"Traumatic experience in delivery"

I had my water broke at midnight and arrived the Royal Hospital for Women in the early hours of the morning. The receptionist was efficient and had my paperwork ready on arrival.

I went up to delivery suite straight away, midwife introduced themselves and asked me some questions. After a while, they told me to go home and come back in the morning. I replied that my contractions were getting stronger and stronger as we spoke, I don't think I can make it home tonight. The midwife went out of the room and come back, then connected me with a monitor with a belt around my belly and set up the gas.

A few hours later, the midwife did an internal check, I opened 4 degrees already. I asked for fentanyl for pain relief, however, they brought morphine for me. And an hour later, I was fully dilated, so I cannot have my pain relief. I tried to push for 2 hours without luck. So, I got sent to the operating theatre around 2 hours after I was fully dilated. I had my epidural by the anaesthetist and the night doctor helped me with forceps delivery. No one informed me for the suction though, not sure why. Half an hour later, baby came out. The doctor stitched me up and I lost 1.1L of blood during stitching. 

In recovery, everyone was very helpful and listened to my concerns. Well looked after during that few hours while waiting for a bed in acute care ward. 

In acute care ward, staffs are really wonderful and professional. They responded really quick to my postpartum haemorrhage in my first night stay. The night doctor, nurses are so taking care of me. Gave me appropriate treatment such as uterus massage, blood transfusion etc. Good communication, well-done team. Spent 2 nights in acute care then transferred to Paddington ward.

In Paddington ward, I got a single room which was nice. The first day was ok, however, the second day I buzzed for endone for more than 30 mins (I had my phone with me) no one answered my buzz at all. I was so unwell that I cannot even get up, my parent whom does not speak English, had to drag someone into my room. I was crying in tears and in so much pain. So upset!! And the same day, the night time staff came into my room, that staff member was so rude to me and my husband, the first sentence they said was that they don't have all night here, they have 10 patients. I still remember it until today, so clearly.

I was so close to lodging a complaint that night but I don't have any energy. That night, I had some chest tightness and my sys BP was 75. In my opinion, no one bother to call a PACE call for me until I voiced out please call PACE for me, I don't feel well. I believe no-one knew how to do an ECG in the whole ward. At the end, they do it with my verbal. Can you image how unsafe I feel?

The night time doctor came and checked me out, took blood etc. One doctor was nice and explained what was happening. After that, another doctor came back in the middle of the night for another blood sample. I was panicking with this "cannot breath" feeling. This doctor told me I need to see a psychologist. My husband said perhaps a little reassurance would be helpful at that time instead of telling people you have a mental problem. The next day my team reviewed my blood and ordered another blood transfusion. I felt a lot better after that second unit of the packed cell. So I decided to ask my team to discharge me. This is how my several days of hospital experience ended.

Thank you for reading my longggggggg story.

Reception