Worrying treatment of mothers on maternity wards

[AB Asks]

Thousands of women took part in survey which has revealed they were left alone during birth, weren't fed enough and reported that facilities weren't clean. Women were also left alone during labour; this is not advised unless it is only for particularly short lengths of time or unless the mother has specifically requested to be left alone. To improve the situation there simply needs to be more midwives. What do you think? Have you or do you know of people who have experienced poor antenatal care or who suffered during birth?

[Dassie]

It's indicative of the third rate medical care we get from the NHS. Simple as that.

[daffy654]

This is not a new phenomenon. 18 years ago when I had my daughter I had to endure my labour on a normal ward with no pain relief at all as all the labour rooms were full. I was taken to a labour room after several hours where the midwife broke my waters and left.By the time she came back in 30 minutes later my daughter had already arrived with no help from anyone.

[mrs_overall]

I could write a book on this subject!
I've had appalling treatment in maternity units and just thinking about it makes me want to cry. My last but one pregnancy was a full term stillbirth. After I gave birth I was put in a ward with all the other mothers and their babies and told "you'll have to get used to it."

[mrs_overall]

I could write a book on this subject!
I've had appalling treatment in maternity units and just thinking about it makes me want to cry. My last but one pregnancy was a full term stillbirth. After I gave birth I was put in a ward with all the other mothers and their babies and told "you'll have to get used to it."

[funnygirl]

Like Daffy, when I had my son 18 years ago, I was left alone all day and it was not until the doctor himself checked on me, that he realised I need an emergency caesarian.
I dread to think what would have happened if he had not come in to see me.

[paulos66]

My wife was left alone to miscarry on the maternity ward after an emergency referral from our GP and the only person to show any compassion was a domestic, the understaffing is horrendous

[redcrx]

did it say what percentage were not appy with their care.
There are many heartbreaking stories of the treament of pregnant women and women in labour and the matter does need to be addressed to prevent such things.
I have no complaints at all about my care when i gave birth. I was in hospital being induced for 3 days and on the 3rd day they broke my waters. I was allowed to rest in a bath when the labour started as long as i was monitored regularly and I had a 6 hour labour.
My care throughout was great, the midwife was very considerate and i didnt feel bullied into anything, i felt calm and capable.

I know others who werent so lucky

[Pippa68]

It is shocking, Mrs O.

My first birth almost ended in disaster due to poor antenatal care ~ both my consultant and midwife failed to reschedule an xray for me to check that my baby was larger than expected. I gave birth quite quickly with midwife present for the whole time, however baby sustained broken arm, Erbs Palsy and oxygen starvation.

I later had a homebirth with no complications at all. For the next one I was told I had to go into hospital due to the fact that my baby was 4 weeks early (as was the previous) and that there was a midwife shortage.

I left hospital with an ongoing water infection and strep B. The toilet walls were smeared with blood, and I witnessed the cleaner wiping the handbasin with the same cloth she had used to wipe the toilet. A total disgrace!

So yes ~ more midwives, better antenatal care from Obstetricians/Consultants and better cleaning staff are needed.

[banjobabe]

How awful Mrs O.

When I was having my son 23 years ago (!!!) there was a lady waiting to give birth to a stilborn child. I just felt that they had left her to get on with it and surrounded her with happy new mums - I thought it was apalling.

xx

[smiffy65]

when I read these posts it breaks my heart to hear how pregnant mums are treated today in hospitals,I have five lovely children thank god,but the treatment I recieved my first being 44 years ago,was the best in the world I had my first four at home with my own midwifes who were on call for me night and day, the day i went into labour I had two midwives with me all day,the treatment I received was first class,they stayed with me for a while after the birth then came everyday twice a day for fourteen days,it was the same for the next three,all brilliant births,when I come to have my fifth child I was not allowed to have her at home,something to do with age!!! and had moved adressess, I vowed then that if I ever came to have another

[smiffy65]

cont.
i would'nt even consider going into hospital even though I had a very good birth, I was left alone through most of my labour then when it came to delivery,it happened so fast they just threw me on a trolley,ran me to the delivery room I was delivered right away, then put on a ward ,but when the nurses found out that it was my fifth baby they said I could take care of myself, So it would be a very good idea to bring our midwives back!!

[rabbitygirl]

I am surprised that so many of older mums have bad memories. 25 years ago, having been in slow, painless labour for days, they broke my waters to move things along. Then vanished.
The waves of pain and intense desire to push came almost immediately. My calling eventually got me a nurse, peering around the door asking what I wanted! To give birth NOW! She told me I wasn't ready, and it took me some time to get someone to look at the business end and decide for themselves, so convinced were they that it wasn't happening.
My son was born minutes later with me telling them to keep clear I'll deal with it myself! It was actually a good birth, no thanks to them. If I had had more children I think I would have opted for a home birth.

[louise23]

I had an ok experience i went into labour at about 8 at nite and my first midwife was a nitemare she completely ignored me the whole time fortunately her shift ended and i got a lovely midwife.
I got alot of pain relief but it unfortunately it didnt work for me.I then was told i had to go for a cesaerean section due to complications i was treated very well and was kept aware of everything that was happening . My after care was very good as well because i was unable to walk for 24 hours all the midwives on the ward made sure i was coping ok with my daughter and when i got too tired they took my daughter for the whole night so i could get a good night sleep. Unfortunately i think these days it really depends where you have your child i was lucky to have such a good maternity hospital to go to but not everyone is as lucky .

[whiskeysheri]

This drives me insane. I've been desperately applying to university to do a degree in midwifery for years and get turned down every time as only 10% of applicants (at my local uni) get accepted for the course. They can't offer any more places as there aren't the midwives available to teach them. It's a catch-22.

There are under 10 universities in the country that even offer the course!