women are their own worse enemies on the maternity ward

[katz]

ok a mail article but it is interesting here

got to say, i had excellent care at my NHS hospital, i really really love my doc there. such a brain.

actually i think that's the thing, he's not intimidated by questions, he loves them. and if he doesn't know the answer, he's happy to say it. i really can't fault the hospital apart from the plethora of auxiliaries pushing SMA (and i am working on changing that, oh yes) and it has the roughest intake in Glasgow. me included.

but there was lovely cleaner in the hospital who sat with my baby (looking back it prob wasnt the best idea to leave him with a stranger, but I was in post-giving birth druggy haze) while I had a shower. That was after a Midwife had told me I stank. FFS I had been in labour for 36 hours!

I had treatment similar to that at a hospital up here, Greeny, and that was just for a day. Can't imagine what it would be like for weeks, you poor soul.

I did formally complain.

christ almighty. i would COMPLAIN, no matter how long ago that was.

Holy fuck, Greensleeves! Sue, for godsakes! I'm so angry on your behalf, I want to see all those people who treated you that way strung up!

I had outstanding care at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

Greeny, how awful for you. I thought I had had a very bad time in the hospital when DD1 was born but it pales in comparison to what you had to deal with. It was enough to make me insist on home births for the next two babies though.

I guess it just depends on who is working at the time and how busy they are too - although being busy is not an excuse for rudeness!

Has anyone had experience of going private?

Oh I do hate this kind of newspaper article where someone comes along with what are basically a couple of anecdotes and tries to create a Phenomenon from them.

Itsa - PMSL that a midwife told you that you stank!. Seriously??!!!!!

yes, honestly. It was true, but only to be expected, surely! I didn't know where the bathroom was or what to do with DS while I went for a shower, plus I had a catheter bag in. I just kind of waited and the cleaner took pity on me!
All worked out ok in the end, I guess.

I cannot believe that she said that though. I would have been so humiliated. I must admit though, on the PN ward in our hospital none of the midwives told me I could have a bath or shower - I had to ask - the shower ran hot then cold and the bathroom was so tiny and manky. I begged to be discharged just 12 hours after giving birth and whinged until they let me outta there.

Would love to be brave enough to have a home birth but I like having access to medical help.

I had good care with all my births - first time I was pretty keen to get out - not because of the staff but because it was too hot, too public, too strange. So the second time I was out in a couple of hours - and that was the plan this last time. Due to the amount of blood I lost, they wanted me to stay over night - which was nonsense - I had delivered at 2.30am and we were having this conversation at 6am!! I said I would stay for a few hours but was definately going home by the afternoon - which I did.

Yeah I couldnt wait to get home, but that was just because I couldn't sleep in the hosp, in a room with other people.

Jesus Christ Greeny, there must be a lawyer somewhere who will follow this up for you.

What a nightmare. These people, midwives, consultants, all of them, should be disciplined. Do you remember their names?

Oh my God Greeny, I just read your story, I am in tears. How can human beings treat another human being like that? Good Lord, that is beyond any reasonable comment even. Speechless.

This is why I had my second at home. I know I was lucky to be able to do this with low risk, compared with those of you with more complicated births/pregnancies. But I was told off by the nurse for bleeding on the bed, and also bleeding on the corridor - yes, I really wanted to be dripping blood down the corridor on the way to the bathroom at visiting time.

But I do remember being significantly pissed off when the husband in the next bay didn't go home when DH had gone, having been in labour through the previous night and having arrived on the ward (4 bed bay) just as visiting time started so no chance for peace at all.

On a positive note though the community midwives were wonderful and ran me a bath, helped me to the bathroom, ensuring I didn't bleed on the carpet etc, cleaned the bath out for me afterwards. Fantastic. Far more caring than anyone in the hospital.

God, this just shows; people in positions of power over what amount to helpless individuals, sometimes just cant stop themselves abusing thay power.

Almosts sounds like you gave birth in prison Greeny; that or Abu Ghraib

What a fucking travesty.

Greensleeves,
Your birthstory is so appalling, I am amazed that anyone could treat a patient like that. They should all be ashamed of themselves.

We moan a lot here in Germany about the cost of our healthcare insurance, but I have to admit the high standard of care in most hospitals make up for it.

The DM is so ridiculous, especially the selfish baby that wasted an incubator.

lol

I know. What on earth was supposed to happen to it? She sounds like, if it were up to her, she would have sent it to the 'naughty ward' - that or the poor house.

..probaly for 'nature' to take its course

greeny, and at your experience. I feel like murdering someone or many people on your behalf. Really really angry.

Message withdrawn

Greeny, please post your experience on the daily mail message board and e-mail the journalist directly with it.

Your experience was awful, but unfortunately not that uncommon.

Don't give the article the time of day. Bl*y Daily Mail. And people read that paper regarding it to be a serious broadsheet. Worrying!
No wonder there are so many racist, bigotted, stupid, ignorant people out there.

I, by the way, had a fantastic post-labour stay in my NHS ward. Okay, the nurses did not have a lot of time, but were friendly, helpful when they could be, and my midwife was great. I met people from all walks of life in 3days, as others came and went.

I did get fed- in fact, when I was in labour. I'll never forget my DH feeding me fishpie in between contractions / gas+air!!!(!)