Chelsea and Westminster - any similar experiences?

[wellieboot]

I had my first baby at the C&W a few months ago - not a great birth anyway (OP baby, long labour and 3rd degree tear) and could not believe how awful the care was. The labour was ok but after the birth the midwife started doing my stitches then the Dr came in, took one look and said no that's not right...so they unpicked them and took me to theatre to be 'stiched up properly'!! Later on I was moved into the postnatal ward from recovery by bad tempered midwife who piled all my stuff on top of me on the bed and wheeled me down the corridor covered in bags moaning that I had too many bags (I couldn't walk as epidural hadn't worn off). Then I was sleep deprived for three days by being on a ward with eight others and comments from the midwives of 'not you again' as I paced the corridors all night with my baby who would not stop crying - no proper help with b'feeding etc.
I was also told I would be sent follow up appointments to check I had healed ok as it was a 3rd degree tear...three months later have heard nothing.
Sorry if this sounds like a bit of a rant, but I would be interested to hear if anyone else has had a similarly bad experience at the C&W, or is this just fairly normal of any hospital?

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hmm..don;t think about it too much...well, easier said than done, and it is really important to come to terms with any trauma or upset surrounding birth

it might be worth writing to the hospital and chasing up the GP to get you another appt with the obs re your stitches

the hospital need to know, so that it can be taken on board, and you need to get some feeling of having dealt with this too, IMO

x

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Thanks both. Summerfruit your experience sounds equally horrendous - poor you. If it's any consolation, I had EXACTLY the same - 'pull yourself together you're a mother now' at 4am when dd was screaming for fourth hour in a row and I started crying too through sheer exhaustion. So it is absolutely no reflection on you as a mother, please remember that

I feel more angry than traumatised that this is the way new mothers are treated. I can understand that the midwives have seen it all before etc. but it is a new and scary experience for alot of people in there, and ok some may not be coping with it as well or may have more to deal with than others but surely that deserves more compassion from those that have seen it all before, not less.

Lulumama good idea to write to the hospital - just for my own satisfaction really as I'm moving away from the area so won't be going back there again anyway!

Poor you. I had the option of C&W, but heard horror stories so changed my mind and went to QC. QC was not much better by the sound of it - no help breastfeeding, very noisy wards, dirty bathrooms, notes not correct and drugs given at the wrong time and not noted, BUT on the medical front (when there was a medical crisis) they were good.

What I did find was that I was very angry about the birth for ages, and bored everyone who would listen to me rant on. It got better after about 6 months and now I am fine with the whole thing - but that may be because I am back at work and too busy to think.

If you feel down, would your health visitor be any help? A good one can be a useful sounding board.

I had a c-section at c&w in october last year..my medical care was excellent but they were nurses and doctors who were at the helm.I was forewarned that the midwives would'not be doing stuff for me'..The midwives were varied but I decided that I was there to look after myself--not the best scenario. I am in weekly contact with my ante natal girls who all seem to have received good care during the delivery(whichever type they had)but pretty much non existant post birth.I caught a midwife telling off a poor new mum(who was actually an A&Enurse there herself)at 2am and was in tears.The bathrooms were rank but I had been forewarned and bought my own anti-mrsa spray with me.My gp told me to make an official complaint and she was furious that I/we had received such shoddy care.I cant say all the midwives were horrid...but...it does seem that there is a culture of being nasty and hiding it under the guise of 'mother's not pullimg their weight'...and being precious...
If you are able to make a formal complaint it will make the problem more widely known and hopefully someone will do something about it.
Meanwhile.....bravo you....you did it...you have a beautiful baby...!!!!

I'm really sorry to hear this, C&W seem to be gaining a bad reputation. I had an issue at another hospital and I wrote to the Head of Midwifery. They took it seriously and conducted an investigation, which was important as it may have had implications for any subsequent pregnancy. I really, really urge you to make a formal complaint in writing. Good luck.