"Care in the maternity setting"

We recently birthed our first child at Bunbury hospital under the wonderful guidance of our MGP midwife Tiff.

During my labour I declined a VE with my midwife. A GPO entered the room to discuss VE with us during an intense stage of labour.

This GPO started the conversation quite pleasantly and I explained that I didn’t want the VE due to not wanting to put a time frame on my labour. The GPO kept pushing and we went back and forth in a lengthy discussion lasting 40 minutes! All whilst I was trying to remain in the zone and progress my labour. I feel like this lengthy discussion stalled my labour progress.

Finally my partner asked the GPO to leave the room so we could have respite. When the GPO returned they offered to do the VE whilst I was in the bath. I was done fighting and agreed. I believe I was coerced into making this decision as I was exhausted with the conversation and didn’t feel I had another choice in order for me to be able to continue to be present in my labour. The attitude from the GPO immediately changed, I feel they became hostile, complained about how difficult a VE was to do in the bath and became very short with their responses and requests. This continued when later in the night seemingly my ‘time was up’. The GPO entered and another VE was done, with gas shoved in my mouth. This part is a little blurry for me but I can say that the I believe the clinical skills of the GPO were good.

Immediately following birth the paediatric team arrived and in my opinion, very rudely explained that they needed to assess baby. We enquired as to why this needed to occur straight away, they explained baby could die if they don't receive antibiotics. We agreed our baby needed the antibiotics, however we tried to ascertain what a physical examination (away from me) would provide to the clinical picture. The paediatric team seemingly could not provide an explanation but continued to push the point until again we gave in and I handed my baby over.

As I handed my baby over the paediatric team said our baby will need to go to SCN, I insisted my partner and I were to both go with our baby, again I felt this was met with resistance. Why? I insisted I could go and requested a wheelchair, but so much resistance by the GPO and paediatric team.

The paeds did the assessment and to my knowledge other than stating the weight, did not say what they did or found on the assessment. They paeds left the room and never came back. The midwife did her assessment and then said whilst the doctors have stepped out would you like more skin to skin. I cuddled baby for a little before the wheelchair arrived. The midwife wheeled me and my partner wheeled baby around to the special care nursery with no sense of urgency.

I believe the resistance we felt from both the GPO and paed team when we questioned anything was so hostile and rude, our questions weren’t always answered and we certainly didn’t feel respected throughout the process. Where was the empathy, compassion, respect, informed consent, family centred practice?

In SCN the paed team were great in cannulating and providing care to our baby. I was advised I needed a urinary catheter, of course I asked why. The hospital midwife said “think of it as your golden handbag” and said something about me being at risk of a PPH. I enquired about the processes of having a catheter and trial of void and suggested instead I just do the trial of void, turns out I didn’t need the catheter and all the potential risks associated with that.

In my opinion, the Special Care Nursery needs comfortable reclining chairs in each bay and a bathroom available very close by! I feel the current setup for mothers/parents is horrendous.

On my last visit from the medical team (for me, not baby), the doctor said “usually we would do repeat bloods, but I know you don’t want any intervention” wait, what? I had never met this doctor and never stated I didn’t want any intervention, I was and still am more than happy for interventions that are clinically needed/indicated or that I have been provided with sound reasoning by medical staff for it to occur and can make an informed decision about.

On our day of discharge the paed team came in to do the final check, they wanted to do a weight for baby. We advised we didn’t want a weight as we didn’t feel it was clinically indicated and explained our reasoning. The paed team wanted a weight and pushed for it despite us declining. Not wanting to put energy into another fight and just wanting to get home, we agreed to the discharge weight. I feel as though our time in hospital started the same way it ended, with our voices not being heard, our decisions and opinions being disrespected and us succumbing to the pressure of policy and procedure.

Despite all of this, my partner and I have walked away with a positive view of our birthing journey and I believe this is largely thanks to the positive birth program that we completed antenatally. Having both attended the classes we were on the same page with all our preferences and decisions, I felt 100% supported by my partner throughout the whole journey and the journey my labour took resulted in my partner being able to deliver our baby which was just magical. We felt empowered to ask questions and continue to ask despite the impact this seemed to have on how we were being viewed and treated. The positive birth program is an amazing resource that all families are privileged to be able to access through WACHS, thank you for allowing us the opportunity to attend and learn through this program.