I'm pregnant with my first baby, 14 weeks, and worth adding I've had a lot of health problems and complications. Time and time I've had really bad experiences with the nursing staff at my hospital in the early pregnancy and neonatal units, and most recently with my midwife team.
It's becoming really frustrating, I just feel like all of the nurses I've seen have had such bad, lethargic attitudes and not been bothered about me at all. There's been so many individual incidents now that this post would be FAR to long if it wrote them all out but I'll put in a few examples.
Many members of staff have made throw away comments about very concerning matters and then not attempted to resolve the issue. E.g i was admitted to hospital with severe sickness (being sick 3+ times an hour for over 12 hours, unable to keep water down, the weakest and worst I've ever felt, this happened at 12 weeks) nurses pretty much fobbed me off, conversations met with eye rolls, painfully jabbing anti sickness injections in my arm with huffs. The same nurse made comment about how unusual it is to have sickness like Ive had this far along and it could be something more serious, she then said "but meh" shrugged and left the room. Leaving me and my partner scared. I ended up not being dehydrated enough to be admitted with to a ward, the same nurse came back to tell me this with a very smug attitude and then couldn't get us out quick enough. (Bare in mind I'm still vomiting green bile and extremely weak)
At a later appointment, I was getting an emergency scan for bad cramps and unusual discharge. A different nurse made a comment about us being "sent away" referring to the sickness day, with the same smug attitude, like she found it funny. She also said in a very rude and huffy way "we can't keep scanning you" this was the first time this type of scan had happened btw) I laughed to start with because I honestly thought she was joking but she wasn't and I have no idea why she said this. Surely if I'm having problems like painful cramps and whatever else, we need to check is everything is okay!!?? This has really put me off calling for help whenever I notice problems now.
Another incident: I'd told a midwife who I saw immediately after my 12 week scan that I was worried as I was having brown discharge and mild period like cramps. She said the brown wasn't a problem but then said "you shouldn't be having cramps that's not normal at all" then swiftly moved on to doing something else like she hadn't just made that worrying statement! And when I brought it up again she just said "ask your midwife"
And speaking of my midwife! My first midwife appointment was at 13 weeks, after my 12 week scan! I rang my GP many a time asking to be booked and was told my number was passed on each time. Later I was told she was fully booked until when I would be 20 weeks at my GP surgery so they're having to look if they can fit me in elsewhere. 2 weeks later I finally get a text of a midwife telling me when I first appointment would be and where. (A local community centre - not even a GP surgery) the change of location wasn't a massive issue, the centre is in a really dodgy area but it's no more travelling then the GP would have been. But when I arrived I saw two different midwifes, neither of which where the one who texted me - so no idea who my actual midwife is! Had comments made like "did you not know you were pregnant? No I just couldn't get an appointment!!! And just feel as though I haven't been given half the information or support I've heard other women talking about and expected.
Today has really been the final straw. I received a letter in the post confirming I was Rhesus negative (blood) which I expected. However the letter basically said (here are the the problems you have, you'll have this test at your first appointment (an appointment that's already happened) here's some more worrying information there your go, bye). This letter had no conclusions or suggestions of further appointments to solve the issues they've addressed. Worried I rang the number on the later and spoke to a lovely lady at the neonatal unit who confirmed that this letter only contained half the information. There are in fact further tests going off to try and resolve the issues faster that take another 2 weeks and my midwife should be calling me tomorrow to explain. Okay - but why isn't this in the letter in the first place?? Why send me something full of worrying information and not tell me the whole story? She also added that it'll be discussed at my 16-20 weeks midwife appointment but at my first and only appointment at the community centre I was told I wouldn't see them now until 26 weeks?
If it was just one or two people I might have said something at reception, but it's the whole staff (including receptionists!) They're attitudes are horrible!
I now DREAD any appointment I have or when my health problems start up and I know I'll have to go in, and I was really hoping to be able to enjoy this experience in pregnancy.
I've kept this to myself not wanting to labelled as hormonal or emotional but my partner since the last in hospital appointment that he noticed the staff aren't very nice to me, and I'm glad it's not just me being sensitive or anything! I don't know if it's to do with age (I'm 20) but never felt like I have acted immaturely in my appointments.
Can I just add I highly respect and commend all NHS staff and workers especially during this difficult time and know the jobs they do aren't easy by any stretch. ❤️ And I've always been very polite to staff that I've treated me but it's not been met with the same response.
A rant that I needed to get off my chest and probably not worth reading but I'm just wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience?