I had my first child at Fiona Stanley - originally in the Family birthing centre then transferred to the Maternity ward. I felt it was terrifyingly negligent in postpartum care.
I was left in labour for almost 72 hours, with contractions 2 minutes apart - it was awful. They refused to admit me as I wasn't dilated despite me begging after 2 days labouring at home, eventually baby had meconium and I developed an infection so I was admitted.
After another 17 hours in the hospital, and 40 minutes of pushing, I was told I would need forceps. I consented to this, but when I was wheeled into surgery I requested a caesarean - it was feeling too dangerous for me and baby.
Baby came out - aspirated meconium and was very unwell, then I had a severe PPH and was told I could need a hysterectomy. Afterwards they explained this was likely because I was in labour for too long. They managed to stop the bleeding, and I was told I needed a blood transfusion but they had none of my blood type.
It took 2 days to have a blood transfusion, and when it came they hung a bag of B+. My spouse intercepted this as I am 0- and it would have been incompatible. The nurse simply shrugged and came back with the right blood type.
I was told I was being difficult on the ward when I asked for my baby to go to nursery because I couldnt change their nappy as I still had a catheter in. I was told this was my life now as a new mum. I was told my blood pressure of 240/180 was normal and I was fine. They would just find a bigger cuff to redo the test so it had a more normal reading. I wasn't provided pain medication for 12+ hours, was accused of drug seeking by a nurse, who then realised I hadn't had any pain relief for the whole day, and wasn't provided any stool softners despite the drs. repeating to the nurses this needed to happen.
A few days after I was discharged I phoned MAFAU after I had severe chest pain and was vomiting profusely. I told them the pain was worse than labour and I thought I was having a heart attack. I was told that this was normal and I needed more sleep - they asked if this was my first baby and told me to try drink more water. My GP was absolutely horrified that they hadn't allowed me to come in and get checked out.
I've never felt so unsafe, desperate and unheard. Constantly my spouse and I were dismissed in our concerns. I felt like I could have died and would have been written off as a complication of an understaffed ward who sees hundreds of mums a day.
"Awful Postpartum Care"
About: Fiona Stanley Hospital / Antenatal Clinic, Birth Suite, Maternal Fetal Assessment Unit, Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit, Wards 3B, 3C, 3D, 3DO, Visiting Midwife Service Fiona Stanley Hospital Antenatal Clinic, Birth Suite, Maternal Fetal Assessment Unit, Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit, Wards 3B, 3C, 3D, 3DO, Visiting Midwife Service Murdoch 6150
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