"Near perfect birth experience"

I was cared for by the hospital clinic midwives and obstetricians during my recent pregnancy. Having had a previous baby in a busy Perth hospital, I found my appointments to be relatively quick and easy.

I was induced at 40+3 and experienced a team of friendly and caring midwives plus the duty obstetric team were also really lovely! Labour and birth was great - quick and quite uneventful. My postnatal stay of one night was also great and the midwives I saw were unobtrusive and caring. I was discharged without any delay the next morning and we happily went home as a new family of 5.

Unfortunately my only negative would be our placenta and where it went. We requested immediately after birth to take it home but unfortunately it wasn't given back to us after the birth and we sadly forgot to ask before we left the hospital. I decided to call the maternity ward a couple of days after discharge to enquire about picking up my placenta. I spoke to a person who couldn't help but would get the midwife in charge to call me back. Quite a few days later I received a missed call from the maternity ward (no answer left). I then returned the call as soon as I could but again the person I spoke with couldn't help and said the midwife in charge would call me back. I didn't hear back.

I then called again, possibly a couple of days later and was told my placenta was not in the fridge and had possibly been thrown out. There was no record of when it might have been discarded. I am really disappointed and sad not being able to bring the placenta home for cultural burial but I hope this might help serve as a reminder to make sure you ask before discharge to take it home or have your support person take it home after the birth if able.