"Traumatic experience of giving birth at Arrowe"

I gave birth to my baby April 2008 at Arrowe Park, I am now pregnant again and planning to have my baby in Liverpool even though I live 2 minutes from Arrowe.

My baby was back to back and i was lot of pain was treated like every labour is the same and i couldn't possibly be in that much pain, one midwife told me "If I had my way you would be on a ward on a drip but 'management' dont allow it any more!"

8 hours later after having some gas and air and begging for more pain relief the midwife went off to ask the other midwife in charge if i could have some pethidine she came back and said "You're lucky she is in a good mood, you can have some pethidine" I was quite surprised at that!

After my baby was born I was left in delivery room from midday until 5.30pm we hardly saw anyone and couldn't be moved to a ward as it was too busy, when finally on the ward I was shown to my bed and left alone nobody showed me where to get milk for my baby or where the loo was and i didn't eat all day after such a long labour I was starving my boyfriend had to go and find the cafe. I was not helped with breastfeeding so ended up giving up.

All in all I thought the whole experience was horrible, what was supposed to be the happiest day of our lives turned out to be the most traumatic horrible experience ever, I feel utterly let down by the lack of care provided whether it be the fault of management or midwives.