Every parent has an experience of childbirth.

Some are better than others; some leave Mums and Dads and babies scarred for life, both physically and mentally.

We want yours, whether you're a Mum, a Dad, a midwife, a doctor, a cleaner.  We want to hear from all of you today.

Comments

[Robyn, Melbourne Australia Feb 27, 2008 8:32:59 AM]

They say no 2 births are the same but ours were. Two different hospitals and obstetricians but both born by emergency c-section due to distress. Both had meconium aspiration, and required intubation and transfer to the Royal Children's Hospital for several days. Staff and doctors in all cases were excellent. I was taking huge doses of anti-depressants and not been told of the risks which have been linked to problems of this type. Both babies then experienced withdrawal from my drugs which was distressing. Even more so as my psychiatric illness was incorrectly diagnosed and I should not have been on the drugs I was on. The births were in the private health system in Melbourne and the nurses had more time than in the public system.The children went to public for intensive care which was very busy but the staff were wonderful.

[anonymous Feb 21, 2008 7:42:20 PM]

I gave birth to my daughter at the PRH Haywards Heath in 1997. I was induced and after a very long labour (during which time I suffered terrible pain until the anaethetist discovered that the epidural line had come out) my daughter was born but I had a post partum haemorrage. The labour staff were great but there was no communication with the maternity ward about what had happened. So the next day, the ward being fairly empty, they wanted to discharge me but said I needed to have my blood taken amongst other things. This did not happen until the following day - and I was discharged later that morning. I did say that I felt very breathless but no one seemed to think this was a problem and quite honestly I had felt very unwelcome there anyhow - as if I was a nuisance to them. The next day the phone rang at 8 am. My husband answered and he was saying "yes, she is sitting here in front of me". I had literally to go straight back into hospital to have a blood transfusion - no one had checked my blood count and I was told that it was so low the consultant was surprised I was still standing. My discharge dates and the dates of the blood tests had been tampered with to make it appear as though they had been checked before discharge. Looking back now I should have taken this further but I was so desperate just to get back home that I didn't do anything about it. My second child was born in 2000 and luckily arrived within 45 minutes letting me go back home the following day with no problems.

[Rachel, London Feb 12, 2008 12:22:19 PM]

I gave birth to my daughter in 2006 at Barnet General Hospital. I was very scared as this hospital seemed to have a particularly bad reputation regarding maternity. Thankfully in my case this was proved wrong and I had a wonderful birthing experience with great midwives and aftercare.

[Jane Feb 12, 2008 12:15:42 PM]

to Sam in Hertfordshire who had her child in Chase Farm...wouldn't touch the place with a barge pole, they killed my mother, lied at the inquest and we have to live with their mistake!

[Ruth Hawkins, Poole, Dorset Feb 11, 2008 10:22:21 PM]

I gave birth in dec. 06 and the experience left me traumatised and never wanting to have more children. I spent 24 hours in excruitating pain after the midwives for weeks got the positioning of my baby wrong, sufficient pain relief was not given to me and my midwife during labour got significant timings and procedures wrong which caused my baby to fall into distress. My post natal care was awful with no cathetar given and I was left to lie in a bed of my own bodily fluids, as I was unable to move due to 3 epidurals.
Midwives were rude to me and very unsympathetic, I discharged myself after my first day in the post natal ward as the care I was given was so poor. I regret to say that I feel I never want to give birth again. I wont through the nhs.

[karen northallerton Feb 10, 2008 2:17:35 PM]

i am first time parent my son was due 8 sept 2007, but unfortunely he was born 7 weeks early i had a great medical team that made me feel at easy.
the day first started off with the bleeding at 7.21am i had bleeding throughtout my pregancy until i was 5 months so i was worried, i rang the hosptial i was advised to come striaght in for check ups, the minutes i got there i was strapped up so they could check my son and checked where the bleeding was coming from i got told i may have to have a emergcy c-section,as my husband was away i was frightened they reasured me everything was going to be alright and i was in best possible hands which made me feel much better all i can say my experiance in northallerton hosptial was a good one and as not put me off having another child.

