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Care Opinion

Birth

Posted By Annoneditor

"Birth"

About: King Edward Memorial Hospital / Maternal Fetal Assessment Unit

(as the patient),

My waters broke but slowly and I didn't know that's what happened as baby was 6 weeks early, called my midwife who advised me to go to assessment unit 

At assessment unit they couldn't tell it was my waters, pain was increasing. Doctors checked (ultrasound and speculum( and advised it was my waters breaking. Given medication to stop labour, and more pain medication (which did nothing) was then given morphine - based on my experience, this is something I will now not recommend to people in labour, as it wiped me out and took hours from my day, but the pain was still there 

Medication did nothing to stop labour, but my main issue was no one explained to me that I was in labour, and it wasn't just cramps. At 6 weeks early I had done no prenatal classes, I had no idea what labour actually was, and once they did explain to me I was so high on the morphine I didn't really understand. then the next thing my midwife was there and I was taken to labour ward.

My main issue was with the assessment unit, how long I was there before I was told baby was coming, and the morphine. I understand it is all situational and how people react to drugs

Having my midwife there though was really good. Someone I knew, had built a relationship with and as it was an premature birth someone I trusted to talk me through it. Definitely would recommend midwife program to people rather than going private 

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Responses

Response from Delaney Gibbons, Director, Safety Quality and Performance, Safety, Quality and Performance, Women and Newborn Health Service 11 months ago
Delaney Gibbons
Director, Safety Quality and Performance, Safety, Quality and Performance,
Women and Newborn Health Service

Submitted on 23/01/2024 at 11:42 AM
Published on Care Opinion at 12:05 PM

picture of Delaney Gibbons

Dear Annoneditor,

Thank you for reaching out to share your story. It must have been concerning when your waters broke 6 weeks early, and before you had attended pre-natal classes. I’m glad that you were able to reach out to your midwife and get advice to attend the assessment unit, but I’m sorry to hear that you didn’t feel informed during your early labour. The experience you describe must have been very distressing, and I’m sorry to hear how long you felt uninformed.

If you would like to reach out to us directly, we would be grateful for the opportunity to explore the specifics of your case. It is important to us that we consistently try to improve the care we provide, and your feedback assists us with that process. If you feel comfortable doing so, please contact our Consumer Liaison Service on 6458 1444, or email them on WNHS.CLS@health.wa.gov.au and they will be happy to make arrangements.

At the Women and Newborn Health Service, we strive to provide compassionate care to all of our patients. I’m so glad to hear that you received such wonderful care and support from your midwife throughout your pregnancy, birth, and in the days that followed. The fact that you would recommend the midwifery program to others is a real testament to our team and the care they provide.

I hope you and your baby are doing well and wish you all the best.

Delaney

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