Ok, I was there throughout labour to translate for a friend whose English was too poor to be comfortable.
Caveat: her waters broke a montage early and she was induced, as baby hqd some small now fixed problems she may have been in a different bit than other ladies
Bad
Sorry to say but Midwives. I seriously thought I'd do some harm to them
She ws just too quiet and polite so they kept telling her off for moving as this kept throwing the foetal monitor off. The lazy cows didn't bother too check how quickly she ws contracting / dilating. She was moving because of the pain well before they thought the induction drip stared working
We had to beg for painkillers - eventually they waddled off to get some. Half an hour later still nothing and when I went out to check what was going onn I found them gossiping in corridor.
Incompetent / unlucky / nasty - When it came to administering it the MW could not find a vein on her hand, she kept stabbing, my friend screamed and later told me it was the most painful part of labour
No decent monitoring - eventually they agreed she needs an epidural but would not call the anaesthetist. We asked and argued so finally they did. The guy arrived and started eating up shop. I asked the MW to check the business end of my friend. She gave me an evil look and said its too early but did anyway. Lo and behold the top of the head was just visible! It was too late for epidural - suddenly it was pandemonium. Which brings me to
The GOOD
The end of birth itself
Once doctors were involved rushing in from all directions it was all very efficient. The room ws crowded, everyone was ready and thank God for that because my goddaughter had to be resuscitated
A different midwife arrived and made sure that after the baby was stabilised the parents - father now arrived had a few minutes with the baby before she was taken away to SCBU.
BAD
Post natal unit
Too crowded and small with loud visitors - my friend was seriously sleep deprived by the end of it and she was there for over a week.
Noone thought to explain to her about baby-blues or comfort her when she was crying. I arrived a few days latewr to find her in tears on her bed staring terrified at her tiny baby on the lamp (she had the hepatitis?)
No breatfeeding help was given and my friend was convinced she could not do it and the baby wopudl starve. Now pregnant myself I have nightmares of DD wasting away.
End of rant
To cheer you up I think a lot of the above could be avoided if you are vocal, know whats supposed to happen and have an advocate with you who also does. I was useless as she was a month early and I was not prepared - they only asked me on the day. I feel awful about it.
Also maybe the MW have changed by now, or they were agency as this was a weekend?
Good
Doctors.