"Labour and delivery"

I had a miserable time giving birth at St George Hospital Kogarah. 

I was induced. When I told the nurses that baby was coming soon, I felt that no one believed me and I was left alone with my husband for a long time. When they came back and checked I was nine centimetres dilated. They would not let me down off the bed, despite my wishes for an active birth and no counter-indications, and they insisted I remain supine after the check despite my pleas. When asked why I recall they said it was ‘easier for them’. 

It felt like dozens of people were wandering in and out of the room the whole time. I was so exposed, vulnerable and undignified. Nurses would just try and chuck a sheet over me for modesty, even though I could not bear to have things touching me. People kept touching me without telling me or asking first.

I felt that the communication was altogether terrible, as was the attitude of the staff.

I had a tear which I blame on the unwanted supine birth. I gave birth without post-induction interventions, despite all of the stress and distress of the experience, and despite the lack of faith the staff seemed to have in my ability to do so. I felt utterly undermined, unsupported, dismissed and disrespected by the nurses.

The ward was overcrowded and understaffed, some of the staff I saw were kind, some I saw were very unpleasant.