Midwives not helping after C-section

[Emma5557]

Hello, before making an official complaint I want to be sure I am on the right side.
I got an emergency C-section at around 2am and after that I was moved to the post natal ward. The midwifes who followed me during the labour were excellent and told me to ask for help to the midwifes on the post natal ward anytime considering I could not move for the surgery. On the same day in the afternoon I got my catheter removed and I was able to walk, but still in pain while standing (obviously!). Most midwifes told me I needed to do things by myself like going from the the room to the end of the corridor to grab a bottle of water, or even lift up my luggage to take the clothes for my baby. How on earth am I supposed to lift a luggage after not even 24h from the C-section?!

@RosettaR

I'm due a C-section is just over three weeks and reading this has been a little frightening! Do any of you ladies who have been through this think there is much I can do in advance to make things easier for myself on the postnatal ward? Possibly three small and light bags rather than the big suitcase I currently have packed … ?

Something on wheels will be easier to move if you need to. If I had another c-section today I would just try and get out as soon as I could so I could be at home with help in my own bed.

It must be very unsettling and scary for a first time mother to find themselves left with a newborn right after surgery. I've always recovered really well from my sections but my newborns were always in the neo natal (never anything serious )and it sounds awful but it was actually great as I got proper uninterrupted sleep and I really feel it helped me recover so much better . Unfortunately OP this is quite normal

Hi OP,

congratulations on the birth of your baby. I just wanted to say that just because some people have low expectations and have accepted (or not complained after about) poor or limited after care doesn't mean it is OK. There are plenty of Trusts with maternity services out there rated poorly by the CQC. Sometimes in the NHS it isn't until an enquiry like at Mid Staffs people sit back and say, the care was really bad there for a long time...it is OK to expect better.

There are area of the NHS that rely on family to provide basic care - like providing food and drink and assistance. I have experienced it myself post CS but also with DM with suspected dementia - actually stroke but dr had misread notes saying 'arthritis' as 'Alzheimer's'.

Awful experience when already vulnerable. Not OK.

Apparently they are really good in other areas and I assume this includes aftercare.

@SnuggyBuggy

I think it's good advice in general to do sandwich bags each containing things like a set of clothes and nappies for example. It's easier than rummaging in a big case.

That’s great advice and was very helpful for us. I also packed several small bags instead of a big one. I used the changing bag to pack DD’s stuff, another small bag for me, and a small bag with snacks, drinks, my prescription meds, my tablet, chargers etc. And do not be afraid to ask for pain relief. In my case I had terrible constipation (sorry TMI) as well from the codeine and once I said so was given lactulose plus movicol.

I have a c section this week and this thread has confirmed my worries that my husband will not be around and I'll be left to fend for myself despite having had major surgery.

Surely the partner rules can be bent for c section mums, to ensure they are fully supported post birth?

Most partners would be happy to be covid tested and be around for their partners and baby.

OP, you have had major abdominal surgery and all you want is a bit of assistance. I can’t understand how anyone could say that was unreasonable.

I haven’t had a c section but still found post natal care really lacking.

There was a lady who had had a c section in the cubicle next to me when I had my son. She was so out of it she couldn’t hear her baby screaming and screaming. I went and found a midwife for her who woke her up and told her off!! It was about 5am and she’d only been brought through at about 3am. I found it so sad as the poor lady sounded so apologetic and then absolutely exhausted as she tried to deal with her baby.

Postnatal care is awful, the ward is hell. Of course you should complain, we ALL should complain! This should not be allowed to happen! Midwifes are leaving because they don’t have the funds to staff the wards properly - it’s fucking ridiculous and angers me so much. This wouldn’t happen if it were men who had to give birth!

I had a c-section and was lucky to have help when I pressed a buzzer. I think it's quite sad how people are saying you shouldn't expect help. Why not? It's major surgery, of course she shouldn't be trying to lift her luggage up. Isn't the advice to not lift anything heavier than the baby?! Also... people recover at different rates. Just because one person was out of bed in 8 hours doesn't mean everyone should be.

I do think at the moment limited help is understandable, but it shouldn't be what is normal!

I hope you get home soon op and congrats on your baby!

Most partners would be happy to be covid tested and be around for their partners and baby.

IamC Partners already have to be covid tested (and test negative) to be able to stay with their partners during the birth. They still have to leave soon after unfortunately.

