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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Cheer me up ladies - thoroughly depressed by Guardian stories on state of maternity care

16 replies

ScarlettButler · 01/01/2011 22:40

40 weeks pregnant and fed up of reading stories about don't give birth out of hours, or indeed don't give birth at all. Every time I click on guardian website appears to be another one.
Need some nice cheery tales to tell me all will be well...

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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gallicgirl · 01/01/2011 22:46

That article annoyed me because during the night is the time I'm most likely to be told I can't have a home birth because there's not enough midwives on duty...so I'm supposed to go into hospital where I can receive substandard care? cheers for that!

I suppose thousands of babies are born just fine all through the year during the night so I'm sure it'll work out fine.

CognitiveDissident · 01/01/2011 23:36

All 4 of mine were born at night (10.30, 9PM, 3AM and 4.40AM) and were all caught by the midwife.It was a close call with DS1 and DD2, though. Both were precipitate deliveries, and I only just made it into the delivery suite in time (didn't even get a chance to use the Entenox, as I was crowning when they wheeled me through the doors)

I've given birth in 3 different hospitals, and each time both the baby and myself were adequately monitored, there was access to and advice on pain relief, and when it came to the big push,I had 2 midwives to assist in delivery.

It's worth remembering there are over 700,000 births in the UK every year,and the majority of these are problem-free (and hence not deemed to be newsworthy)

hope my sleep-deprived, left-hand typed (cradling the baby with the other) ramblings help and good luck with the birth :)

faverolles · 02/01/2011 00:14

When ds2 was born 5 years ago (elcs) I was ill.
DH and I were told the risks should we decide to carry on on the planned day, and were also warned that if we waited and I went into labour at night there wouldnt be the number of experienced staff on hand to deal with any problems that might crop up.
So I don't think it's a new problem.
It's not just limited to labour wards though, mil was in and out of hospital in 2009. The standard of care dropped every night and every weekend.

hester · 02/01/2011 01:03

This is certainly not a new problem. But let me tell you that I had a labour that went horribly wrong in the small hours of the night, resulting in an emergency CS, and I cannot fault the care I was given. As soon as things went pear-shaped I had what felt like an army of millions all around me, the surgery went well, my baby was fine. Perhaps less important, but still valuable, was that they were lovely and reassuring to me throughout, took great care of my dp, and left me with the neatest cs scar I have ever seen.

Now, it's true that there wasn't a consultant present - that's one of the key issues about why nighttime care isn't so safe. But registrars can be very highly skilled and experienced, and I don't believe I'd have got better care at any time of day.

Best of luck to you. It's scary to be staring childbirth in the face, but it will soon be over and you'll have your beautiful baby to focus on

WriterofDreams · 02/01/2011 20:52

I gave birth 3 days ago (forgive typos due to sleep deprivation!) and it was fantastic. I can't fault the care I was given at all. I was due to go the MLU but my bp was high so I was transferred to the labour ward downstairs. Great care was taken to reassure me on this point (though this was unnecessary) and they deliberately gave me an MLU style room as they knew I wanted an active natural birth. My midwife was so so lovely, really supportive but not interfering and they monitored my baby closely but unobtrusively when they discovered meconium in the waters. I was never once scared or worried despite the fact that they had trouble finding his heartbeat at times. I was listened to at all points and really cared for. I couldn't really have hoped for a better birth. The aftercare was just what I needed - minimum fuss with offers of help if I needed it (which I didn't). My only complaint would be the awful food!

WriterofDreams · 02/01/2011 20:53

Oh and this was all out of hours!

perfectstorm · 03/01/2011 00:25

DS born at 7 am after a night labour (well, 3 days of latent, 4 in hospital). And these stories were all over the papers then, in 2008, too. I had 1 2 1 midwife care throughout, it was fine, we were both fine.

Hang on to the knowledge that while funding issues are always present in the NHS, no specialty is going to say oh, we're massively well funded, no problem at all!

Most women get decent care, and the vast majority of babies are born well. There is no reason at all to think you won't be within that. This is a first world nation with good universal care. It's not a rolls royce, but it's a pretty good VW.

WriterofDreams · 03/01/2011 13:58

Can I add that I had a midwife at all times and at one point when they were having trouble monitoring baby there were three midwives in the room! Help seemed to be on hand at every minute and I always felt really really secure.

MoonUnitAlpha · 03/01/2011 14:13

Apparently August is the worst time to go into hospital, as it's when all the new doctors are let loose on us... I gave birth in August in the middle of the night! It was fine though.

BoffinMum · 03/01/2011 14:16

I had concurrent private and NHS care because of SPD, and I have to say the NHS consultants were world class, once everyone had accepted what a mess I was in health-wise. I am very grateful to them. I also thought the labour ward was bright and clean, and the food ample and reasonably tasty when I had to stay there for a bit during pg. Many people were endlessly kind to me during my stay as well, and one mw in particular could not do enough. It's not all bad and the main thing is, if something goes wrong, they are fantastic. Have faith.

new2cm · 03/01/2011 14:25

I gave birth in August and in the middle of the night and everything was fine!

I have 3 children, born between 2004 and 2009. Many of these stories seem to be updated version of previous articles, so nothing new IMO. At each of my subsequent pregnancies, I found myself thinking, "not this old chestnut again" on a number of maternity issues.

Two of my children were born at night-time and the care I received was no different to my child born at 3pm.

HTH

EdgarAleNPie · 03/01/2011 14:27

all three of my home births were fantastically well catered for.

my first was late on a friday night...my third late on a saturday...

actually i wondered what i'd have done of they'd said 'no-one available' because i was trapped between putting my foot down and having them come out regardless and wanting a MW on hand right away.

HaveToWearHeels · 03/01/2011 14:40

I had a fantastic experience in September 2009. Had the same midwife through out and she even stayed past her shift so she could complete everything.
DD had cord round her neck which I wasn't aware of until after the event, it was dealt with so effeciently. I was so wasted on gas and air but DP said they told me everything that was going on and answered all the questions he had.
Best of luck with the little one :)

middymee · 03/01/2011 16:25

Can't speak for other hospitals, but ours has exactly the same skills mix on night shifts as on days. We have the same docs (registrar and SHO) on call and a consultant. Care given is exactly the same.

GabbyLoggon · 03/01/2011 16:36

minister roasted last night on midwives by pres..enter Stevie Nolan.She agreed there is a problem But said the union were exaggerating..Myself I think there is a serious problem in some areas and hospitals.... am not expecting, but pleased to help HNY "Gabby"

Firawla · 03/01/2011 23:07

my first was born in the middle of the night and i got really good care, 2nd was born in the evening @ change over shift time so i think i ended up with 2 midwifes as the other one stayed since he was about to be delivered, and a student one too so definitely was not short on care. i have been really happy with all the maternity care for both of mine so i think not necessarily worth worrying too much, not everyones experiences are negative but its just the negative thats more worth writing about in the papers.
good luck i hope it all goes well for you

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