Panorama has terrified me!

[oysterpots]

I'm not anywhere near any of the hospitals featured but the programme has just made me feel so like I won't be in control of what happens to me when I go into labour.

I know it's unlikely that anything bad will happen but is there anything we can do to make our own situations come with as little risk as possible?

Those poor people...

not good was it

Home Birth?!

know just what you mean, I just had mine a few weeks ago and it made me shudder.
I'd really recommend getting a doula to help put your mind at rest - you've got someone on your side who knows their stuff and can fight so you get proper care if nec.
or of course, book a home birth, never too late - i booked mine at 38 weeks and had a doula as well - covering as many bases as I could
very very sad programme

Read Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Childbirth and book a Doula.

oh dear

sorry you feel like this, bear in mind you are more likely to be aware of the bad things that happen, rather than the good

look at the stats for your hospital and you can change , if you need to

have a look at this website, birth choice

also, stay at home as long as you can , or in fact, have a home birth , look here for more info, home birth site

and look at having a doula with you, to support you , nurture you and help you throughout your labour , however long , doula uk has lots more info!

I read Your Birth Rights by Pat Thomas and Stand and Deliver by someone whose name I can't remember. (This was for second pregnancy.) Doula is a very very very good idea, please give it serious consideration.

right, we all have the same idea ! must be good !

and yes, ina may will make sure you believe you can birth your baby!

Out of interest, how much is it for a doula?

Although it was a sad, difficult program to watch you have to remember that there are also lots and lots of women who have good births on the NHS and good post natal care.

My wife expecting twins at Chelsea and Westminster in 10 weeks-ish. V worried.

Also remember that, although what is reported is shocking, you only really hear about the bad stories.

I think the statistic was 1 in 5 women were unhappy with their birth experience in hospital. That means 4 in 5 were happy!

Nikki- depends on whether a trainee, or not and where in the uk, doula uk has a find a doula service, many doulas have links to their sites, and the cost of their services

ooh x posts maxbear!

I have to say that although I was shocked at the program that was not my experience at all. Though I would have liked the hospital to be cleaner and a few of the midwives to be a little less blase I had a fantastic team with me throughout my 5 day stay. Not all hospitals are that drastically understaffed.

it was very sad and it made me cry though I had my baby at a NHS hospital in Dorset which was excellent. I was in and out of hopital throughout my pregnancy and there was alway a monitor available. I also had Camilla Parker Bowles doctor perform my c-section and it didn't cost me a penny!

ive just finished watching it and now absolutely petrified, felt so sorry for those women how awful for them, wouldnt wish that on your worst enemy.anyone had any experience of services at Derby city hospital ?

And even if 1 in 5 were unhappy with their birth experience in hospital, it doesn't mean that 1 in 5 had a bad experience. My first birthing had some very distressing aspects to it, and I wasn't happy with some of the care I had received, but nonetheless I came out of it on Cloud Nine - utterly overjoyed at myself and at what I had done. Ultimately it is you who gives birth - everyone else around you, midwives, birth partner, etc, is there to support you.

You also have to accept that you are not in control when you are in labour. You have to go with the flow. Your body knows what to do and will, most of the time, go ahead and do it - your mind, the bit that you think of as 'you', will have the job of helping it along. Just like your birth supporters, really.

Shocking programme. Really terrible, I had excellent care at my hospital, it's so sad that it depends where you live.

I watched the Panorama programme tonight - Jeremy Vine is like reading the Daily Mail though -
'Having a baby is the most dangerous time in a woman's and her baby's life'

Oh purleeese!! I know the things the undercover reporter filmed were shocking, but FGS.

I didn't watch it for that very reason.. no point in knowing horror stories that may never affect me. Someone posted on here a while back about women in Holland having much less intervention during childbirth and one of the major factors was that their ante natal care was based not on what was going to go wrong, but what was going to go right. A very positive way of thinking and one I'm trying to adopt!

Gingerbear, however dramatic that statement may have sounded, and even tho giving birth and being born is an every day occurrance, it remains fact that it is indeed one of the most dangerous times in a woman's and baby's life. Thankfully the vast majority of births go well but that doesn't change the reality.

I had the same midwife with me throughout my labour except for twenty minutes when she nipped off for something to eat and another midwife sat with me.

When it looked like it might be all happening the second midwife got the first one back and they ended up both staying with me for the next two hours as they wanted to see me through to the end - it meant the first midwife staying on beyond her shift ending. She was a star and really helped me.

There's a lot of great care going on, even in difficult circumstances. Most people I know have similar stories of midwives who really enjoy their jobs and take pride in providing a first class service. Please don't be scared .

i watched it and cried so much, blame my pg hormones
some of the mw`s got serious attitude problem there.
btw, someone exlain me doula? what is it? im a marsian