brought to them whereas we didn't- fine for some but I had surgery after the birth and couldn't walk.

Why should we accept such a poor level of "care" just because it only affects women? You wouldn't treat an animal so badly.

Are you home yet? Just read all of your updates and I’m so glad you are finally getting out of there. Horrendous how you’ve been treated but thank God it’s over.

That is beyond shocking ‘care’. I hope you do make a complaint.
Congratulations on your lovely little baby. enjoy being at home, eat plenty, drink plenty and try to get some rest...well, as much rest as you can get with a newborn. :)

The OP also tried to solve the problem herself by asking her partner to drop things off but the staff said no

Becuase of COVID! They are not trying to be cruel. I assume what has happened is they have grown very tired of playing window tug of war repeatedly with OP and have had enough. It’s a stressful time to work in healthcare. They are all doing their best with staff shortages and the added pressures and complications COVID has brought them. Warm water is hardly a hardship ffs - our water at home is coming out warm too unless we run the tap for 5 mins, which these guys won’t have time to do.

All home and settled now I will proceed with the complaint. I told the nurse that this experience has really knocked my confidence in being any of my children to hospital again. Being kicked out at 6am was the icing on the cake for me. Thankyou everybody for your support I really needed those kind words. I will keep the thread open and let you know what happens in regards to PALS

You have all really been so helpful and my company the last 2 days

I'm so glad you're home lovely, it sounded like hell. I hope you have a nice quiet nourishing time bonding with your baby.

I'm glad you're home now OP. You can relax a bit now with your baby, stuff your face and have a nice cold drink!

Definitely keep up with your complaint as it may help the next poor woman going through this dreadful treatment.

I'm glad you got home and don't listen to the minority who think it's fine to not be able to eat for hours on end and drink warm water in 30 degrees heat.
The portions of food are tiny. Luckily my husband was allowed to visit and bring food in. Covid is being used as an excuse for everything and it's not on.
Disgusting they kicked you out so early but just be grateful you got out of there.
I hope you pursue the complaint.

Fucks sake - all that fuss they made and then they turf you out at 6am!

Complain about everything. It’s an absolute joke.

I’m glad you are home now.