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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Completely ignored in hospital!

22 replies

littlelamb · 22/02/2008 14:19

First of all , a big thank you to everyone who told me to ring the labour ward on wednesday night. They advised me to go in first thing, which I did. I had had some bleeding (25 weeks) and felt very light headed. When I got there they did blood and urine tests, internal and hooked me up to a monitor and they couldnit find anything to explain the bleeding. Because of this I was told I would have to stay in overnight. They really made it sound urgent, so I left briefly, arranged someone to have dd and checked back in last night. Only to be ignored the entire time. I was shown to my bed and left the whole night. I looked around for someone this morning but there were no staff anywhere so I just left . I started to cry on the bus home because I am no more reassured. I dont understand why I was just ignored. I didnt even have my temp or blood pressure taken. It has made me feel very nervous about delivering there. I was in a ward with a woman who had been induced and was obviously very scared, and she couldnt get a midwife to answer her calls either. Am I just being oversensitive? I am very emotional anyway at the moment, and I didn't go expecting to be the centre of attention but I just don't understand what happened

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lollipopmother · 22/02/2008 14:24

I was in hospital for a week once (not PG related) and I think I saw a nurse about twice a day, if that, I didn't really think about it at the time but I suppose that took the piss a bit too. I did have my own room though with a telly so couldn't complain at that part.

flowerybeanbag · 22/02/2008 14:25

That's awful. I don't think you are being oversensitive and I don't blame you for feeling nervous about delivering there, you must be so worried.

I don't have any helpful advice but bumping for you, hope someone with a bit more knowledge/experience will be along to help you.

newgirl · 22/02/2008 14:28

it sounds like they kept you in just in case something happened and happily nothing did

maybe you should call your doc or midwife and book a scan so you can be reassured, or ask the midwife to help you listen to the heartbeat? then you may feel better

i had awful bleeding in my second pregnancy and a scan helped me be reassured - baby was fine, full term, and huge so it was all fine so you probably will be too x

SlightlyMadSecretSoundWinner · 22/02/2008 14:36

I wqas admitted at lunchtime on a SUnday with DTDs (24wks ish). I was in a room on my own as I was antenatal rather than post natal. I had also had a slight bleed but there weren't overly concerned about me and said they were only keeping me in as it was hospital policy for 24hrs after a bleed. I ended up staying in 48hrs as I needed a Dr to discharge me and they couldn't get a Dr from "my team" until the Tues.

I saw no-one other thean the staff from delivery suite who show'd me round the ward.

I get ready for bed about 10pm and settled down to sleep. I was just dropping off when eventually someone opened my door, roused me and asked me if I wanted a cup of tea. If I wanted a cup of tea I wouldn't be half a bloody asleep .

I did, however, get general MW checks once a day.

I felt the same as you though - but didn't know what to expect as I knew that there wasn't really any concern IYSWIM.

I was also admitted for a few days with contractions at 24wks with DD3. I was on a bay of 4 women, and I was checked regularly. There was even a MW on nightshift for a couple of days that made it her duty to go round with the sonicaid and a torch at 10pm and 6am every day. That pee'd me off too.

I have to say that despite those experiences the hospital was fab when it came to delivery.

Hope you get some better answers. Hope you are OK.

Bananahammock · 22/02/2008 16:15

Ladies, it never surprises me to hear of the unacceptable levels of care that patients are having to endure. One of the essential criteria required when applying for a job in health care is that these people should be careing and compassionate, I think they need reminding of this when they are being so complacent and making us feel even more vulnerable. Ive had my fair share of disgusting treatment from health professionals over the years and I have learnt to challenge and confront things that are unacceptable. I still have my odd moments of feeling too weak to confront issues when Im extremely low and ill, I had a brief period of feeling like this just recently but I soon pick myself up again and voiced my opinions to the consultants and midwifes so we all know where we stand now. We are there to be cared for and thats what they are paid to do. I hope you all find the strength to stand up to crap like this in the future. Warm wishes to you all.

Mintpurple · 22/02/2008 18:19

Agree that your treatment was pretty shoddy, the least that should have been done is a set of obs (temp, pulse and listen to babys heartbeat) last thing at night and first thing in the morning. Normally there is not much else to do for you, as you are only kept in hospital as a precaution as your likeliehood of further bleeding is highest in the next 24 hours.

The docs usually do a round in the morning and discharge you if no further bleeding for 24 hours, so you probably went home before you saw docs. If its any consolation to you, there would have been a panic in the ward when they couldnt find you when someone did come to see you

I would also be a bit concerned at the lack of care, but Im not really surprised if you are in London .

Original poster

littlelamb · 22/02/2008 19:09

No I am in Exeter. Its such a shame as well, as its a new maternity unit and has had such a big fanfare. But I suppose shiny new equipment is not what this is about. None of us on the ward even got breakfast . Is it really worth writing a letter of complaint? The more I have thought about it the angrier I have become

OP posts:

SlightlyMadSecretSoundWinner · 22/02/2008 19:19

Breakfast at my hospital is self service. Cereals, bread, milk, jams, fruit etc. and a toaster are all available in the day room and kitchen.

