"Treatment at Maternity Ward"

As a first-time mother, my first experience of giving birth was not as I imagined it to be. Before I start, I’d like to say my treatment by the doctors and midwives throughout my pregnancy had been amazing. Everyone genuinely kind, caring and attentive. I felt looked after and had warm comfortable feelings about going there to give birth.

Though when I went into the hospital with contractions, I wasn’t met with what I’d been experiencing. In my experience, it was cold, hostile and unavailable to attend to me. I feel I was made to feel weak and dramatic (from expressing the pain I was in), like a stupid young first timer and I felt so embarrassed. 

I was told to go home, gave me sleeping tablets and to come back in the morning. Well an hour after being sent home, my baby was born in the car. In a mad rush to the hospital. No one was answering the maternity phone, no one was there to help us up to the ward.

I was bottomless, in shock and cold in the rain and dark of night. Once finally getting to the birthing room, I was literally laughed at by the midwife who sent me home. Saying how easy of a patient I am because they didn’t have to do any work. Not quite what I wanted to hear when they haven’t even check to see if my baby is alright yet, or myself.

I thought we were going to be moved into the other room you stay in after giving birth. So I was confused and disheartened when they wheeled in a spare bed for my partner to sleep in. No one was communicating with us to saying why or what’s going on and we didn’t question it. I just thought they didn’t like us so we weren’t going to get the nice room. Although a few days later I found out they were busy and full that night. Which would have been nice to know at the time and I wouldn’t have felt the way I did.

The following morning no one checked on us, seemingly forgot to give my partner and I breakfast, we had to ask at 10 am what we can do for food.

By the time they gave us some dry biscuits, yoghurt and juice, I was over it, exhausted, starving and still emotionally hurt from the day before. So we asked if we could go home and that was it, we were out of there. Maybe that’s normal maybe it’s not, I’m not sure, it’s my first time. However I feel some compassion, TLC or at the very least some communication and information about what’s going on, what’s just happened, what happening next would be nice. Maybe some offering of water, asking how I’m feeling, telling me if my baby is all good or not would have made the world of difference.

The whole experience of that night, of which I’ve only covered the basics, I felt alone and scared, in a room of silence, lots was happening but I apparently was invisible.

Apart from having such a good feeling of the place throughout my whole pregnancy, this one night, that one midwife, has made me not want to go back there. In my opinion, I may as well have given birth at home and stayed home, so I think I will for my next child!

I understand now that they were busy and understaffed, there was only one midwife on and they were only new to Wonthaggi ward and in training, however in my opinion, it's still no excuse. I believe that whoever is in charge needs to have a plan for those times too.

Imagine if my story didn’t have a happy ending, with the arrival of a healthy baby, what if there were complications (for me or baby), anything could have happened, I think it's just lucky my baby arrived safely and all was well. Not impressed.