Share your maternity care experiences with CQC - £300 voucher to be won! NOW CLOSED

[EllieMumsnet]

We are working with CQC (Care Quality Commission), who through a current campaign #yourbirthplan would like to make the public more aware of their inspection reports and ratings which can help women make informed decisions about where they give birth. With this aim in mind, they would like to hear your experiences of maternity care.

Here’s what CQC have to say: ‘’While women may have the choice to have their baby at home, in a midwife led unit or in hospital – we know that many are not aware. We believe that all women should be fully informed about the options they have regarding their choices over where they give birth – it is important that expectant parents are fully informed about the options they have available to them throughout their pregnancy and understand the benefits and potential risks of any choice they make – be this at home, hospital or birth centre.

There are multiple sources of information to help make a decision and our aim is to raise awareness including our inspection reports and ratings – as one of these sources, to help ensure they are fully informed of all the options available to them and have the best possible birth experience.”

Perhaps you want to share your experience of maternity care in hospital? Maybe you gave birth at home or in a midwife led unit? Or perhaps you want to tell us about your experience of how you chose where you gave birth?

Whatever your experiences are, share them on the thread below and everyone who comments will be entered into a prize draw, where one lucky winner will win a £300 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck
MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

The CQC is responsible for inspecting all hospitals, including private hospitals, GP practice, dentists, care homes and home care in England. Its maternity service inspections include all services for women that relate to pregnancy, including ante and post-natal services, labour wards, birth centres or units and theatres providing obstetric related surgery.

Each inspection answers five key questions: Is the service safe? Is it effective? Are the staff caring and responsive to people’s needs and is the service well led?

I had a great experience giving birth to my first child, she was born first thing in the morning, they said we'd stay over night and gave us a double room so my partner could stay too. The midwives couldn't have been more helpful or friendly if they wanted to.
My second pregnancy, my midwife was absolutely horrible. She spoke down to me constantly and kept telling me good girl when I would give her a sample or do my blood pressure etc (I mean I was in my 20's !). I asked for advice because I was really nervous about the birth as my first child was born VERY fast and she had nothing to say apart from don't worry about it and think yourself lucky. I asked her for help with breastfeeding when my second was born because I couldn't do it with my first as she had a weak sucking reflex so despite trying hard the doctors decided to put her on the bottle because she wasn't getting any milk. All she told me was stick her on and when you feel a pulling inside your breast you're doing it right. This led to my daughter being taken back into hospital due to losing more than 10% of her body weight and going jaundice ! She had nothing to say about it of course ! The midwife in the hospital was shocked at how useless my midwife had been about it.

My first pregnancy I gave birth in a hospital. I was a little skeptial about giving birth there as I knew It had previously been given a notice to improve. My birth was amazing. I laboured in the birthing pool although I had to get out close to the end. My midwife was with me through all of it (I had one change of midwife in the morning due to shift change). Their communication was great and overall a positive experience. My second birth I was in a different county and I was very worries about the distance of our closest hospital as it was a 40 minute drive. My labour and birth was very quick and I had my son within 50 minutes of being at the birthing centre. This was midwife led and she was the most amazing midwife i could have asked for. I had no complications through my labour and my midwife left us for a little while after birth just to be a family and have some calm time alone which was so lovely and thoughtful of her.

The first labour I left the hospital 4 hours after birth so I was not moved onto the ward. My second labour I did have to go onto the ward. I felt like the midwives who had to rely on the doctors were let down a little by the doctors lack of communication on when they'd be around. Each health professional was unsure of what was going on. At first I was told I'd be staying in over night so my partner drove 40 minutes home to then be told I'd be coming home so he had to drive back. Other than this I can say I was very lucky and overwhelmed by the amazing staff in the NHS. Their level of care was amazing and I am so happy that they helped me to have positive birth experiences.

