To ask if maternity case has gotten better or worse

[Dreamingofthree]

I had my last child in 2021, so coming out of the pandemic, services still suspended, one birth partner, hit and miss if you had to have scans alone and a chronic shortage or midwives, suspension of home birth services and temporary closures of MLUs. It seemed to be a National thing.

anyone know if it’s gotten any better?

sounds like when I had mine in 1990 - are you sure all of this was pandemic related?

Well it wasn’t like it when I had my eldest in 2019, the birth partner and scans , definitely because of pandemic. I had to go to a central location for all MW appointments and it was like a drop in clinic so you never saw the same person twice, all MW removed from GP practices BUT I went to the GP the other day and saw the sign for the community midwife in the wall again. But I know there is/ was a National shortage of midwives which was resulting in the suspending of home births in some trusts

I don't think it's better at all. I had babies in 2008, 2010, 2018 and now due in the Spring & the only remotely 'staffed' birth was 2008 and it was still crap.

Worse for my area, had my last one in March 2020, my husband was barred for 24hrs after the birth pending the standard Covid test result. I actually had a lovely birth with really nice midwives in a birth centre.
This time around ( due April )no birth centre as it has closed due to funding and staff. So home birth or hospital are my only options. Home birth seems unlikely as they can’t confirm if a midwife will be on call. I went in for a check up due to reduced movements and due to lack of staff they had shut the midwife led section of the hospital. So it was labour ward or nothing for any mums coming in to give birth with one water pool between the whole floor.
Everything has been done via the phone ( I have Gd) I am yet to actually meet a person who works in the diabetes team and no one seems to be able to tell me what my options for birth are.
I was told about my diagnosis for GD via text, not ideal.

I had my first in 2021 in lockdown and my second August 2023. The first time was a bad experience due to lockdown rules etc, and the second time around was also a a bad experience because the strain the hospital staff was under seemed to have increased hugely since 2021. It was a better experience for me because I could have my husband there the whole time and the birth was straightforward ,but I could tell that things were far far worse for the midwives.

For example, it took a full day to be discharged from being told I would be at 8am, to actually leaving at 10pm, this was because there weren't enough midwives on shift to discharge everyone while providing proper care to women in labour. Looking back this doesn't sound so awful but honestly it was horrendous, I thought my midwife was going to break down crying.

youve Not had a face to face appointment at all?

Where are you based?

Had mine last year and DP came to all scans and appointments. In the hospital he got to stay overnight too.
The post natal ward was definitely stretched for staff but they were all doing their best. Also the midwife lead birthing suite was closed when I rang in so I went straight to the delivery suite instead. Home birth was an option but not one we went for.

I gave birth in 2008, and was happy with the support I received. There was at least one MW with me throughout active labour. As an older mum I had constant monitoring as labour progressed, and when I struggled at the end, there was all the help I needed, in the room within about 45 seconds.

I was able to stay in hospital for four days. Food and BF support were ok. Ward was noisy but I was so tired it didn't really matter.

Aftercare was available whenever I needed it. No frills but attentive and safe.

That worries me about MLU, I had my first on delivery suite due to induction and the treatment was dire

I wanted MLU but knew there was a possibility of it being shut. They’d warned us at antenatal classes that it had to be closed previously due to lack of staff so I was fully prepared to go to the delivery suite. Interestingly they said closures were more common in winter.
When I was checked in I was one of only a handful there though so it wasn’t a bad experience at all. Also I would’ve been sent across there anyway - DS was a stubborn one and turned his head wrong at the last moment so emergency c-section it was!

@Dreamingofthree Gloucestershire - gave birth at Gloucester Royal which was the subject of the recent Panorama investigation.

I had one in 2017 and one in 2022 so not in the pandemic. First was in MLU attached to the hospital, the smaller MLU in my local hospital closed for births just a few days before I was due. Student midwife with us all the time in 2017, qualified midwife going between us and another until the actual labour. Had a PPH but iron levels ok so discharged later that evening at 8pm. In 2022 they actually came out of covid measures officially at midnight while I was there so DH could take off his mask. Even before midnight, one birthing partner was allowed and he could stay if I was in labour but couldn’t have stayed in the ward overnight. Gave birth in a room on the labour ward with a midwife there at all times due to previous PPH. Both labours 8 hours from start to finish. Gave birth at 8:30 am, moved to post natal ward at lunch time, discharged early evening. It seemed like they were a bit short staffed on the ward but someone came fairly quickly when I rang the bell when I needed help.

No, not one face to face appointment with the diabetes team. All done via telephone. It all seems very hands off.