"Maternity/Delivery of my first child........"

Anything else?

Hi there, I thought I would write a review on the care I received at kings as when I was choosing hospitals I couldn't find any myself! I cannot really fault the midwife care and scans leading up to the birth of our son so I will just go straight into the delivery.... After my waters breaking I arrived at the hospital around 3am I was very much in pain with contractions and the only way I could deal with the pain was to be quiet as every time I spoke it was too painful to bare! I was left in the waiting area of the labour ward for about an hr on my hands and knees in pain and waters leaking all over, I was finally taken into a room and was told I could go home as im most likely in early labour! Hmmm!! Im not sure if they said this because I wasn't screaming out (even though I felt like it) The midwife that seen to us only did blood pressure and general checks she would not give me an internal check, I was desperate for some pain relief even gas and air to get me through till I could get something stronger (nothing was offered) I was then left in a small room with my husband for about 40mins throwing up then the next thing I know im being shipped down to the anti natal ward, I was in a lot of pain and my husband kept asking for pain relief or someone to check me, He was told the same thing over and over they are busy and someone will get round to me or they were changing over staff, I was left alone for about 4 hours in agony my stomach was vibrating as the baby was wanting out! Finally we got someone to come check me and she was even hesitant to do this saying im only going to be about 4cm but not when she checked she realised I was fully and got someone to take me up to the labour ward on the bed, We went threw the main hosp lift area where I felt people were starring and shocked! I got to labour ward and of course was told I could have no relief and just had to push the baby out which I did! I was very stressed which was causing the baby to be stressed and of course in a lot pain! Basically the first midwife I saw was meant to give me an internal check and she didn't, I have to say she was the only horrible midwife the rest were lovely but extremely over worked/ stretched, If there was more staff I think the care would have been better! Im just thankful nothing went wrong with me as I felt it would have been overlooked and who knows what could have happened! Even postnatal department was manic one midwife said she had 30 women to look after! I even had to wait 10hrs for my discharge papers the next day! I wanted to give this review to be honest with my experiences, Kings is a good hospital and the care leading up to the birth was fantastic it was just in the birthing centres and wards where they need to pay more attention!