I wish that the midwife had listened to me that my babies are born fast (3rd one) she insisted on putting me on the monitor in triage and my ds was born 15 mins later in triage, not much privacy at all apart from a curtain to separate me from another woman (and her husband) having a monitoring.
At least she gave up on the plan of transferring me to a delivery room, as otherwise he would have been born in the corridor.
Aftercare was not so great either, but at least I didn't stay overnight.

Perhaps you want to share your experience of maternity care in hospital?
I saw a different midwife for every appointment.

I was essentially sent home less than 8 hours after birth. (I was told I couldn’t stay as there wouldn’t be any staff).

I saw a different midwife for every post-natal appointment. Most of them were great, the midwife attending the birth was amazing. But I have no idea who any of them were. And of course, with such a number of people, some weren’t exactly great.

Maybe you gave birth at home or in a midwife led unit?
I was lucky enough to give birth in the local MLU before it was closed down.

Or perhaps you want to tell us about your experience of how you chose where you gave birth?
Well, there’s the hospital nearly an hour away, or the other hospital over an hour away. Neither of which I was excited to travel to whilst in labour - though luckily my labours weren’t that precipitous.

And then there’s the local MLU, which serves, sorry, served a huge rural geographical area between the aforementioned hospitals. But that has since been shut down.

Not so much in the way of “choice” if you don’t live in a city.

Brilliant antenatal care at St Thomas’, including a long time on antenatal ward. They had obviously put a lot of effort into making the ward homely - kitchenette, antenatal classes on the ward, etc. Lots of research projects, and clearly an excellent centre of care.

C-section went very smoothly, and the following twelve hours in delivery suite were fine. Well looked after, support with establishing breastfeeding, nice en suite rooms.

Post natal was like the seventh circle of hell. Boiling hot, really noisy, obnoxious catering staff (I got one meal in five days, because if you were seeing a doctor, or breastfeeding, or anything else, when they came round with the menus, you got nothing. And they were shitty if you queried it). Understaffed, and none of the midwives knew who any of the patients were or what was wrong with them. DS was having low blood sugars, and we were supposed to be giving him top up finger feeds but the midwives kept saying they were too busy to get us any formula. We waited over three hours on one occasion, until I stood at the desk and refused to move until they got me some. Then when his blood sugars dropped they yelled at us for not feeding him. The breast milk fridge broke (was beeping and temperature was flashing HI), and the first midwife I told said “it wasn’t her problem”. I couldn’t wait to get out of there.

Community postnatal care was great, with lots of BF support (daily workshops, if you wanted them). Tongue tie assessment and treatment at Evelina was very efficient. Ongoing HV service has been good too - not too pushy, but always there if you want them.

I had great care from midwives when I was giving birth. They supported me all the way by explaining what was happening and talking me through my choices.
The aftercare was excellent as well. I realise I was very lucky. I was told it was quieter than usual when I gave birth. Still, a fantastic experience. Hats off to them - they do a fantastic job!

When I was pregnant, I lived in the sticks and it was over an hour from the local hospital so I was quite anxious about the possibility of having a quick birth ... that wasn't the case at all, I was in labour for over 24 hours so had plenty of time to make it to the hospital. The care I received in my local hospital was exceptional, the midwives were amazing and I can't thank them enough.

My husband called the number on the front of my folder when my contractions were 4 mins apart. The lady who answered refused to speak to my husband and insisted on talking to me (even though I couldn't speak through contractions)

She asked me a load of questions about my contractions then at the end said 'you need to ring another number this isn't the right floor' ??? Not sure why she insisted on all the questions when she would of known this from my name at the start of the call. Still annoys me to do this day.