It’s ridiculous when they’ve already had a negative result and haven’t left the hospital.

Congratulations op I would complain it may common place but it shouldn’t be we should not except sub standard care just because it’s become normal. I found it hard to get someone to wheel me down to the nicu to see my son after an emcs even though his nicu drs where asking for them to as my son was critical hope your out of there soon op

@KeepOnKeepingOnAgainandAgain - I've argued this before that not having a partner allowed on the ward (for more than a couple hours) is detrimental to women's care. So they are really screwing midwives, health care assistants AND women with the current guidelines.

Yes, i understand the whole 'pandemic' and that's not to be downplayed... but the current situation is the worst of all worlds. And the partner is in a bubble with the woman AND has had to have negative tests...

The worst part of the whole birth for me was on postnatal. I was one of those women woken up and shouted at cause my baby was screaming - and this was pre-pandemic. It was the only 20 mins of sleep I'd had in over 4 days.... partners weren't allowed overnight. But the next day I couldn't have cope without dh being there. I couldn't get my food or walk without help (serious pgp and episiotomy). I'm just hoping they don't keep me in at all this time!! (They kept me in last time to establish feeding and because they kept testing to see if I needed transfusions due to moderate pph).

I'm not worried about the birth this time - so much more about what happens after!!

I hated being in hospital after my c-section, didn't get a moment of sleep and yes you are expected to get up and walk around ASAP. Some people on the ward press the buzzers constantly for basic things (even when the men are sat there) so unfortunately they can't help everyone.

And they wonder why breastfeeding rates are low after c sections

@Soubriquet

Any other abdominal surgery, and nurses bend over back wards to help and keep you in your bed

Suddenly it’s a c-section and you’re supposed to get on with lifting a new born baby which can be fragile

It’s really weird

Nurses and midwives are completely different. They don’t have the same qualifications.

These threads always have stuff about how someone was running marathons the minute after coming out of surgery, so dismissing everyone else who didn't have the same recovery, teedious AF. I do wonder whether part of the reason postnatal care is largely so crap is because women are often dismissed.

OP sorry for your experience, sadly a lot have the same, I would definitely feed back to be honest though, it's absolutely unacceptable that someone recovering from major surgery with a newborn is left to it.

So sorry for your experience. I don't really have anything to add but you should make your experience known via complaining/PALS. It's unacceptable that women are treated like this after major surgery and must impact outcomes. As others have said this is often a systemic issue, rather than an issue with individual staff members and the only way things will change is if people make enough noise.

Wishing you a swift recovery

@RosettaR not c section but I had a giant 5hr spinal surgery. It was fine TBH, I was up an hour post op and discharged the next day (woke up at 4pm, discharged 1pm the next day)
With that I wasn't allowed to lift/bend/twist for 12 weeks so I took a wheeled case and did separate bags for stuff so I could say "could you pass me the pink bag out my case?"

Take a little squeeze bottle of squash if you like it for adding to water, lip balm, I also took my own paracetamol, hand gel, face mist, anything that makes you comfy
I know it's different but similar as in issues lifting after etc. The only problem I had was I got a taxi home alone and realised I couldn't lift my case so the nice taxi driver carried it in and put it on the bed for me

If they are understaffed and no one complains, everyone is happy with that, nothing improves surely?

Some of the responses on this thread are fucking shocking.

No midwives are NOT maids but there are there to help women who have just had MAJOR fucking surgery or had their vaginas tore open. That IS their job - do not buy in to the bull shit that midwives are too busy - more women need to speak up and complain. Woopie fucking doo if you were up and out of bed after a couple of hours some women need help and they SHOULD get it.

Honestly this thread has give me the rage! Don’t ask a midwife if you need help ? Fuckin hell! Has women’s health eroded so much other women can’t show any empathy to how other women may need help.

They massively fucked my C- section up so I had special treatment of my midwives as they were terrified of sue however the poor cow next to me was left to suffer and made to feel like shit as she was in pain after a vaginal delivery. They made her get up and walk about and offer paracetamol untill her husband came and kicked off. Consultant came and found a blood blister the size of a fist down there and she had to go for surgery.

My bil just has his spleen operated on - you should see the amount of serious pain killers he was given. A women has major abdominal surgery where hundreds of layers of tissue and muscle is cut through -“ fuck of dear and go buy some paracetamol on your way home!” And it’s worse when other women advocate this!!

