"Leicester General maternity fantastic during birth but after care poor"

I gave birth at the General in Leicester a while back and wanted to say after finding this site, how good I thought the services were. The midwives were very supportive, if a little strained for time, and I had a good support system after giving birth.

I think that the after care was poor though. I hadn't slept properly for nearly 4 days by the time I gave birth, and felt I was stuffed like a sardine in a ward with lots of other mums - none of which spoke English as their first language, and due to the language barriers, preferred their curtains drawn, so I felt isolated. I got to the ward at 4am so it wasn't an issue then - woke at 6am and just wanted to go home. At 8am I asked to go home - my husband turned up at 10am - and thinking I was going home said I wouldn't need lunch - I was finally let go at 6PM after not eating anything substantial all day. I was lectured by a nurse who heard me complaining to my mum on the phone I'd had enough, that there were babies who needed special care and I that I felt I wasn't a priority. I understand that - but I was very tired, hungry, unsettled and I just wanted someone to comfort me.

I'll probably have my next birth there, but I think from this experience I will either leave immediately or ask to be transferred to a birthing centre.