I had ds1 at chelsea and westminster and ds2 at Kingston in 2005.
I would rather give birth behind a bush than go to Kingston again.
- Antenatal Care at Queen Marys Roehampton.
I was diagnosed with SPD by the obstetrician already at 5 months pregnant, but I was not told, and he made no referrals. Since I did not know, I did not take the necessary precautions, neither did I seek help from Chiropractor or physiotherapist, and was left to suffer the 4 remaining months scared what was wrong with me. Even when I brought my pains to his attention, he just said, it will be ok again after you give birth. (Took me 6 months to be able to walk again in a seemingly normal fashion)
- I fell over in the park a week before my due date (trying to catch up with ds1 who was running away from me). DH took me to Kingston. I felt fine, just needed a check up, in case of ruptured placent. They did the check up. I was the last patient on a friday night. Then the doctor left me laying alone on a narrow bed in a consultation room, and left saying I could go home.
As I had spd, and was 9 months pregnant, I did not manage to get up on my own. But as I had been left there alone, nobody heard me call, I tried to get up, and experienced such a sharp pain in my bump and my hips I YELLED and nearly passed out. A passing nurse hear me from the corridors, alerted doctors, and they decided that due to this sharp pain I had to stay overnight for observation. I had a scan the next day, everything was fine with baby and placenta.
Labour Ward.
I went into labour two days later. Ds2 made a quick appearance, so I did not spend too long time in the delivery suite. The midwife was lovely. She said me and dh and baby could just spend the rest of the night in the delivery suite, as it wasnt busy and they had enough suites. Baby and I was moved into a private room with bathroom the next morning.
POST NATAL
The nurse who took me there, said, "just stay here and dont leave the room" as she left. I was quite surprised, then thought it was because I had strep B so they did not want me out on the ward. I asked somebody later, and was told "dont be daft you muppet, of course you can leave the room".
I still did not know I had spd, could not turn over in bed, and had to call nurses to help me sit up. Even if my notes said I had spd, nobody did anything. I said I was in great pain, it was so painful I was constantly overcome with nausea, I asked to see a doctor, they said it was not necessary, and it was like talking to a brick wall.
I tried to establish breastfeeding, but they were so keen on formula. One particular nurse, would come in, take baby, start giving formula, coo happily "oh your mum is not feeding you, poor baby, here is some real food", etc. I was dischared after 3 days. I realized something was really wrong as I could barely walk out of the hospital, and had to sit down several times.
After one week at home, where I was stuck in bed, needed help to get out of bed, somebody to walk me to toilet and help push my feet forwards on the floor, and pull my pants down, somebody to help me turn over in bed, help to sit up in bed, help getting dressed, and help lift the baby into my arms, just saying "oh, you are just tired, it is just baby blues" ONE midwife actually said "I think you have SPD" and called the doctor, who said "Of course she has SPD, it says in her notes, I will fax her pharmacy a prescription".....
Ignorant imbeciles at Kingston. From the consultant who diagnosed me and did not tell me, from the doctor who left me alone in a room and left for the day, to the nursing staff in the postnatal ward who refused to listen to me when I said I was not well and in great pain, and all the midwives who came during the first week and just patronised me about tiredness and baby blues.