"Maternity Care for Planned C-section"

I had a mixed experience at the Crosshouse Maternity unit. I had a planned C-section due to extreme anxiety and panic attacks throughout my pregnancy. On arrival at the hospital I was very upset due to anxiety, most staff were compassionate and caring towards me and my husband. However, one midwife felt the need to roll their eyes and told me I could have just done this at home,  as I was crying. Fortunately they were at the end of their shift and left shortly after making this comment.

From the shift change onwards, all staff involved in Pre-op were very caring and kept me well informed of when to expect surgery. The anaesthesiologist and surgeon took me through everything to expect and really helped calm my nerves and the surgery itself was a calm and happy experience. Afterwards everyone in the team made sure I was okay and closely monitored my fluid intake and blood pressure before being discharged to the ward.

My experience in the ward was mixed. I was in a shared ward, which was understandably very busy, and whilst the midwife on duty came to introduce theirself and was caring, the nurses I felt lacked that compassion. I was told my catheter was on the list to be removed and this was done with the curtain open whilst others were present, I was not asked if I wanted privacy for this to happen.

A short while later a different nurse came to ask if I had been to the toilet yet, and I replied that I had only just started to regain sensation in my legs and wasn't sure how to mobilise. They seemed annoyed by this. My husband supported me out of bed to attempt to walk for this first time to use the toilet. Whilst I was in the toilet, staff members told him he had to leave because it was 8pm, which caused me stress and panic as he was with the baby and he was supporting me to walk. He explained this and said he did not feel comfortable leaving until I was back in bed because I was walking for the first time, at which point they advised you've got 20 minutes.

Again, I felt there was a lack of compassion and understanding, and whilst I do appreciate that this is their job day in day out, there should be recognition that this experience is completely new and a massive shock to the system for first-time mum's.

Following the shift-change at 8pm I had the most exceptional care from Heather, she regularly checked in on me through the night and made sure I was okay and I can't thank her enough for making me feel calm and safe. I found staff the following morning to be a lot friendlier and they kept on top of my pain medication and ensured that everything was in place for me to be discharged after I indicated at 6am that I felt comfortable going home that day and being supported by my husband.

Overall, I am grateful for the care I received from the surgical team and from Heather. However, I do feel that there needs to be more understanding from nurses and healthcare assistants during that first 24hrs, particularly for first-time parents and those with documented anxiety and panic issues. I felt like I was an inconvenience and as a result did not use my call button (when I perhaps should have) or ask for help at any point due to the attitude I had experienced.