4 days after the birth of my baby, midwife came to the place we were staying at to do a checkup at 3pm, my baby had lost over 10% of their body weight and I had a high blood pressure reading which indicated I could have post birth preeclampsia. The midwife told us to head to KEMH Emergency Department to get checked over, gave us some paperwork and I feel lead us to believe we wouldn't have to wait long so myself and partner thought ok we will grab dinner on the way back.
Meanwhile my toddler just came home to us after 5 days apart so luckily their nana was still with us to care for them so we could leave them at the apartment we were renting. We got to KEMH at in the evening and ended up staying there for 6hours and 38minutes so yes, we got to leave very late at night. Myself, partner and newborn were at ED for this whole time with no dinner and already sleep deprived, so we were hungry and barely functioning as we were beyond tired.
During these 6 and a half hours the doctor took blood and urine samples, and a nurse did a blood pressure profile, there was protein in my urine but blood work all good, they wrote me a script for Labetol and told me if my BP was over 150/90 when the midwife checks my BP the following day to fill the script and take the medication. As we were leaving in the following days. The doctor told me to follow up with my GP as soon as we arrived home. They also said they would update me with my urine sample results. Also, to mention the staff at ED noticed my newborn baby was given the wrong name tag when they were born so they corrected that in their records.
The next day myself and partner had a rough night with our baby, so we didn't get to sleep til 6am and woke at 9am (this is just adding to the lack of sleep I've been getting since my induction). My partner spent the majority of the morning driving around to 4 different chemists to fill my script of Labetol and was unsuccessful as there seemed to be a shortage. The midwife came back in the midafternoon to check myself and baby, my baby had gained weight and was all good. I on the other hand had a high blood pressure reading so I had to fill my script. This was when I then got told I can fill it at KEMH which I did not know about. Filled script and took the first pill. 5 hours later woke up struggling to breathe and was having a horrible asthma attack.
The following day the midwife came over after lunch time and checked over my baby and myself, my BP was high, and I told them about my reaction to Labetol so they suggested I go back to ED to sort it out. Got to KEMH mid afternoon mid afternoon and was there for 2hours and 43minutes. The nurse did my BP profile and was also the only nurse that did it manually. The doctor dealt with me and came to the conclusion that yes, I had a bad reaction to Labetol, took my $20 pills off me and didn't bother to return them to me or even compensate my out-of-pocket cost. I asked about my urine sample results and the doctor said it was contaminated but didn't bother to get me to do another urine sample.
Discharged me and told me to come back tomorrow for another BP profile, I said I had a CHN appointment then a Lactation appointment so would try to come back. The doctor didn't discuss changing my medication instead told me to stay off caffeine, sugary drinks and liquorice. I had GD so was still following that diet plus I gave up caffeine and already been skipping meals by this stage due to waiting in ED this week. I honestly felt like they assumed all of this as I'm overweight, I also believed they didn't even read my notes as their conclusion was yes you had a bad reaction to the medicine and didn't bother to prescribe me a different BP medication.
CHN appointment the next day mid morning, went to KEMH ED an hour and a half later for 20 minutes, all that was done was a BP profile, didn't see a Dr at this stage so I had to come back after my lactation appointment. As I left the ED a nurse told me to wait and gave my file/notes to take with me, which confused me as they were pretty bulky and seemingly not needed for my Lactation Appointment, I started crying wondering how I was supposed to carry these notes and my newborn, my toddler helped me.
I got to my appointment which went for nearly 2 hours. I then had a full-blown nervous breakdown in front of the staff at the breastfeeding center. They consoled me as well as carried on with my appointment. Also called the ED on my behalf as I was completely drained and did not want to go back and sit around all night as I was due to head back home to to the Pilbara region the following day by car. Their manager somehow got involved in this due to, as I understand it, the ED ward coordinator complaining to their manager. This stressed me out even more and I just couldn't stop crying. Eventually got home around 4pm. Got a call from ED asking if I was going back and I said no due to being exhausted and leaving tomorrow, I felt they got really rude and kept asking who is looking after your blood pressure then, so I lost my nerve crying yet again and I feel they became even ruder and said, "well this conversation isn't going anywhere" and proceeded to hang up on me.
Being listened to
Being given time
Medication
Seeing the whole me
Treatment
Staff skills
Staff attitude
Keeping in touch
Things to do
Waiting time
Environment
Appointments
Reception
Responses
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