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cenasangel
29-09-2006, 17:03
Please note names have been changed or left out to protect the plain guilty and those who should be thoroughly ashamed of themselfs.

My sad and sorry sequence of events leading up to Gaelan's birth starts on August 31st. It was a pretty ordinary kind of day (spending money i didn't have on ebay and house work) until about 1 in the afternoon. I felt the sudden urge to go to the toilet and when i went i started to bleed like a stuffed pig. I rang my midwife as i didn't know what to do and she told me to go ring and ambulance and get to a hospital right away. I did this and got a nice and expensive ride to the Lyell Mcewin hospital. Things were ok at first. I was examined and blood taken and all that. I was also given a peliminary ultrasound. It was assessed that i had low lying placenta and this was the begining of labour 3 weeks early. I was cool with this and waited in the labour ward until a bed became availible in the womens health ward. During that time i had yet another big bleed. They decided to leave me in the labour ward that night in anticipation of labour (i was not even given a bed and was left on a trolley) So i spend the whole night sleepless whilst being serenaded too by the girl in the room next to me screaming to go home ect. At 6 in the morning i was examined by dr hopeless who assertained i was not in labour, slapped me on the knee and told me i could go home. I was absolutely shocked at this as i was still bleeding but this did not seem to be adressed at all I would havce thought it would have been better off to find out where the bleeding was comming from and be induced (even though i was 36 weeks)but dr idiot who thought she knew best,somehow magicaly everything would come good to which i knew better that it would not. After disputing the facts with her for 20 minutes she went to get her boss dr dumb. Dr dumb was alot more diplomatic and but refused to give me a bed and told me to return if i had any other symptoms. I told him that i would only return if i was going to be helped. He told me he would assess me unbiasly and fairly, thats all. I was given an appointment card to see who i thought was the head of the department in a weeks time. I came away from the hospital totaly disgusted with their attitude and behaviour.

Not knowing what to do or where to turn i made an appointment to see the Gawler hospital with plains of switching hospital. I was told that by them tat they would not take me as i was bleeding and at high risk. I also learned that my midwife was no longer wanted to birth me at home. Seeing all my plans fly out the window i resigned myself to my fate that Gaelan was going to be a lyell mcewin baby after all. (assuming he lived long enough)

A week later i was again rushed to hospital after my blood pressure sored to unacceptable levels. Again i was shoved in a room and left to languish and offered no assistance except for basic monitoring. after being left there for 5 hours and it steadily getting dark, and not being seen to by a dr since i arrived i decided to discharge myself and caught the bus home. (they didn't even call a cab even though it was pitch dark outside) The next day i tottered off to my G.P who exclaimed in horror at my condition and sent me for an ultrasound straightaway. The next day i went to my appointment and was greeted by a muchy nicer and professional dr who seemed to actually read my notes and accept my opinion and decided to induce me. Dr dumb who only a week before could not have cared if i lived or died backed him up on this. I was booked in the next day for an induction.

I arrived at the hospital at 9 in the morning only to find that the staff were just about staging a riot over dr dumbs d the nice drs decsion to induce me. Apparently my condition was not bad enough they were claiming. and several even refused to break my waters for me or participate in the labour. (little did they know i had none left) soon aelan became distressed the drip was turned down but to no avail. It was decided by the dr that i was to be given an epidural and assessed in a few hours time.(i had no say in this at all as i was being told all this) if i had not progressed then i would have a c section. the ladies came to give me one but assessed i was to close to call and told the dr this but she wouold not listen, Finaly after 3 hours of labour Gaelan Joseph was born after much screaming and calling for the pediatrician

Gaelan's condition was nothing short of terrible when he was born as he was a dry labour. (i bearely filled a pad when they did find someone to break my waters) his cord was thick and resembled a garden hose and his placenta was rotted and only 1cm thick. The cord was also around his neck and strangling him the whole time. He was nowhere near his predicted 8 pounds and was only 7 poundes 2 ounces as he had stopped growing several weeks before. The staff were still carrying on their pettiness the next day and noone was even happy he came through his ordeal. I couldn't wait to get out of that place and left ASAP.

Kizmet
29-09-2006, 17:11
what a terrible experience for you! what terrible doctors! :hugs: to you!

Lisa&Davey
29-09-2006, 17:17
OMG!! Thank goodness your baby is okay! What did the peadiatrcian say? Complain about what happened to you and complain loudly. There will be a department in the hospital that has to help you and if that fails contact Today Tonight, ACA and all your local newspapers and TV stations. Many :hugs: to you.

I'm so sorry you had such an awful birthing experience. Congratulations on your little one though.

Welcome to the world little Gaelan! I hope things just get better and better for you now.

Mum&bubs
29-09-2006, 17:18
:eek: Sorry to hear you had to go through such a hard ordeal. What idiots for doctors! I think you chose their names very wisely!
Glad your little one made it though, congratulations! :hugs:

ourfirstbubba
29-09-2006, 20:53
what an awful thing to have to go through at what should be the most memorable moment....so glad that your bubba and you made it through the ordeal....

tweedledee*tweedledum
29-09-2006, 21:09
This boils my blood to read, as I also had a terrible ordeal of a labour with my twins and I ended up writing a long and descriptive letter to the Director of Obstetrics. I was very lucky that she took my complaints seriously and actually sacked 2 midwives. Probably writing a letter is the least you can think about now, I wrote it about 3 weeks after it happened, took that long to get my head around things. I strongly suggest you voice your grievances, otherwise you will hold the trauma with you forever. Even if they just send you back something saying they will look into it, it sort of relieves you of a lot of the pain and resentment you have. It did wonders for me and as I said, I was doubly lucky to get a second letter telling me what action had been taken. I hope you got some stress off you by even just typing this post. :hugs: to you, as I sooooooooo know where you are coming from and how you must be feeling.

