"I liked some of the midwives. ..."

What I liked

I liked some of the midwives. I had a very difficult first two nights where my newborn wouldn't sleep, I had no sleep for two nights and on the second one of the midwives came and took him off me to help me and she was brilliant, returning him in the morning contented and happy. Also another time when he wouldn't stop crying in the day, one of the day midwives came and helped me she was very sympathetic and patient and I really appreciated her help.

What could be improved

Some midwives could use training in dealing with patients, how to relate to them and also how to speak to them. Also rather than treating patients like numbers, individual care and a more friendly interaction would be welcomed.

Anything else?

During my stay after having a c section my partner wasn't on paternity leave and wasn't due to start until the Friday. We decided, along with one of the midwives, that I would stay until the evening on Friday when my husband would pick us up and take us home. This was to give me extra support and help if I needed it instead of me being home alone for the first day, especially considering the trouble I'd had on the first two nights.

Then all of a sudden on the third day, in the morning a midwife who I hadn't seen throughout my stay came and informed me I had to leave as the delivery suite was overcrowded. I explained the situation and the fact I had nobody to take me home, and she simply replied that I would be moved to the day room (which really is just a room with a half circle of uncomfortable chairs) along with my newborn son. At this point I was still in pain with my scar and it actually still hurts now if I sit upright for too long.

She disappeared and throughout the day various things were dropped off, including medication which I didn't have explained to me and still haven't now. My notes and equipment to do blood tests which were never done and again still haven't been done when they should've.

I in the meantime packed up my things and my baby and tried to find someone to take me home, there was nobody available and I explained this to her again. She pressed that my bed was needed and I had to go, I offered to take myself and my son and just get a cab home but she forbade that pressing me to find someone to accompany me. So I continued to try and find someone.

She said some very harsh things to me and I'm going to note them here rather than add them to the above paragraphs as they make sense out of context:

"This is a hospital. not a hotel."

"Don't worry you don't have to leave now we managed to get rid of other women." (Women who had their husbands with them already.)

This needs addressing and I hope no other young first time mothers suffer this.