[Donna Roberts, West Yorkshire UK Feb 6, 2008 2:45:29 PM]

I was a first time mum and had my daughter in Feb 2007.

She was due on the 13 and on the 22 I had a stretch and sweep and was told that this could start labour pains.

I started getting pains almost an hour later and was monitoring them at my mums house. At about 2pm they were 3 mins apart and (quite strong) i rang my local labour ward and was told to get in a warm bath and take some paracetamol for the pain. If they got worse to ring back.

At 7pm my other half and my mum rang the labour ward because they were getting worse. They were told that i was to go in to get checked.

After waiting approximatley 20 minutes and being told "sorry its like bethlehem in here" we were taken to a room for observation.

I was given gas and air and the babies heartbeat was monitored.

We were sent home at 11pm with paracetamol and codene and told again to get a warm bath by a midwife who i can only desribe as rude told me i wasnt in proper labour and to come back when i was.

As the evening progressed into early morning the pains worsened and at 5am decided i would get yet another bath, and felt the urge to go to the toilet. Nothng there. Got severe pains and went to the loo again to find a head there.

At 5.45am my mum arrived and my daughter was born at 6.07am delivered by her grandma. The paramedics arrived not long after that.

I have complained to the hospital about the care which i recieved to get a response in April last year saying that the matter was being invesigated.

As yet i have had no further reply.!

[Marie London Feb 2, 2008 11:46:41 PM]

Have 4 children, 3 of which were homebirths. 2nd daughter born at Ealing Hospital due to high blood pressure, knew I needed to push (3rd time, should know the feeling) but midwife said I wasn't ready, and I'd be examined 4 hours later. 3 hours later, out she came. Last birth at home was with midwife from Queen Charlottes. Her name was Risi and she was wonderful. Had a difficult labour (baby was back to back with me), big baby and needed epiostomy, but Risi and Kat kept me going with their cheerfulness and Lucozade laced with sugar!! (try it, it definately helps!) Queen Charlottes is excellent but I would definately not have another baby in hospital, give me a home birth everytime!

[dominic, matlock, derbyshire Feb 2, 2008 7:34:33 AM]

My wife had our first little boy oliver nearly three years ago at calow hospital, chesterfield. It was a fantastic experiance for both of us(more me i think).The staff were fantastic they did all they could for us under the conditions the goverment put them under. This goverment is a complete joke , they need to get there prioties sorted.They are all to busy fidling the system and us the tax payers.They need a good kick up the backside

[Karen Cross, Gravesend Feb 1, 2008 12:03:17 PM]

This is not a new situation. I gave birth to my daughter 18 years ago. I was admitted a little too early and spent the whole night in labour, on the blood pressure ward, generally left alone. I found that pacing up and down eased the pain. Once the contractions became stronger the following morning, I went to the toilets to get comfortable, rather than disturb the girls around me. I was ignored by the staff and almost gave birth in the toilets. It was only because one of the patients noticed that I had gone in to the toilet and not returned that someone came in to get me. I had my baby but then suffered a retained placenta. Rather than just taking me into theatre I was left in a pool of my own blood while various doctors arrived and tried to pull on the remainder of the cord, while a gas and air mask was jammed on my face. I tried to fight them all off. Once I started to go into shock they then took me into theatre and removed the placenta. It was a dreadful experience and I suffered nightmares for a good 6 months afterwards. I dread to think what it must have been like for my husband looking on. When I came round from the general anaesthetic, I couldn't remember giving birth!!

[Sam, Hertfordshire Jan 31, 2008 9:22:56 PM]

To add to my last post.

My first son was born in South Africa in a private hospital. It was an amazing experience, I wish I could have flown back there to have my daughter.

