"A terrible maternity experience"

I went into labour at 10.00am and stayed at home until 10.00pm when i felt i could no longer cope at home. I phoned Ormskirk to explain i would be coming in as my contractions were now close together. I was told "get a bath! Take paracetamol and stay at home a bit longer". This was crazy as i knew it was time to go in so i ignored her advice and went along to Ormskirk Maternity expecting nothing more than an examination and a team of midwives to support me.

What a shock i got, they had lost my notes so told me they couldn't examine me and tried for an hour to find them with no joy whilst i was rolling round a bed. I was then to be examined and told that i will have my baby on the bed i was on in the ante natal ward when i said why not the delivery suite she explained that they didn't have any midwives so I couldn't cant go there. By this time i was starting to feel worried and scared so kicked off a fuss saying i wanted an epidural and i want to be in the delivery suite where i should be. I got what a wanted in the end but it was a battle and i spent all of my labour mainly without a midwife as she ran between many other woman.

After delivery i was left on the bed for 1hr 30 with no one in sight again, to then be taken onto a ward where the nightmare continued. I then spoke to a rude and and I feel impatient member of staff who gave me an awful look when she found i had accidently got blood on the bed. I told a staff member i was leaving my baby alone whilst i got a shower to which they replied that my baby wasn't going to die if I went to the toilet. Total shock, i was so drained and tired i nearly burst into tears it was just awful. No breast feeding help, didn't show me how to bath the baby - generally a poor maternity service in my experience.

I don't have high expectations and its a good job my birth went textbook that night as there was only so much my husband can do! He's no surgeon but a very good stand in midwife