Funkychicken
29-09-2006, 22:01
Firstly, I want to say, congratulations on the arrival of your bubba! :smiliedance: Your little man is finally here with you!

Secondly :eek:-I'm am sitting here in shock that this could actually happen! You poor thing-what a terrible, terrible ordeal you have been through. I am just stunned that you were treated this way. I hope you and your son are both doing well and recovering. Take your time to recover and rest as much as you can-you and Gaelan have had such a traumatic experience, it's time for recuperation.
:hugs: to you and Gaelan and I wish you well on your parenting journey

~EmsMum~
29-09-2006, 22:05
wow im sorry to hear you had a horrible time :hugs:

Jeffy
29-09-2006, 23:54
Oh. My. God. :mad:

It sounds like you and bub were very, very lucky to get out of it intact! You seem so calm about it all as well! I would definitely write up a formal complaint. That is absolutely undeblievable!

Sarak7
30-09-2006, 09:21
Oh congrats on your new baby boy:)

Some people are really stupid:rolleyes:

Mylittleboy
30-09-2006, 09:53
I too would be writing a letter, or many letters or sending out copies to the hospital, the AMA, a solicitor, and probably a tv network or two.
Absolutely ridiculous.
Glad you both came out relatively unscathed and I hope your recovery is not hindered by this shocking experience.

Most importantly, Welcome Gaelan

cenasangel
30-09-2006, 14:40
First Gaelan was never seen by a pediatrician, even though i spent the last 10 minutes of my labour screaming out Peter Petek's name. The most i was given was the RMO from the pediatric ward that came and done his APGAR scores and promptly left. To my knowlage no follow up appointment has been made to follow him up or me (even though i lost one whole litre of blood after my waters broke and after the placenta was delivered) though i took him for his 2 week check up at my local drs aqnd he apparently is the picture of health so far. I myself have been put on iron tablets due to the sheer amout of blood i lost.

Secondly, i fully intend to write a letter of complaint but my problems are that most of my infomation is bgeing given to me second hand through my community midwife. Even then i know she is withholding the full story from me and im only getting the 1% watered down version of the whole story of the fights and discussions.(i belive this is due to her need to protect me from the truth which i'm sure is not at all plesant and also the fact that this whole incident puts Northern Womens community midwife program in a very procarious position. Their job is to birth women at home or Lyell Mcewin but this whole incident proves that the law and the hospital have taken away the rights and validity of not only the program but the women that they birth there) I only ever heard one full argument that happened more or less infront of me where dr moron threatend to resign if i was induced at that stage (37+4) Also i have no photos proving the placenta was rotted or the cord was thick. So i'm not really sure how far i'm going to get.

*Kimmy*
30-09-2006, 16:42
Firstly, welcome to the world Gaelen! :smiliedance:

What a shocking experience. Living in similar areas but going to different hospital, it make me ashamed to be in the same state as that hospital, which had a reasonable reputation up till now. I'm so glad you shared your story as otherwise, we may have considered this hospital as the birth place of our 2nd baby.

I would strongly recommend also going to your local member of parliament being that it is a government hospital. I would also demand a response, as this is more than unacceptable.

I really hope you get some sort of response/satisfaction from your efforts, and I'm so sorry it tarnished your birthing experience. :no:

aden2005
30-09-2006, 16:53
Im sitting here in shock shaking my head!!! im so sorry for the way your son was born into this world, its a good thing he has you for a lovely Mother:)

Luv Katherine-xxx-

cenasangel
30-09-2006, 16:56
I can say that this is true........ the Lyell McEwin as a hospital servicing the north really has taken a down hill slide in the last 5 years. Since i birthed there with mr 4 (which was also an induction under very similar cercumstances) i can say you can't compare the quality of healthcare offered. Whereas before when you only had one room taken on a good night, there is never a day in that place where there is not a full house now. Because they have closed the services at Central Districts and Queen Elizabeth the only place to go now is Gawler or the Lyell McEwin. Also i noticed that the general morale of the staff was at an all time low and there seemed to be constant fighting and bickering, even on a good day. I think this indeicates strongly that the place is very badly run at the best of times.

Because Gawler is only a small regional hospital they have limited services and have to be picky, so anything slightly complicated they have to reffer to the Lyell McEwin anyway. This is why they would not accept me there. I personaly will choose neither northern womens or Lyell McEwin ever again. It makes me think twice about ever getting ante natal care again if i became pregnant.

SalTheGal
04-10-2006, 22:37
:hugs: To you and your new bub Gaelan. Congrats on bringing a beautiful baby boy into the world, sorry to hear about your birth experience, it sounds like one I wouldn't wish upon anyone and hope you never have to repeat anything like it, and can move forward from now with your bub.

mamesmumma
06-10-2006, 11:35
wow this is horrendous, I'm so sorry that this could possibly happen!!! :shame: Thank god you and your baby are okay!!!:smiliedance:

As far as photo proof I dont think you need it for your complaint. Especially if your commuity midwife is giving you some info. Just make sure you put her name in the letter, the relevant people will have to talk to her to get that inside info that she's keeping from you for your own sanity. And even though it puts them in a bad light I'm sure she tell the truth if she is telling you some stuff, she obviously cares.

Good Luck I hope something gets done. I agree just complaining will help you get it out of your system, but if something changes it'll make you feel so much better. Especially if those changes help other ladies - it'll be almost worth it then.