"Very poor treatment at birth of my daughter"

While pregnant with my now 1 year old daughter, I had requested to have a VBAC (Vaginal birth after caesarean) delivery and was told I would be very well monitored. I found this to be untrue.

I was admitted to Good Hope Hospital maternity unit one evening in May 2013, suffering from contractions. I explained that I had a previous C Section and had a feeling that my scar may have ruptured slightly, so the pain I was feeling wasn't being fully picked up by the monitor. On doing an internal examination told I was 2 cm dilated and yet was sent home on the Tuesday.

I was later re-admitted with same problem the same evening, after speaking to my antenatal consultant and requesting an elective c section scheduled for early June (a few days before my due date). This wasn't even taken into consideration by staff on ward!

I told the staff I felt like I needed to empty my bowels, which after pregnancy laxatives I was able to do and yet still had feeling I needed to go requested internal and it never happened was sent home yet again.

In the very early hours of that Friday I was driven in absolute agony by my mother back to GHH, where it was discovered during an emergency c section that my daughter had not only caused my previous scar to rupture, but she also caused a uterine rupture (my bladder burst) which was almost missed!

After coming around I was told that they thought I had a blood clot in left leg and while waiting to go for a scan, was told quite coldly by a consultant that I really should have been sterilized as another pregnancy could kill me! And then they left. Later on, I was fairly upset and cried. To which, a nurse closed the curtain on me so as not to upset other patients. I had to have a catheter for almost fortnight, as well as an x-ray to see if my bladder had healed. Thankfully it has.

I had numerous gynaecology appointments cancelled, including one while I was sat in the waiting room. After my last appointment, I found out I will have to be sterilized, but due to damage done and the fact my bladder is fused to my womb I have to have A non surgical procedure done called an ESSURE sterilisation at the Women's hospital in Birmingham city centre. I'm in my late 20s and feel if the staff at GHH had done their jobs correctly, I wouldn't be in this mess.

I made a complaint back in May 2014 via PALS and was told I'd hear an outcome by June. They wrote back and said it would be finalised in July, as they had a shortage of staff. July came and went and I heard nothing so complained to my consultant in August and informed them I would taking legal action regarding Medical Negligence. They assured me I'd hear something within a few weeks, as I need the paper work so can put a claim forward. It is now October and I've still heard nothing. They also said that due to stress of entire experience, I have acute PTSD. I just want answers ASAP from GHH, so I can move forward!