Birth at hospital - mixed feelings but feel in safe hands (Hospital Births)

Member Name: smileyface1978

Product:	Hospital Births
Date:	14/10/08 (43 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Trained medical staff on hand, enjoyable experiece

Disadvantages: Can get busy and don't feel you get the attention you need

Well my hospital is the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and i have to say that overall i am happy with the service that i have received but it's a different story for my sister's births that i attended.

When i had my last two children at this hospital i found both times i was pleased with what support that i had received.

My first experience was that i had to be induced and had to be admitted initially onto a ward. Here i found this pleasant to start off with but after i was given the gel and then the contractions had started it felt a bit what i can recall embarrassing as to the fact that i was amongst other women that were still waiting for their labours to start or they had been admitted for other reasons. Whilst i was a huffing and puffing especially towards the evening time i knew that it was time to be transferred to the delivery ward. As this was my third child i knew what was happening although it took the midwives some convincing to transfer me. The time i was transferred and in my own room i felt much more relaxed and comfortable. The midwife i had was lovely, very experienced and was friendly. She could tell how far i was just by the timing of the contractions and how i was trying so hard to cope with them without any pain relief. Eventually i did opt to having the gas and air as it was becoming unbearable. She stayed calm throughout and towards the end another midwife joined her and asked if she could assist the delivery. Considering this is a university hospital you have to expect that quite alot. Anyway when it had come to time that i had to push, both midwifes were very encouraging, calm and supporting. Although my son being a big baby with a big head all went very well, and if anything did ever happen or a complication was to occur then i knew that everything was to hand to sort out and help. Luckily though everything went smoothly and there was no problems. The care throughtout was excellent and the only thing that was annoying was waiting around for the peadiatrician. As you have to wait for four hours afterwards and that's depending on how busy they are.

My second experience of this hospital was very quick as i was only in hospital 45 minutes before my son was born. Even so throughout this particular experience it was very calm, controlled and everything went smoothly. Again, the midwife sort of left me to it apart from an internal to see how far i had progressed. Although she could tell i was doing well, i asked to be checked and she was quite happy to do this. Though 15 minutes later my son was born. I think she spent most of the time doing paperwork. This time it was just the midwife and my husband in the room with me throughout the birth. This time i wanted to give birth on all fours as to ease the pressure on my back. Apart from the midwife leaving to get me a matress she stayed in the room with me all the time. It is very reassuring knowing a midwifes with you in this important time. She was excellent throughout the whole time.

On both occasions the auxilary staff was very helpful and polite too. They helped me bath, change the bed all when i wanted at my own pace. I never felt rushed, i loved the experience of being in hospital whilst having my children. I felt totally reassured, calm and in safe hands so to say.

They served tea and toast afterwards and whilst i was on the ward with my first experience of this hospital they even offered my husband tea/coffee.

When i went with my sister when she had her births at this hospital which one was earlier this year. She found that she couldn't be transfered to delivery no matter how far she had gone because they said they didn't have the space on the delivery ward. They sent me home and said that if a space came up they would call and let me know as soon as possible. I went home about 2 am and was called at 3am. The time i got home 45minutes later at 2.45am i had just got in bed and then the phone rang. When we got to delivery, it was packed. There were people waiting in the waiting room. I couldn't believe it. The midwife was not with her all the time as she was looking after one other mother aswell. She didn't feel she had the adequate attention that she should have received. Anyway all went well in the end.

So i do have a mixed opinion about this although i felt safer so to say giving birth in a hospital just incase something did happen or there was a complication. The midwives are lovely and i think if i ever had another one i would go there again rather than a home birth.

Summary: Although mixed feelings, would overall recommend as if complication arises help is there