[Sam, Hertfordshire Jan 31, 2008 8:47:07 PM]

My baby girl was born at Chase Farm, Enfield. I was pre-booked for a c-section as I have a serious back problem that shouldn't have stress put on it. I mentioned to the registar that my son was prem and had the feeling my daughter would be the same. Naturally this was fobbed off as myepushing my luck. My c-section was booked at 39 works. naturally, as I expected, my little lass came at 37 1/2 weeks.

I ended up in the maternity ward at 4am, with my 2 yr & husband in tow. Not only was I in a lot of pain from contractions, I was informed that my son was not permitted to be there. I was basically told to take him home. I was only 5 minutes apart & was expected to drive him back the 30 minutes. Eventually our baby sitter arrived from Bristol and my son could go home.

I kept asking for pain medication as at this point I could hardly breathe, not only with the contractions but also the grippling pain in my back which was constant. I was told to just wait, they'll get to me... I'm still waiting.

My daughter was born at 9am, delivered by an amazing OB & anaesthetist, who made sure I was comfortable and kept me totally in the lope. Because of them, the whole experience wasn't traumatic.

I was transferred to the ward, and as I had a c-section I naturally expected to get pain killers. I had to literally BEG for something stronger than paracetomol. As I wasn't breat feeding I didn't see the problem. Eventually I got something, 8 hrs later.

As I wasn't breat feeding, I was treated terribly. Nurses basically ignored my calls and requests for help. My husband had to do everything for me (as I couldn't move) before he left. There was a night midwife/helper/cleaner who was amazing and fed my daughter for me at night, I unfortunately didn't get her name, but she was amazing.

I remember asking a Midwife to help me try & burp my daughter as she wouldn't.. I was told 'you're the mother, do it yourself if you want to bottle feed'

Luckily I have brilliant Health Visitors and Midwives who visited me at home and make sure both my children are developing properly.

I will not having another child at Chase Farm and if necessary will pay for a private hospital just to be treated as a human being, not just a not cow being lead to the slaughter house.

[Lucy-Jane, France Jan 29, 2008 8:26:53 AM]

I've been living in France for 10 years now, and all 3 of my children were home births. The hospitals near us don't sound anything like UK ones, but as hospitals make me panic, and I know how highly medicalised French maternities are and how they don't trust natural instinct, I was sure there'd be a problem if I went to hospital. All 3 births were perfect, magical experiences - the midwife was fabulous, and my husband gave the best post-natal care! With the third, the placenta took 12 hours to be delivered, but the midwife didn't panic, she asked me how I felt, I said that I didn't feel there was any problem, so she waited instead of rushing me to hospital for emergency surgery, as would be usual practice. It's a good thing hospitals are there for when there are problems, but it's really important to remember that birth is a natural process, not an illness, and that stress is one of the prime factors for problems during birth. Above all, hospitals need to remember that aiding a new life into the world is a privilege, not just a job to do, and that nature is very well thought-out...our bodies know what to do!

[Student Midwife, Stockport Jan 28, 2008 7:41:05 PM]

I'm a student midwife in my 2nd year of training. I'm incredibly proud and admiring of the midwives at my Trust who work hard against the terrible staff shortages and long hours without breaks. I'm constantly sadened by the awful stories of poor levels of care and health complications because of this. If you have had an such an experience PLEASE lobby your local MP or the Health Secretary Alan Johnson to help improve the services that women deserve.

[Sarah - Stoke On Trent Jan 28, 2008 12:13:25 PM]

I can honestly say that i feel very lucky to have had such great care from the midwives/doctors/nurses with both of my children. I had my first in 2004 and was in labour for over 24hrs i had no problems yet i was never left alone for long periods of time and always felt well cared for, they also made a point of making sure my husband was alright which made it more pleasant for both of us. I had my second baby in 2006 and again received brilliant care, they never left me alone and if they did and i needed them there was a buzzer and they responded straight away. The midwife who mainly dealt with my second birth was training and she was fantastic, she made me feel at ease and gave me lots of information regarding the care of my newborn and breast feeding. I feel sorry for people who are treated badly when they go in to give birth as its supposed to be an enjoyable experience, its something that worried me before both births but i was lucky.