I was unprepared for a natural birth with my second son as I had to have an emergency Cesarean with my first son. I was offered an epidural which I never thought that I would choose, and they were late giving it to me as there was only one professional available to administer one on that day. I wasn't warned when the needle was about to inserted so jumped and exclaimed "ow!" At which I was warned severely that I should remain still as there was a needle being inserted near my spine. When I gave birth I could feel myself splitting and it was horrible.And when I walked down the corridor afterwards to go and have stitches, leaving my baby elsewhere, no one smiled at me or congratulated me. The woman putting in the stitches failed to tell me (once again) that I was about to feel a prick from the local anaesthetic for the stitches so was stroppy with me when I jumped thinking that it was the needle for the stitching I was feeling. And then she took ages to put the stitches in so had to give me another injection, and in the end had to call a colleague to help her pin point where more stitches had to go in order to stop the bleeding. It was all an unhappy experience.

My choice would be a water birth but obviously that is all being well.

I was happy with the antenatal care, care during labour, and during my c section at Whipps Cross Hospital.

However the postnatal care was shockingly bad (with the exception of one excellent midwife). Pain relief was inadequate, and the anaesthetist later commented to me that the midwifery team actively aim to keep analgesia to a minimum and fail to assess whether it is sufficient. Breastfeeding support was non-existent. The only care provided was monitoring of pulse, bp and temperature, and staff made it clear that they did not have time to answer questions or help in any other way. In particular, one patient was dizzy and in pain and asked if breakfast could be brought to her. A midwife told her that the breakfast trolley was at the end of the (long) corridor to encourage women to mobilise, and that the patient would need to make her way to it. The patient did not do so, and staff simply left her without food.

I had a really good experience, despite many bad stories, Warrington hospital was really good. The classes before hand were good for both myself and hubby (birthing partner ). I planned a water birth the midwives left us to it when not needed and just kept doing regular checks on heart beat. Baby started to struggle with reduced heart beat towards the end, so they had to whip me out if the water, Rush a bed into the room for me to deliver in, he got a but stuck so when he arrived he was rushed off out of the room for a few mins. The midwives were great, it was my 1st baby, just had gas and air and would definitely have no worries of recommended the hospital.

My little man had to go on neo natal ward for a few days and they were also great. The worst part was having to stay in after my waters broke as there was blood in them and my hubby couldn't stay with me so was crying in the ward to myself when my contraction started in my own. Should definitely change and allow partners to stay with you

I had an emergency c-section, was a high risk pregnancy. Felt this position meant I was forced into situations that maybe I wouldn't have chosen. As it was my first pregnancy I think you have to go with it. I feel much better prepared for next time, if there is one!!!

I had a great experience at our local hospital. The maternity unit is under threat though and any high risk births will have to go to Carlisle hospital which is over an hour away on a congested A road. It's pretty disgusting really that in 21st century Britain my daughters will receive a lower level of care than I did.

While my birth was slightly traumatic I cannot fault the whole team at the hospital enough. My waters broke on a Monday but I wasn't actually in active labour so I was told that I would be induced no matter what on Thursday. The days in between I went in for foetal monitoring. My daughter decided to actually decide to be born the day before my inducement. From start to finish was less than three hours - 30 minutes of that being a dash up the motorway! I went into the care unit and never really had contractions - pain just came and stayed. I was unable to have the epidural I wanted because I was almost 10 centimetres when they first examined me. The pain was so intense that I started to be sick but the midwife immediately gave me an injection to stop it. I was rushed in for an emergency C section (which never happened) due to my daughter being in distress but there wasn't even time for that in the end. I had an episiotomy and a forceps delivery.

As dramatic as this all sounds I had a FULL team around me the whole time. I was talked to at every step of the way. My daughter's Dad and my Mum had to wait outside but when the nurses and doctors went out to tell them my daughter was born it was if it was the first child they'd ever brought into the world.

I was in the hospital for 10 days afterwards and again I was supported through breastfeeding and treated with nothing but care by the midwives - ranging from the very young to the older. My daughter had to go to SCBU for injections twice a day and it sometimes seemed like the same consultants were there 24-7 but they were the most dedicated people I have ever met.

What could have been the most horrific experience was actually the best time of my life - all because of the wonderful ladies and gentleman in the hospital.

