just had a run in with the maternity ward bounty photographer

[StateofConfusion]

And having previously defended them and loved my pictures of my eldest children todays 'rep' has made me agree they need to be removed from wards!

She arrived originally before breakfast turned on the lights and opened curtains waking me and the other Mum up, then continued to talk over the peadiatrician who was checking my dd over.

Eventually she sulked off but apparently came back when I was asleep (how dare I?) Last time she came back as I'd just settled dd and was eating lunch which had just arrived.

I said No photos at the minute thanks she got most insistant that its for security reasons?? (I'm going home today) and said she'd just lean round and take them, dd was asleep on my lap in a v pillow whilst I ate. I said again, not right now I'm eating she left brochures and went off muttering quite loudly.

I'm hormonal so ofc this has upset me, but not as much as the first time mum across they way! WHY are these people allowed to just walk around a maternity ward being so fucking rude!

[NotSpartacus]

here is the bounty employee code of conduct. It's rather different from the experiences reported on this thread, although I suppose "bully new mums, lie to them and call their babies ugly" might not be as well received by hospitals...
It is interesting to me that they post this on their website - not many employers do- and makes me wonder how many complaints they get.

[EauRougelyNight]

Bounty are a bunch of cunts. I'll be signing the petition.

[FellowshipOfFestiveFellows]

Not to concern anyone, but after the above experience I had, I made a point of writing on my notes and birth plan "No Bounty photos please".

Made not a sod of difference.

Can totally sympathise with you exBrightonBelle- when I had ds 16 months after dd at another hospital, he was a 28 weeker. I had a serious infection, so had the gasses bottle from my section and an IV of antibiotics. Was very ill, and so worried about ds.

Was placed on the maternity ward with the new Mums- which was awful enough- as their side wards were booked. Bounty Bitch came, I had my curtain shut. She breezes round the other 3 beds, lots of "Oh I've done you dearies" to the ladies. I thought I was safe as obviously, the notes and no baby with me as he was in scbu.

She swishes back the curtain, tells me to sit up and stop slouching, "oh don't you look glum, have you got the depression?"

I could hardly speak as I felt like utter shit. She then spots the lack of baby and asks, jolly as you like "oh did it die? Is that why you are moping in here then, you should get out on the ward".

Disgraceful. I burst into tears and muttered, no. So she cuts me off and says "ah, baby taken away from you, huh? Did you chose that or did the SS?"

At this point, lady in bed next to me who had chatted to me, came back from the loo and tore strips off her and the MWs on the ward for allowing her to harass me and be so rude.

I am still angry about that now. What a bitch- she then, on hearing ds was in scbu asked if I wanted some pics "just in case". At that point, I threw a biography I had next to my bed at her and she fucked off.

Awful grasping people who should be banned.

[BartletForTeamGB]

Ah, if I can get the pack without giving details (if I don't have a home birth this time), then I might take it. I think I might print off that code of conduct and stick it in my bag so I can brandish it at any pushy Bounty lady that comes my way this time.

[OhDearNigel]

They must receive a lot of complaints to have to post that as a back-covering exercise.

I wonder, are the Bounty women employees or are they "agents" that work for themselves in the manner of Body Shop at Home ?

[EauRougelyNight]

Fuck me, Fellowship Good on you for throwing something at the twat. If I ever have another baby I'll be sure to take some bricks into hospital with me for this purpose.

[FellowshipOfFestiveFellows]

Eau I would, that'd just about sodding work.

In my defence, I'm not usually a book or other object chucker or violent person but I could barely speak due to the medication I was on and the utter dread I felt for him.

Although if I could have got up I think I'd have punched her.

[OhDearNigel]

Fellowship I am literally speechless. How on earth could anyone think that was acceptable behaviour ? Where on earth do they find these people ? Or do they indoctrinate them in training ?

[voscar]

I told the bounty woman - no thanks and was all set for a fight, but she toddled off quietly.

Only for her to wait until I had gone to the shower and come back and tell my unsuspecting mother that she needed my information and I would get lots of goodies too.

My mum holds up the bounty bags full of smiles as I returned. I was livid and now get lots of junk mail from all sorts.

They shouldn't have been allowed to take down my details from anyone but ME!

[AlreadyScone]

When I had my first child a decade ago I was very frightened when this un-uniformed woman just breezed into my cubicle and wheeled my baby off with no explanation (I was stuck in bed on a catheter.) they sent me a bill a week later for these unbelievably shite photos. I sent them a very cathartic letter.

When I had my second I was ready for them. I refused the photo politely, then got the line about "You can't claim child benefit without one" to which I said calmly "That's not true, is it?" which sparked some interest from other mums on the ward. Ooh did she flounce

[MirandaWest]

Did I somehow just manage to miss Bounty people with both DC? I vaguely remember someone coming round but I just said "no thank you" and they just went.

[FryOneFatChristmasTurkey]

When I had DD, the bounty stuff was handed over by the midwives, I don't remember giving any details (I may have done) but they didn't take photos. What they did was Bounty sold details to local photographers in that region.

Thing was, the photographer who sent his bumph to us after I got home turned out to be SIL's ex husband........who wouldn't have recognised the my surname as I have never changed my own name, so nothing to connect me with SIL. Didn't use that photographer!

[DillyTante]

This just gets worse. Will defo sign your petition ohdearnigel.

[snowtunesgirl]

Fellow fuck me, that is unbelievable!

I must have got lucky, I was in hospital for six days and didn't see a Bounty woman once. Maybe the sobbing from my cubicle put them off...

[FryOneFatChristmasTurkey]

I will also be signing.

[ChestyNutsRoastingOnAnOpenFire]

Congratulations state

[Rindercella]

Fellow DD1 just asked me what was wrong as I gasped out loud when reading your post. Absolutely fucking outrageous.

I can't remember the Bounty women at all both times I gave birth, but I think I got the packs so perhaps the midwife just handed them on to me. Obviously I was very, very lucky.

I think Nigel touched on it earlier, but the whole Savile/Stoke Mandeville/other hospitals thing came into my mind when first reading this thread. Not that the Bounty reps are vile, repellent paedophiles, obviously, but who the fuck are these people to be wandering around freely on post natal wards, preying on vulnerable women? I think it is outrageous that this is allowed to happen. I also think that hospitals might start to listen now about patients not wanting anyone but health care professionals around them when they are in hospital.

I too will sign a petition about this and also give support to any campaign to stop this practice.

[Violet77]

Fucking awful, and i rarely swear.

I was SO sick after one child, no visitors at all but this fucking women in my room.

Honestly they need to stop it. Had she appeared at my next childs birth i would have been having serious words.

[TeamBacon]

I think thus thread should be shown to someone high up at Bounty. Are they on FB or Twitter?

[AloeSailor]

I can't believe they poke their head round when the curtain is tucking closed.
Luckily I was too ill when I had DD2 for them to visit.

[Rindercella]

And also to someone high up in the NHS. Who is it who sanctions these people?

[Emiliasmumtobe]

Hi, just saw this thread via twitter. The Guardian had a very interesting article about the Bounty people last year

www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/the-womens-blog-with-jane-martinson/2011/aug/22/childbirth-women

[squoosh]

Fellowship I am speechless at your experience!!!!!

[SleepyLittleSunshineGirl]

Well, ifi have any more I shall say, "no thank you, and please don't ask the nurses or help yourself to my confidential information. My husband is a corporate litigation lawyer and we will take action of you do. Goodbye!" (he's not BTW!)

[IamMummyhearmeROAR]

Oh I gave Bounty my details on the ward 8 years ago- no problem

And I'm sure they've been sending them to Narnia ever since.