[Kay Cheshire Jan 28, 2008 4:30:58 AM]

first was left for over 2 hours very woozy needing stitches and no advice how to breastfeed.
baby 2 had a slow leak of waters was in and out for 6 weeks having steroid injections in case baby was early. Contracted strep b thankfully obstetrician gave me wonderful advice and ordered me to come in no matter what anyone else said if i got flu like symptoms, this saved my sons life. When i did go into labour a month early was left on the ward without being checked once. Left unattended all night till shift change where a midwife noticed my distress and checked me... panic stations i was due to give birth ver soon and had to be rushed down to labour ward. When I came back I wasnt given any food or water and had to send my husband to get some ...now over 24 hours without fluids or food.
Baby 3 had blood pressure problems and was in and out for monitoring. Last stay before labour was for 4 days. rarely got to see my husband as one of the midwives there kept refusing to allow him in.
Baby 3 worse blood pressure problems had to be monitored at home and got sent in as it went sky high if i even went upstairs to the toilet. Opinions changed as to method of care depending on which Dr was on duty. Missed most of No.3 childs birthday (sent home 8pm). Was fuming after Dr on duty said he didnt know why I was in as everything was fine. Baby kept flipping breach and back at 37 weeks so they didnt know whether to give me a C-section. Had scan a few days later and the results werent great so it was decided to induce. Didnt go into labour properly so they put up the drip which the baby reacted to immediately heart rate was everywhere. Had to put monitor on babys head at 1 cm dilated. Drip switched off and much debating as to next course of action when events over took them and i had an abruption and began bleeding heavily. Mad running round and c-section given...Drs involved there were great and calmly explained the urgency ..even reassured my husband when he broke down after i was swiftly wheeled off. Baby born with apgar score of 2 out of 10 thankfully quickly recovered. On ward lots of help with breast feeding and general attitude of staff was great and friendly (apart from one who when a friend who brought my other children up to see their sibling was told they couldnt possibly be mine and wouldnt let them in) although no continuity was given different advice each time by each midwife.

[LISA oxford Jan 26, 2008 3:22:15 PM]

i gave birth to my daughter in 2006 i went into the labour department on the mon day when i was told i was 6-7cm dialated, i was left on my own for most of the day, then after 15hours of being in hospital i was told i was only 4cm dialated which made me so angry but i just couldnt be bothered to fight i did give birth to her the next day and the midwife teams were amazing but i was told i was luckt they were fully staffed that night i think its an absoulte shambles the way midwifes are treated for every shortage puts a mother or new born babies life at risk i hope labour ask themselves every day is this what we want!!!!!

[Nikki Ingel, South Africa Jan 26, 2008 1:25:57 PM]