@ivfbeenbusy

Honestly I think your expectations are way off.....I had an emergency c section for twins just over a week ago. Was on my feet in 6 hours visiting my babies in NICU and catheter out after 8 hours. Home after 2 nights. Midwives aren't maids. They want you up on your feet moving around because it helps with recovery and the pain is less. It's when you lie in bed all day barely moving that it hurts more when you do do something.

I was only on paracetamol and ibruprofen too

You have no basis for a complaint

Did you lift up a suitcase the same day as your section? Congrats on only needing paracetamol- you win best section recovery award 🙄

What's happening is before they used partners as free help. Come pandemic they haven't made up for lack of staff. Its not the fault of midwives and has but of the system. You should complain otherwise system changes do not happen. Maternity care has already had several scandals due to shortage of staff and it is something that needs to change

@Seasaltyhair

Some of the responses on this thread are fucking shocking.

No midwives are NOT maids but there are there to help women who have just had MAJOR fucking surgery or had their vaginas tore open. That IS their job - do not buy in to the bull shit that midwives are too busy - more women need to speak up and complain. Woopie fucking doo if you were up and out of bed after a couple of hours some women need help and they SHOULD get it.

Honestly this thread has give me the rage! Don’t ask a midwife if you need help ? Fuckin hell! Has women’s health eroded so much other women can’t show any empathy to how other women may need help.

They massively fucked my C- section up so I had special treatment of my midwives as they were terrified of sue however the poor cow next to me was left to suffer and made to feel like shit as she was in pain after a vaginal delivery. They made her get up and walk about and offer paracetamol untill her husband came and kicked off. Consultant came and found a blood blister the size of a fist down there and she had to go for surgery.

My bil just has his spleen operated on - you should see the amount of serious pain killers he was given. A women has major abdominal surgery where hundreds of layers of tissue and muscle is cut through -“ fuck of dear and go buy some paracetamol on your way home!” And it’s worse when other women advocate this!!

THIS. This right here.

‼️‼️‼️

@Seasaltyhair

Some of the responses on this thread are fucking shocking.

No midwives are NOT maids but there are there to help women who have just had MAJOR fucking surgery or had their vaginas tore open. That IS their job - do not buy in to the bull shit that midwives are too busy - more women need to speak up and complain. Woopie fucking doo if you were up and out of bed after a couple of hours some women need help and they SHOULD get it.

Honestly this thread has give me the rage! Don’t ask a midwife if you need help ? Fuckin hell! Has women’s health eroded so much other women can’t show any empathy to how other women may need help.

They massively fucked my C- section up so I had special treatment of my midwives as they were terrified of sue however the poor cow next to me was left to suffer and made to feel like shit as she was in pain after a vaginal delivery. They made her get up and walk about and offer paracetamol untill her husband came and kicked off. Consultant came and found a blood blister the size of a fist down there and she had to go for surgery.

My bil just has his spleen operated on - you should see the amount of serious pain killers he was given. A women has major abdominal surgery where hundreds of layers of tissue and muscle is cut through -“ fuck of dear and go buy some paracetamol on your way home!” And it’s worse when other women advocate this!!

YESSS THIS 👏👏👏👏

@ivfbeenbusy

Honestly I think your expectations are way off.....I had an emergency c section for twins just over a week ago. Was on my feet in 6 hours visiting my babies in NICU and catheter out after 8 hours. Home after 2 nights. Midwives aren't maids. They want you up on your feet moving around because it helps with recovery and the pain is less. It's when you lie in bed all day barely moving that it hurts more when you do do something.

I was only on paracetamol and ibruprofen too

You have no basis for a complaint

What a terrible post!! I think this is appalling I'm afraid. This is no way to treat women - just saying "get on with it"!

OP of course you should complain. The staff on the ward have a duty of care which they didn't carry out. I presume you are using "midwives" as a general term meaning all the workers and care staff on the PN ward? I was in the same boat. No partners allows due to Covid and I was left lying naked without food or water for hours and was unable to reach my bag which someone had unhelpfully put behind me. Worse than that I couldn't pick up my baby for hours and no-one came even though I buzzed.
Then when they did come it was all "we don't have time".

It's appalling and traumatic and 100% unacceptable.