NHS midwives rant

vyle

*Is terrified of ever having to go in hospital*

Not just midwifes but the state of hospitals anyway. My mum was just released from hospital and because she was the most able bodied person in the ward she ended up caring for all the other patients (who were in their 80s and 90s and were barely able to sit up).

The ward was under staffed, they were giving patiens with no teeth food that needed chewing, were forgetting to send Drs when they were taking a turn for the worse, left call buttons out of reach.

And with all the foreign nurses who didn't speak english, my mum ended up having to act as something of a translator, because the old people were struggling to make themselves understood, the nurses didn't speak enough english to work out what they meant, and then they spoke back with such broken english and thick accents that the older patients couldn't understand what they were being told.

Oh, and midwives nearly killed my MIL by leaving an epidural in her, for hours after she gave birth.They just thought she was "tired" from giving birth, so left her alone.

She was paralysed for days and then the midwives moaned at her for not standing up and moving around on demand, when it clearly said on her notes that she couldn't move her arms or legs. Could barely speak.

If I need anything doing, I think I'll just pay up and have it done in france.

fluffnutter

Have you actually had it confirmed that your sensation loss is due to the administration of the pethidine, and not some other problem, e.g. temporary nerve damage in your spine, perhaps caused by the birth? Have you spoken to a doctor about this problem that actually seems to be worsening?

It's a rather serious allegation to make - that a medical professional has injured you in some way. If you've suffered so appallingly perhaps you'd be wise to pursue this properly rather than merely rant on the internet about this 'yappy, Irish woman'.

The NHS has complaint procedures that might prove more fruitful than 'screw you'.

marywooyeah

OP that does sound like quite an ordeal - as fluffernutter says have you had it confirmed that the loss of sensation is due to that? if so I really think you need to complain to the hospital.
my first midwife with my second baby (never had one in my first pregnancy, but I won't even go into how badly I was treated in my first by health "professionals") laughed when I said I wanted a home birth, and asked how my housemates would feel about watching me give birth. I had already told her we were moving. She asked if my husband was an immigrant as he has a polish surname, and she irritated me so much with the way she spoke to me like I was a five year old that I clammed up and started giving her one word answers cos I wanted to go. She then said that I didn't seem to happy about being pregnant, and I said "well too late now isn't it" to which she said "no it's not too late".
I could have slapped her, such an ignorant and insensitive comment and she had no idea what I had been through with my first child.
As soon as I got home I requested a different midwife and explained why, the second one was lovely.

shellsuit

The midwife when I was having my 3rd child in 2009 was a complete and utter COW.

I was in so much pain and was sobbing my heart out.
She was standing in front of me looking at paperwork twiddling a pen and wouldn't even give me gas and air.

I felt mortified and so humiliated, a grown woman who had given birth twice before, begging for some pain relief but the cow wouldn't have it at all!

You'd think I'd asked for an epidural to be done right there and then !!!!!!.

MamaMoo_2

Wow, am really shocked at how many others have had similar experiences.
I remember going for my booking appointment at my GP's, and being called through by a midwife called Pearl. I got wry very excited thinking that this lady would be my midwife, as 21 years ago she delivered me! And 8 years ago, she delivered my brother. And despite my notes having a different surname etc, when I walked into her room, she asked me how my mom and brother were doing, and said how old she felt that her babies were having babies.
Unfortunately, she was only there for one day as the usual MW was off ill. I was gutted when I found out she wouldn't be my midwife. I remember the amazing care she gave all through my mom's pregnancy with my little brother.

I agree, I'm sure there are plenty of damn good midwives out there, I certainly had a lovely lady looking after me for the 3 days I was in hospital after having my son. It's just a shame everything is so overshadowed by the ones who really don't care at all.

And yes. I had it confirmed that the damage was caused by a pethidine needle. I mentioned it to my GP who looked at it, and asked if I had had pethidine. I said yes, and he said that it would just be nerve damage from the injection, and I'd have to live with it. Apparently it's not uncommon. I asked if there was any way to relieve it, and I was told nope, it's permanent.

marywooyeah

aw I'm so sorry to hear that it is permanent, I still think you should complain though I think she must have done it really roughly to damage you permanently and this needs to be addressed to prevent another mother experiencing the same.

FagAshLil

Two of my babies I had in hospital (the third was accidentally born at home - ruddy marvellous!) and not once did I have a MW who actually listened to me.

Only one was a human being. The others really couldn't give a monkeys - I felt like a piece of meat on a conveyor belt. They knew best. I was incapable of understanding what was happening to my body :mad:

All three times I went from 0-60 mph, as it were, but that obviously wasn't something that any of them believed in so the first time, I ended up having surgery and the second time, she shot out as the epidural was being administered. She nearly fell off the bed onto the floor. I tried telling them but they wouldn't listen.

I'm sure others have had much better experiences than I, but it took me a long time to get over the traumas and the disappointment. Still, the important thing is a healthy babe at the end of the day, but I thank the powers that be for that - not the medical professionals.

mountainofdebt

When I was expecting Junior I was late for a hospital appointment and the Dr who took my blood sample was so miffed at having to do it, she caused a bruise that was the length and width of my forearm - it look as if I had been a victim of DV.

Anyway when I saw the MW a few days later, she was shocked by the bruise and told me she would complain when she got back to the hospital - and then decided to phone there and then - boy did she tear a strip of the doctor.

Tangible

I too have received good treatment, and also horrific treatment from the NHS.

It took me months to secure cancer treatment, in spite of the public assurances by government at that time, and when I did receive treatment, the epidual failed and I was left without pain relief for two days.

In spite of being treated badly at every stage I accepted the horror without complaint at the time, and it was only later that I realised what had happened. I presumed you had to tolerate that level of pain, and I won't describe what that's like.

I may be forgiving, but I would never trust an NHS hospital again.

soccermom

A friend of mine went to an appointment with her midwife at 2 weeks overdue and begged to be taken into hospital and be induced, the midwife said no everything was fine and there was no rush.

A couple of nights later she gave birth on the bathroom floor to a beautiful baby girl she called Rebecca, she was wrinkled and covered in a fine hair she died after 5 mins of life according to the post mortem If only they had taken her in, who knows if things could have been so different..... so so sad.

Even though it was not my child I remember every detail of that day I was also pregnant at the time and our dates were very close.

I still think of her to this day 17 years on even though I rarely see my friend.

I however have been blessed and my 3 community midwifes and hospital midwifes were fantastic. My first one from 22 years ago Sue Angel lived up to her name and stayed 3 hours over her shift to see my son born. In her words she didnt want to miss the birth after being with me all night. She made everything so positive I went through it twice more

Hope you feel better OP x