I have 3 children and 3 very different birth experiences. Fortunately all 3 pregnancies were textbook and I had straightforward labours and births with all 3.
DS1 was born in a GP led unit (local hospital). The nearest consultant led maternity unit was a half hour drive away. Staff were ok but didn't take much notice of my birth plan, meaning I was pushed into pain relief (pethidine) quite early on, which made me feel really ill. I ended up giving birth on my back and had some nasty tearing.
DD was born in a lovely midwife-led birthing centre attached to a major hospital (we'd moved area by this time). It was an amazing experience. I didn't have much of a birth plan but was terrified of tearing again. The midwives were brilliant - we got through the whole thing with no internals, no pain relief except a TENS machine and just a minor graze.
DS2 - I decided on a homebirth which I expected to be even more positive than DD's birth. Sadly this was not the case. The community midwife I'd seen throughout my pregnancy was a little lacking in people skills! She totally disregarded my birth plan, pressured me into several internal exams and continually made me feel an inconvenience/under time pressure because she wanted to be able to pick her children up from school! I didn't have any pain relief (by choice - I felt I could manage without) but she tried to persuade me a number of times to agree to gas and air.
I think it's sad that it's often the midwives (or other medical staff) allocated rather than the choices women make that make their experiences positive or negative. I know most are fantastic and that they are under a lot of pressure but there is no excuse for those that lack sympathy and/or empathy.

Wonderful, positive, hospital birth, with midwives who really listened and understood what I wanted. Even though a 4-day latent + active labour turned into an emergency c-section, I felt calm and listened to throughout. First 3 days at home, then admitted through Triage after my waters broke. I stated in my birth plan that I would prefer a midwife who was interested in undisturbed birth / hypnobirthing and that I wanted to manage sensations with breathing not painkillers.

However, although the birth was wonderful, the lead-up to it was made hard by consultant-led care and pressure to induce. My hospital seems to have a mania for inductions, (in reaction to a high still-birth rate a couple of years ago), and I really had to fight not to be induced on my due date. I had long, well-informed conversations with a series of consultants, and I still had so much pressure that I agreed to a sweep although not an induction. Many women would have capitulated: many of my mum-friends locally are traumatised and angry about their painful, uncontrolled syntocinon experiences. Of the two academic papers the hospital base the induction-mania on, one is very out of date but still informs the RCOG guidelines re births following IVF; the other shows that they can reduce stillbirth by 1 per 1000 inductions, at the cost of an additional 7 per 100 neonatal unit admissions (and an untold amount of discomfort, additional interventions and resentment for the mothers).

lkjhnoi

I was bullied belittled and lied to during pregnancy and birth. There was no option of a midwife unit as it was closed because of overflowing sewage when i was in to give birth. I had been laughed at when i previously asked about homebirth and ended up in a room without a usable bed.

I had a great experience of giving birth in hospital. The midwives were lovely and made me feel at ease. It went exactly how i would want it to go and they made me feel like i wasnt a pain!

The only negative was afterwards on the ward, i didnt know where anything was, how i could bath my baby, anything, so felt a bit lost there but overall, it was great.

I had a great experience at my local hospital in the birth pool. My midwife was very attentive & made things much easier to deal with, can't speak highly enough of her.

The only negative was when I first arrived, I was met by a midwife that told me in a very sharp way "you wouldn't be talking to me if you were in "active" labour. You'll be going home soon" before even examining me! I was very upset by this. (I was checked after & told I was 5cm dialated & would be having my baby that night) That midwife then finished her shift & the one that cared for me the rest of the night was fantastic but I was angry at the assumption that all women scream & can't talk when they're in labour. Different people handle things differently & she could've been nicer even if she didn't think I was in full labour. It was like she thought I was being mardy going to the hospital! For that to be my first experience upon arriving at the hospital it wasn't the best. Thank his she wasn't with me all night!!

