"Maternity experience at Princess Royal"

I went into labour on the wednesday evening going into thursday morning I had been told since I was a high risk pregnancy we should go to the maternity ward as soon as anything started to happen we shouldn't wait.

I phoned during the night to say I was sure my waters had broke and I was having cramping pains to be told it was probably a urine infection to go see my GP in the morning. My gp confirmed I was indeed in labour and to make my way into hospital.

I was placed in daycare around 1pm as there were no available beds for me, where they confirmed my waters had indeed broken. Was eventually moved up to maternity at around 11pm on Thursday evening. I was basically left I now know because I didn't scream and complain when I hadn't dilated anymore.

on saturday afternoon they induced me. My waters had been broken since wednesday evening.

Despite telling them several times I was told to ask for an epidural early as there was a chance it wouldn't work. I wasn't given one until evening time. After having 3 epidurals in my birthing suite as they weren't working, I kept complaining my leg was sore because it was wedged onto the bottom of the bed but because I shouldn't have been able to feel it this was ignored, afterwards I discovered they had dislocated my hip.

Off to theatre for an emergency section where a fourth epidural didn't work, a spinal tap and eventually an emergency section. As a first time mum with no mum to come and look after me, only my partner when he was able to come at visiting.

The aftercare was a disgrace where I was basically left in terrible pain from a section trying to care for a newborn and unable to wash properly and even going to the toilet was a painful experience. I don't think the staff I came into contact with provide essential care like that. Not everyone has parents to help!

I honestly couldn't praise a single thing about our care during the birth.