I delivered my second son at the Royal Alexander maternity hospital in Glasgow on Dec 2nd 2006. He was born still at 38 weeks. A very different experience from the birth of my first son in Atlanta, America on april 4th 2003, which was the joyous occasion it should have been. I had been very carefully monitored throughout my first pregnancy and had had outstanding attention and care during labour and delivery and my stay in the hospital. Unfortunately I cannot say the same for my experience with the NHS. I believe that simply due to very poor monitoring I lost a perfect full term baby. Furthermore, I had also reported a slow down in the baby's movements during a routine antenatal appointment with the midwife at the local doctors' surgery( the baby had started slowing down earlier that same day). Not too concerned, I imagined that the slow down could have been due to a lack of space in the womb because the baby had grown larger. The midwife agreed with me that that was quite possible. She told me that it was not uncommon for babies to start slowing down at the end of pregnancy. She conducted her routine check which included listening to the baby's heartbeat, which sure enough was loud and clear. All being well at the check up, I left without any concerns trusting that the midwife was taking good care of us. Only later, after the stillbirth, did I learn that a slowdown in movement is almost certainly an indication that a baby is in distress. Listening to the baby's heartbeat alone is not enough. the only way to determine fetal stress is by using a doppler scan. Why had the midwife not warned me of the dangers? Did she not know that a slowdown could mean fetal stress? Why did she not insist that I needed to get to the hospital for a doppler scan, just to ensure that all was fine. I have no doubt that if I had gone to the hospital for a doppler scan that day, my baby would be with me right now. My baby had also been very late in turning, and at one point it was considered that I would have to have a scheduled date for a cesar. I was very relieved when he did turn, but I now wish he had never turned. Once he had turned, I was told to wait and let nature take its course! Well, I knew that I was not being monitored as carefully as I had been with my first pregnancy. But, I thought being taken care of by the staff of a first world maternity hospital that specialises in the care of pregnant women and babies, that the services and care that they offered must be sufficient. They surely know how to monitor and take care of pregnancies. I only now realise just how totally inadequate and negligent they were with my pregnancy! I live with a terrible guilt of having chosen to put the care of myself and my precious baby in their hands, trusting that they would take all the necessary steps to ensure a safe pregnancy and delivery. The hospital staff were very sympathetic after it was discovered that my baby had died.
We were treated very sensitively and compassionately by most hospital staff we came into contact with. And I do appreciate that, especially at a time that had turned into a devastating nightmare for my husband and me. We were apparently given one of the best team of midwives to coach me through my labour. I appreciate that too. But, why had my prenatal care been so insufficient and negligent. Just unforgiveable. Once my baby had died there was no turning back the clock. I am now almost 39 years old, I had struggled for seven years to fall pregnant with my first son due to endometriosis and had undergone extensive fertility treatment, including two attempts of ivf. All had failed. Both pregnancies ,miraculously, had been spontanious. I am due for a laparoscopy on tuesday morning as my gynaechologist suspects that my endometriosis has returned. Due to my age and my condition my chances of achieving another pregnancy are very slim. It all just seems so insane, when not so long ago I was pregnant with a perfect, healthy baby. Had I been simply monitored correctly, he would be with me right now. My advice to all women who are pregnant, be very careful who you choose to look after you and you babies. Once things go wrong, there is no turning back the clock. No matter what happens I will never be able to bring back or replace my precious tiny son.
I only wish I knew then what I know now.

[Anam Khan Luton Jan 26, 2008 10:56:17 AM]

I had my baby at luton and dunstable hospital it was ever so disgusting as i was only 21 i had no experiance of labour and as i was in heavy labour i was in the hospital coridoor... were a very kind midwife came 2 help me my waters were already broken but i was rushed 2 the labour room were i had my baby boy .

[Hannah Nottingham Jan 26, 2008 8:32:16 AM]

I gave birth at the QMC in Nottingham and all started really well, nice private room with a tv, lovely midwives. Then they realized I was breech and it all went downhill, i was given an emergency c section, stripped off and plonked on a an operating table. It took them over an hour to put the epidural in and I was blamed as I wasnt keeping still. I was having contractions! He eventually got it in and I said "thank God" in relief as you would. But I was told very rudely not to thank God but to thank Dr so and so who had put it in. I then had the operation and had to be put under a general in the end due to complications. I woke up in a ward all alone with a baby I didnt know how to look after, I couldnt breast feed and everyone was too busy to help me, so my baby was hungry and I didnt feed her properly till day 2. I then got moved to a private room where I was ignored and left alone, I was very depressed with no one to talk to. When I was discharged the midwives who came to my house were amazing, and it turned out I should have had a blood transfusion and my stitches were infected due to the surgeon leaving half a metre of string inside me! We need better care, something has to be done, I still cry about this nearly 4 years later.