Just to add, I wasn't well afterwards & had to go o the general ward to see a dr. He was horrible! He gave me an injection without telling me what it was, when I asked a nurse told me. He just ignored me. He then preformed an internal exam as he apparently suspected I had retained placenta (I didn't) then proceeded to talk to the nurses at my bedside while his glove was dripping with blood (sorry for tmi) I found that so disturbing & actually with id complained!!

I had this great birth plan but it all went out of the window when my waters broke but I hadn't progessed to full labour within 48 hours (it was painful enough given that I "wasn't in labour yet". I ended up having to be induced, the full menu of pain relief and nearly an emergency c-section. I can't say I was very with it through the whole experience but I put my full trust in the staff at Arrowe Park hospital and they got myself and my daughter through a traumatic experience without any permanent damage. I could tell the staff were rushed off their feet when I was in the ward over the next couple of days but as individuals they all did their best for me and my daughter.

I'm really lucky to have had very good care in general.

My first pregnancy ended in miscarriage and I was treated by medical abortion. The care and aftercare I received was fantastic.

I had lots of complications with my second pregnancy, which resulted in my twins being born prematurely and spending a few weeks in SCBU. Once again I and my babies received great care throughout, including being able to drop by the day unit to have heartbeats monitored as often as I liked. The only criticism I would have is that after having a C-section, I was taken to a shared ward with 3 other mums who all had their babies with them. This was really hard to be surrounded by other babies, when my own two were in intensive care and I felt so ill! The hospital has changed this now and does have a separate room for mums whose babies are in SCBU. Also on the day my babies were finally discharged from hospital, we were kind of kicked out very quickly (they needed the incubators for more twins) and we felt quite scared taking home our special care babies without much advice. I think there should be help/advice available when you take home special care babies, as it's a terrifying transition.

My third pregnancy was a lot easier, although I did have a few problems, but once again I received great care throughout, until a couple of days after he was born. I tried to breastfeed, but had decided that if it didn't happen easily that I would go straight to bottle feeding, as breast feeding had been incredibly difficult and very stressful with my twins. The midwives were very helpful while I was trying (quite unsuccessfully) to breastfeed, but when I asked for a bottle after a couple of days, I received a huge rant about not doing the best thing for my baby and having wasted their time! I know that my decision was the right one, as he thrived on bottle milk and he had a happy relaxed mum, instead of a stressed one - but I was made to feel like a bad mother for my decision.

Pre natal care was good albeit with a different midwife every time. Attended hypnobirthing classes at the hospital and felt very prepared.

Had a calm waterbirth in the MLU, staff fantastic and aside from a botched catheter (4 goes and the nurse gave up), received excellent care and felt in control. Very grateful that everything went smoothly and DS was healthy, we were looking forward to my DH staying overnight with us as a new little family/being discharged quickly.

I fell ill within a few hours of the birth (unspecified infection, never found out what/why), was rushed into the main hospital and left on a saline drip for a few hours whilst DS slept. At 2am my DH was chucked out and I was put on a ward full of expectant mothers being monitored with my baby, spent the night feeling rotten and desperately self conscious that I was bleeding everywhere, trying to keep DS quiet and couldn’t do much with one hand as it had a canula in. Staff were generally lovely and doing their best but felt like resources were stretched to breaking point.

Transferred to the end of a dark ward the next day, everyone had their curtains closed and so very little natural light got to us. Visitor numbers not limited so had people from other families barging into my bed continuously and loads of noise and bustle, which was extra fun combined with the heat.

DS developed jaundice as I recovered - had to beg to move to somewhere with daylight as it seemed crazy to not have the chance to get him near a window. No security tags for babies as they’d run out so worried about leaving DS to go to the loo/get food.

Got a private side room with much relief for our 5th and last night. Took 8 hours to be discharged after we’d been signed off by the doctor.

HV was between 2 and 24 hours late for appointments and told us off for combi feeding.

Breastfeeding support across the board not great (managed to sort it ourselves after 3 weeks when DS decided he wanted to do it after all).

GP brilliant with 6 week checkup and any visits thereafter.