"Birth of first grandchild"

My daughter had a difficult 48 hour labour. The second midwife on duty was excellent, the first less so. Lack of communication meant my daughter was taken to consultant led unit for an epidural before being advised as to why it was necessary. It was only when in unit my son in law asked what was going on to be told she needed the epidural.

When baby arrived on 30th December early morning he was whisked away to neo natal unit. All the parents were advised was that baby's temperature and sugar levels had dropped so needed to be under heat lamp. Baby returned to mum 12 hours later.

Conflicting information from neo natal nurses to the midwives on maternity unit regarding what the baby needed - one saying must have formula the other saying no, must be breast fed - this is a first time mum, she needed support not confusing information.

Both mum & baby prescribed antibiotics, no explanation as to why despite asking. Typical response was "as waters broke at the beginning of the 48 hours, antibiotics prescribed as a precaution"

When discharged 2 days later, midwife responsible for my daughter apparently finished shift, handing task to colleague for them to discharge my daughter.

Asked to sign forms - wrong address on notes, even though midwife and neo natal unit had been advised of change & being told that will it would be alright.

Handed additional prescription drugs, had to ask what they were for. Advised another course of antibiotics and iron tablets.

The discharge midwife was a little surprised when my daughter advised that she had not even seen the midwife, who's shift had just finished, all day - this was at 3.30pm on discharge day, so had not been advised regarding how to put baby to sleep, what to do in an emergency in first 10 days of baby's life, what signs to look out for regarding post natal depression, forms to register birth etc.. All had to be done by second midwife, who kept apologising saying that as my daughter was not technically their patient, that they shouldn't really be having to do these things for her.

Baby now also very jaundice, but reassurance given by hospital midwife that this was nothing to worry about.

On return home, daughter has been visited twice by community nurses. At this stage it was realised that the baby was discharged without his NHS number. Yesterday, the 7th January, 8 days after being born, daughter advised by telephone, that both she and the baby had the strep B infection, and this is what they had been treated for and are continuing to be treated for!

Why on earth was she not advised of this potentially fatal infection sooner?!

Situation compounded - my daughter is unable to get a midwife or health visitor visit at home as apparently there is some disagreement between health authorities as to whether they fall into Herts or Essex jurisdiction. (they moved house week before baby born) Overall, expected a better standard of care.