[Lisa, Northants Jan 26, 2008 7:17:32 AM]

I gave birth to my son 17 months ago in Kettering General Hosp. I was in labour for 3 days, was admitted into the hosp after day one, and was told consistently that I wasn't in 'established labour'. I was examined on admittance, and then left with my husband to 'get on with it'. Being my first pregnancy I had nothing to compare it to, and so of course trusted that the staff knew what they were talking about. I was never offered pain relief, and was told to walk about to get the baby moving; I could barely stand. I went through 4 midwife shifts. By the evening of day 2 I felt I couldn't cope any longer and asked that when things 'kicked in' could I have an epidural. I was told by 2 of the 4 widwives that I didn't need one, as they flounced away and ignored me. Worringly they weren't 'old school', they were young women, I would guess in their 20's telling me what I would and wouldn't need. By 4pm on Wed (having started labour at 3am on Mon morn) I was put in a delivery room, and then promised an epidural. I could have cried. Please bear in mind that it had been almost 3 days and I still hadn't been examined again. It wasn't until 9pm that evening that the anaethetist became available. I could have married the man as I finally had some pain relief. My husband was sent home and was told to return on Thursday morn. They intended to induce me overnight; the promise of sleep was overwhelming. Within minutes of my husband arriving at home (we lived 10 mins away) he received a phone call to tell him the baby was on it's way. I felt like I needed the toilet, told the midwife who said' oh dear, let's just have a look, oh yes the baby's on it's way'. So much for not being in established labour!!!!!!! I am confident that I really shouldn't have been given that epidural, and had they examined me they would have discovered that i was close to giving birth. Thankfully the baby arrived safely just one hour later, and the rest is history. However I have nothing but contempt for Kettering General's maternity unit. They were in my opinion totally unprofessional and disinterested. I just thank God that the pregnancy and birth was straightforward. Who knows how they would have handled things then.

[Jo. Newcastle Upon Tyne Jan 26, 2008 12:41:31 AM]

I gave birh to my son 2 yrs ago at wansbeck hospital Ashington, Northumberland. The staff were lovely and very supportive, The delivery room was clean and I was always kept up to date on how things where going. I stayed in hospital just over a day the only thing I can say is I didnt see much cleaning going on. Once home the care i got from my midwife was fantastic, I also had trouble breastfeeding one night and called the ward at wansbeck and they told me to come in that night to get some cream and a nipple cover which worked a treat. I do plan to have more children in the future and I hope the hospitals in newcastle will be just as good as the one in wansbeck.

[Julie High Wycombe Jan 25, 2008 11:53:56 PM]

I had allthree of my sons at Wycombe General. I cannot speak highly enough of the staff for the kindness andcare given both during my pregnacy and the birth right up to discharge. I consider myself lucky to have been given the treatment i recieved. Right from the top man to the lowest cleaner on the ward. Wycombe is the tops!

[Roy Jan 25, 2008 11:43:37 PM]

Our daughter was born 5 weeks ago at Liverpool womens hospital. A seemingly well equipped and very clean and modern facility with absolutely fantastic staff - just not enough of them.

Talking with the midwives who looked after us and they consider staffing levels to be dangerously low and are worried that this won't be resolved until a life is lost.

God bless the managers and politicians. How do they sleep at night?

[denise preskett Jan 25, 2008 11:34:23 PM]

I gave birth to my daughter seven months ago at maidstone hospital at the time I was pregnant I was dreading having to go into to hospital amid rumours of mrsa, cdiff and of course the maternity ward having a bad reputation locally.I had my son fourteen years ago at the same hospital and had no such worries then.However my worries were totally unfounded the midwives excelled I felt extremely well looked after and in the picture at all times.There were complications at the end of my pregnancy and birth I couldnt dilate even when they broke my waters my daughter got stuck at both the chin and then shoulders but the midwives and doctors did a throughly professional job I never felt in danger and their care was second to none before,during and after labour.I cannot talk for any other hospital or the mid wives at those hospitals but at Maidstone they were fantastic they work under very difficult conditions with constant threats of closure and cutbacks and I for one think they all deserve medals and will always be gratful to them for helping me deliver what turned out to be a very healthy nine pound ten baby girl.