Have you experienced postnatal care in the UK from October 2013 onwards? please help MNHQ by completing a survey - £100 to be won NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

MNHQ is interested in finding out about women’s experience of postnatal care - both in hospital and in the community/at home.

This survey is open to everyone who’s experienced postnatal care in the UK from October 2013 onwards (so in the past three years). It is not focused on miscarriage care, but it is applicable to anyone whose pregnancy went beyond 24 weeks.

We know that sadly, not every pregnancy results in the birth of a live baby. This survey is mostly about the care received by the mother, so we hope that everyone who has experience of post-birth care will be able to fill it in, whatever the outcome of the birth. We’ve tried to be as sensitive as possible to different circumstances, but if your pregnancy ended in a bereavement or serious illness for mother or baby, there may be some questions here that are not relevant to you; please just choose ‘not applicable’ wherever this happens - and do let us know if you have any feedback for us.

And - finally - the survey is very long we’re afraid; you may need 10-15 minutes to fill it out, especially if you had an inpatient stay on a postnatal ward in hospital. Apologies.

When responding to this survey, please think about your most recent experience of post-natal care.

All who complete this survey will be entered into a prize draw where one Mumsnetter will win a £100 John Lewis voucher.

PLEASE NOTE: the survey goes into some detail, and some women have found it emotionally tough. We'd really like as many women as possible to complete it for us, but of course please prioritise your own wellbeing when thinking about taking part.

Here's the link: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/9CGL8JR
Thanks and good luck with the prize draw,

MNHQ

[Lireal]

Completed for first experience which was longer but more positive. Second experience was worse, but much shorter.
I had an induced, long and difficult birth with first child with intervention needed. The medical professionals were brilliant throughout but I never really knew what was happening afterwards. Observations and bloods were taken at seperate times for both me and baby, so we kept being woken if we finally slept from all the noise. I didnt know when to expect community midwife visits after, etc. Lack of communication. Second child they kept trying to send me home even though I was 4cm and contracting frequently. Very short staffed. No-one responded to bedside call button.
Very different to 2014. I assume budget cuts.

[Kel1234]

I did this a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately my answers were mostly negative as the care I received was appalling.

[FizzyFeet]

Done. Thanks for doing this, MNHQ.

[Ginplease]

Done. Hope this survey helps make s change.

[Ilikegin]

Filling in this form made me realise even more just how awful I found my postnatal experience.

[frikadela01]

My experience was pretty neutral. I'd read a lot on here about what to expect (as in expect the worst) so was surprised it wasn't hugely bad. The most negative thing for me is that the postnatal ward in my hospital is also the maternity ward. So I went to be induced and had to get and be as quiet as possible during the night despite being in agony because the other women in the bays had babies with them. And I was lucky it was overnight, the poor woman across from me after I had Ds was on the ward contracting for over 24 hours whilst people had visitors and what not, can't imagine it being in agony ans having to manoeuvre around mum's, babies and their whole bloody family.

[ButtfaceMiscreant]

Done, I am quite lucky in that both births (singleton and multiple) were very positive for me, despite complications and interventions with both (resulting in hospital stays).

[sianihedgehog]

Ugh. Literally shuddered at the memory of trying to breastfeed in a hospital bed after 5 days without sleep and nearly dropping my baby when I ENTIRELY PREDICTABLY fell asleep.

[fuxxake]

Done

[PotatoBread]

Postnatal Care was brilliant but I was lucky enough to give birth in an NHS hospital that has private post natal rooms so didn't have to share a Ward for the week I remained in hospital.

On the otherhand, I thought my antenatal care was terrible.

[Quodlibet]

I was able to answer quite positively about my care. However my experience was of an overstretched service (with staff doing their best with suboptimal resources). I was a confident and proactive second timer who was lucky enough to have good family support, but found it very distressing witnessing other people falling through the cracks in an overstretched service in my 5 day stay.

[QuackDuckQuack]

Is this survey only interested in NHS experience? I went private and it was great. DD2 wouldn't exist if I had to rely on NHS postnatal care after my horrible experiences having DD1.

[ZoSanDesu]

Done

[MissMoo22]

Done although no option for 'Northern Ireland'.

[Sierra259]

My whole birth was easier second time round. DC1 was back to back, I was in much more pain, admitting midwife was a dismissive cow, there were no doctors free to give me an epidural, had to push for 2 hours+, 4 nights on post-partum ward with some fucking inconsiderate neighbours. DC2 I laboured quite comfortably until the last 2 hours and she was born 20 minutes after I arrived at the hospital. Only blip was I couldn't go to my booking hospital labour ward as they were full , but the one where I gave birth was fine. Got given a side room for the time I was there but was fine to go home later that day.

[LotisBlue]

I think that you may be right jinkx. Second time around I knew that if I ended up on a postnatal ward I would have to fight to get the care I needed; I was mentally prepared for that and my hospital bag was packed full of food, pain medication, eye masks and ear plugs - everything I could think of to mitigate for the horrible environment that I knew I would have to put up with!

Sorry that you had a horrible time first time around

[JinkxMonsoon]

LotisBlue I think I had better experience second time around because a) the staff were generally nicer, b) I formula fed from the outset and c) was very clear that I wanted to be discharged after just the one night (I'd had a caesarean). I went in with low expectations and was pleasantly surprised. Oh, and partners were allowed to stay until 11pm too.

First time around I was terrified and in pain and failing to BF and didn't sleep for four nights. I learned enough lessons first time around to ensure that I wouldn't have a repeat experience, because it was a horror show.

[LotisBlue]

I notice a lot of us are saying we've had a better recent experience with a subsequent child than with our first DC. Do you all think this is because the service has improved, or because second time mums are treated better, perhaps because we are more assertive second time around? In my case I think I had better treatment mostly because I had a home birth and avoided the post natal ward entirely! But I did also feel that second timers were treated with a bit more respect.

[Sierra259]

Done. My answers would have been very different if done for DC1!

[GrouchyKiwi]

Done.

[PurplePidjin]

Netural, mnhq?

[elliejjtiny]

done. My experience was if you had partner/family to help, you were ok. If not, you were screwed. So I was screwed.