"Birth of my angel"

Throughout visits, pregnant, I asked about things and told to wait til 36 weeks for immunisations and until birth for expressing colostrum . An ultrasound referrals were to apex. And they always rescheduled on me. Saying someone was sick 2 weeks in advance etc. I felt they discriminated and wouldn’t let my partner in so I had to go else where with some ultrasounds. I went into the hospital apex and the screen didn’t even work so I couldn’t see anything.

It was just 2 weeks later after needles that my waters broke. I went in to see them and they said it was the waters breaking. I could go home being baby number one or stay and be monitored every 4 hours. I said well I’d prefer to stay and I am high risk being a geriatric and having had covid and sleeve etc. I should be monitored. They got me a room. After about 5 hours I say to one staff member that I’m in pain and can I get something for the pain and can I go on the monitor again. I was simply told I need to learn to deal with the pain and they walked off. I waited then Kylie started their shift and they put me on the monitor and checked me. 5cm dilated. I called my Mum as I was told I could only have one person present (afterwards I was told I could have had 2 so not happy about that). She came. I was only offered gas and nothing else. I question why I wasn’t offered anything else. Was it the other staff member who should have offered if they were doing their job properly. But another staff member said they were just finishing a 14 hour shift. But still I felt that’s no reason to be rude and seemingly ignore my wishes.

I gave birth and I was only given anti inflammatories I think they were once before I left. And only got oral one also. I felt the staff member that showed me how to bath my baby whinged that I was in a private room and a public patient. I said I would be moved if they need the room and I recall they mumbled that there was empty beds in the public section. So I felt awkward. Ppl were telling me different things. One said to feed my baby every 3 hours. And one said every 4-5 hours etc. I was only offered gas for birth. I was asked if I wanted to use a tens machine which I agreed to but it never came. I have a feeling I wasn’t offered any other paid relief as the staff member that seemingly ignored me couldn’t have monitored me and arranged pain meds. I am guessing that it was too late by the time Kylie came on shift. So I was annoyed about that. In my opinion, if the other staff member doesn’t like their job I feel they should quit or say they can’t work more than 8 hours if it makes them appear rude and angry.

I know it’s my first but my option was to go home and come back at 8 am. But wanting to stay I guess the staff member thought I was just being a whinger as I feel they probably didn’t think I was anywhere near giving birth.

But gave birth after midnight. So had baby well before the time I was due back at the hospital. I wasn’t even put on the monitor as I requested. I told them I was so many minutes apart. As I was screenshotting the time on my watch each time. But I don’t think they believed me. I believe that or their shift was finishing. Kylie was lovely though she actually listened and took me seriously. Hence checking and getting me to the birthing suite. Midwives said there was something wrong with babies foot and need excercises. But didn’t give me any info on what to do. Another said baby had a heart murmur. But specialist came and baby doesn’t have it. So I felt horrible after the midwife who I felt had been rude. Wouldn’t put me on the monitor or check me out. Just told me I had to learn to deal with the pain. I’m sure it was just because they had worked 14 hours. Not because they think I’m an old mum or because the child is of a different ethnicity. But still I can work 18 hours and still be pleasant! I wasn’t checked after 4 hours. I was left in the room. No water, lucky I brought my water bottle in my hand bag. But yes would have been nice to be given options. Instead of ignored and then it was probably all too late when Kylie came on shift.

So again Kylie was lovely as were some others. But the staff member who had worked 14 hours. Can’t remember what they looked like and in my opinion the other staff member who showed me how to bath my baby were rude. You wanted feedback here is some.