I guess you need to be told if that is hte case though.

jammi · 22/02/2008 19:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

mariekg · 22/02/2008 20:14

reading all of your comments makes me really glad im having another home birth! at least your the only woman in labour in your own home so they cant go running off every 5 minutes definately worth considering if you can cope without an epidural!

pucca · 22/02/2008 20:18

When i was in labour with dd, i was left on the new baby ward, they sent my DH and mum home and left me completely alone, i rang my emergency buzzer as i was in severe pain and the cleaner came to see to me!she got me a rocking type chair to help ease my pain, i wasn't even given G&A until i was 7cm!

The MW said the labour ward was full, but when i got up there there was only 2 women in labour (shows on the screen).

pucca · 22/02/2008 20:22

Forgot to add, there was 1 MW seeing to me (apparently) and 3 wards of new mums with babies...scary! this was in Preston.

When i had my ds, i have a section, i was left for 10 hrs (the day i had my section so couldn't get out of bed) with no pad change (sorry tmi i know), and when i asked for more pain killers (they were due) i had to wait an hour in bad bad pain for them to finally bring me some.

AmersG · 22/02/2008 20:22

I too got admitted to the shiny new wards in Exeter in my last pregnancy and had differing attention depending on which ward I was in. I first got admitted there on it's opening weekend to one ward and again a couple of weeks later to another.

Similar to the above post I was told that I wouldn't get a scan when I said my waters had gone because I had an extra one booked at 21 weeks in 4 days time due at my local hospital...my baby died on that 4th day so I never had a scan. (He didn't die because of what they did or didn't do...i'm not trying to worry you!)

I have a fantastic consultant there who I would recommend to everyone but I can't say I was too impressed with certain staff members I met there which is a big shame since i'm due to give birth there again in July!

Bananahammock · 22/02/2008 22:26

Pucca nothing surprises me about Preston, I too was a patient at Preston for a number of years. I only have contact with that hospital nowadays if I am addressing the chief exec (angry). Its a sad fact that our health care services are the same all over the country. Dont let these people speak down to you ladies. We would`nt stand for it in a shop or a restaraunt etc so why should we stand for it in hospital.

charlotte121 · 22/02/2008 22:53

If i were you i would speak to someone about that, it doesnt seem right that u were ignored. thank god everything was ok. Make sure someone senior at the hospital hears your concerns as the next person it happens to may not be as lucky as you... hospitals are poo poo tho. when i had my son I had a 3rd degree tear and was in a lot of pain on tonnes of meds and they couldnt wait to get me out of the place, they also would get cross with me if i rang my bell. However the night staff were fantastic and really patient with you. I think it depends on the nurses you get. But i really would urge u to report it. When your giving birth im sure it will be a totally different kettle of fish all together. make sure you stay calm and dont worry. thats not gonna do u or the little sprog any good best wishes x

bubblepop · 22/02/2008 23:23

pucca. my sis delivered her 1st at preston. not good treatment im afraid. she was admitted with pre-eclampsia and then basically put on a ward,hardly checked and given conflicting advice from various junior doctors. they 'lost' her 24 hr urine sample(wtf?)then left her all night with prostin pains and basically ignored her. it was only by pure luck that she got a wonderful mw with 8 kids of her own who delivered her baby and offered some reassurance. i think it really depends just whos on shift at the time and how many are off sick etc..

pucca · 23/02/2008 00:10

Preston is awful infact its enough to put me off having anymore dc alone, thinking of going in that place again! the kids wards no better either, but i won't go into that here (sorry for the hijack).

bubblepop · 23/02/2008 00:14

pucca. ormskirk is much better

pucca · 23/02/2008 00:15

Forgot to say, it was down to the MW's that i ended up with a 3rd degree tear, i should have taken it further really, basically they changed shift 10 min before dd was born (i was pushing an hour) and the MW's were too preoccupied to tell me to pant, so i pushed my dd (8lb 13oz) full pelt while crowning and ended up with the horrific tear thats why i had a section 2nd time round, as i suffered incontinence for 2-3 years afterwards.

The MW's knew they had done wrong, as they both came to visit me on the ward afterwards, prob to butter me up, i can't see the MW that delivers a baby going to see each individual mum all the time.

There is Chorley, but i was refused as my BMI was just over the limit, and its a MW only run maternity ward, and apparently i was high risk, i ended up in a much worse state going into "safe" Preston.

Bananahammock · 23/02/2008 13:33

Beware Chorley, Im booked for my section in Wigan a week Monday, Ill let you know what its like. They received excellent reviews just recently but as patients we know how different the reviews can be to the reality.

pucca · 23/02/2008 15:09

I did transfer to Chorley, after having my ds (section) and it is lovely there, very quiet and the MW's are fab, i think there was only 3 other women in when i was there, and one MW offered to take my ds overnight in the other room so i could get some sleep....don't worry its really nice.

Heffa · 23/02/2008 15:57

Sorry to hear about your experience Littlelamb, that sounds awful. I'm due to give birth in Exeter as well and I've heard some bad stories - it has been making me nervous

I hope everything's OK for you.

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