"Mixed Maternity Experience"

Anything else?

I was very fortunate that I joined Newham General late in my pregnancy so did not have to attend many antenatal appointments (I lived in Birmingham priorto moving to London and received most of my antenatal care up there). On the one occasion I did attend antenatal for a scan I found the experience rather frustrating. I tried to call a week beforehand to check the sonographer was a female as this was important to me but noone seemed to know who would be working on that day. I called on the morning of my appointment and was told there was a female working that day. At the appointment I had to wait for a very long time, even though I had severe nausea and was very hungry I couldn't go to get food as didn't know how long the wait would be. A midwife I spoke to seemed more interested in singing along to the radio than listening to me with eye contact. When finally called I was told the sonographer was a male and so had to refuse the appointment and go home. My labour experience was mixed. Arrival at triage was frustrating as noone was on reception. Another patient opened the door to let me in. I was waiting for assessment for around four hours without gas and air and also squashed in a room with another couple as rooms were scarce and she was alrdy using th gas and air. Once I got to birthing centre midwives were lovely n looked after me well all the way throughout. After birth I was left alone holding baby for over an hour and I was absolutely exhausted wanted to put baby down but needed help and there was no way to call midwife. Simply had to wait. Was then moved onto ward at 3:15am. The nidwife on duty was absolutely awful. She was rude and patronising and extremely moody. I was reli thirsty for water and could not get out of bed. I had a jug but no glass so I pressed th alarm to call the midwife. Once she knew what the problem was she icily told me the button was just for emergencies. Naother time I asked her to help me change baby's nappy as I think baby passed first poo. She was impatient and unhelpful even though she saw me atruggling to get out of bed and bend down to get baby wipes which were in plain view on top of my hospital bag. She then opened baby's nappy roughly, said its clean n closed it up again even though it was quite wet and could have done with a change. I was too exhausted to argue. Fortunately paediatric doctor was great and after jumping up and down I got discharged before another night. Porter that moved me onto ward was wonderful. Food was okay but in the morning I received a nonvegetarian meal as it had been ordered the day before by th previous occupant of my bed.when I told caterer I couldnt eat this I was told there was nothing else. I said I will have anything vegetarian. After a while I got a cold and dry cheese sandwich. I think that staff need to be trained in customer service and we should be allowed to give feedback on individual midwives as there is a big difference in some of their attitudes.