"Frightening."

What could be improved

I had to return to this hospital with my baby for a hearing test fortunately at the children's centre. I looked across at the maternity building and felt sick, it brought back some awful memories at a time that was extremely special, the pregnancy and birth of my beautiful daughter. I had been very ill and my condition was missed, my baby was very sick and her condition was also missed during the pregnancy and at the birth until she stopped breathing on my chest. She was transferred to Brighton who were fantastic, they saved her and helped me. The ESH midwife who escorted me to Brighton was appalling. She told most people off on the ward, she told my sisters to be quiet (they are very polite and quiet people) as the lady next to me had "had a baby". My older sister pointed out that I too had "had a baby" who was very sick and I was extremely distressed. It was very upsetting being the only mother on the ward without my baby, just an empty cot next to my bed. It was awful being separated from my baby - she went to Brighton at about 4pm and I followed at 2am. The midwife had told me to get myself dressed, to be ready and wait until transport arrived. I didn't have any sleep as she didn't know when they would come for me. She then piled my bags on top of me when I was on the stretcher and I had had a c-section. When I asked for pain killers she said that I was now under the care of Brighton (we hadn't left ESH) and I would "have to wait". I couldn't believe she then escorted me to Brighton. I felt every bump from Redhill to Brighton, I was in so much pain. She made an already horrendous situation even more nightmareish. The midwife who greeted me at Brighton was an angel, got me a mug of tea, painkillers and took me to see my baby straight away. From that moment, I felt that my baby and I were in safe hands, and we were, they were brilliant. I feel scarred by ESH, I will never forget.