W Channel would love to hear your stories/experiences about being on the maternity ward

[AbbiCMumsnet]

This activity has now closed

Childbirth can be an incredible time, filled with a host of different emotions for all involved, including the midwives who help many get through it all. Each person’s experience on the maternity ward is unique to them, which is why to celebrate the launch of the second series Emma Willis: Delivering Babies, airing Mondays at 10pm, W Channel would love to hear your heartwarming midwife stories from your experience being on the maternity ward.

You can watch the trailer at the top of this thread. App users please watch the video here

Here’s what W Channel has to say about Emma Willis: Delivering Babies: “Last year television presenter and mother of three, Emma Willis, spent 10 weeks working on the frontline of a busy maternity unit. Now, in a brand new eight-part documentary series for W, she’s been given the chance to return to the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, Essex to complete her training.

Over the course of 16 weeks she will immerse herself in the role, supporting the hospital’s charismatic midwife team. From elective caesarean sections to natural births, complicated theatre procedures to water births Emma will share the pressures, the fears and the joys of bringing new life into the world.

Don’t miss the return of the award-winning series Emma Willis: Delivering Babies, new and exclusive to W - Sky 109 | Virgin 125 | BT 311 | TalkTalk 31”

Perhaps you have a funny story about your partner’s reaction to you giving birth? Or perhaps you are the partner and have a story to share about being on the maternity ward, watching your loved one give birth? Or maybe your midwife did something that really put you at ease or had you uncontrollably laughing?

Share your stories on the thread below and everyone who does will be entered into a prize draw where one Mumsnet user will win a £300 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw!
MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs Apply

I had 3 very different births in the same hospital, but all were with excellent midwives and doctors and the maternity ward was clean and the staff couldn't have been any friendlier, knowledgeable or helpful. They certainly helped stressful situations be less worrying for myself and my husband.

For my first delivery I remember being left with my husband for most of it! I then lay on the bed pushing for 2 hours which looking back wasn't the best plan! Had 3rd degree tears so remember being in the strups waiting for the doctor! 2 no delivery was quick but had a retained placenta so had to go to surgery.

Not so much my experience but that of my daughter-in-law on the birth of her first and so far only baby. Quite apart from the shock at having produced the little bleeder, it was the look on her face after the birth when she thought she would return straightaway to her svelte-like figure.

She was one of those mums that put loads of weight on and she struggled to cope with that. Never again, was the cry and so far she has been true to her word.

I've popped a few out - don't know what the fuss is all about!

I wanted to labour standing up but I had pre eclampsia and so the midwives wanted to monitor the baby. They suggested putting a clip on his head to monitor him but after having five people examine me, they couldn't find what they thought was the top of his head.... it turned out baby was face up and so all they were getting hold of was his nose!

I don't have a story but my Mother said when she was pregnant with me she started bleeding so they kept her in hospital with complete bed rest. She was very worried she was losing her baby but she was surrounded by crying babies in the middle of the maternity ward and felt so inadequate and lonely.

I've popped a few out - don't know what the fuss is all about

What a horrible, insensitive and misogynistic thing to comment on a thread recounting some horrific tales of medical neglect, trauma, stillbirths, injuries... I can't believe another woman would be so inhuman as to write that. Thank fuck I'm not your daughter in law.

My first time in a ward was horrible. I ended up having an emergency c section after I was put into a room on my own, they never offered me a drink or anything to eat over the 2 days I was there my hubby had to keep bringing stuff in including water to drink it was appalling. There was a lot of errors also that happened but I couldn’t wait to get out of there.

The second time was at a different hospital it was a lot better, the midwives was lovely, my only bad thing was the noise of all the mothers chatting away in the early hours

I found the experience quite positive and felt supported and comfortable. There was just one midwife who insisted on using a rubber glove as a tourniquet instead of a proper one, this was despite me telling her that I was scared on needles. Found this quite unprofessional and dismissive

Midwife was lovely even my GP came to hospital to see my son!