"I can categorically say it was the worst time of my life"

A mother’s experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2014-15:

I gave birth to my daughter in 2015. It’s all a bit hazy now but just thinking about it and it makes me feel sick.

Things leading up to the birth were bad, not being listened to and feeling like you’re a nuisance.

During birth things became worse, I ended up having an epidural simply to get rest as was exhausted. After a while I remember extreme pain and my midwife pressing the buzzer and shouting for help. I was put to sleep and given an emergency c-section. I honestly thought I was going to die.

When I came round I was in recovery with my baby on my chest. My partner had gone home to get some things and to charge his phone. I was extremely groggy and didn’t know what was going on. I couldn’t ring a buzzer as there wasn’t one, I had this baby and couldn’t possibly do anything with her as I was numb and obviously had whatever medication I was given. My phone was beside me and I phoned my sister to come and help me.

I’m thankful that they obviously saved our lives, but I think this could’ve been prevented. After a few hours in recovery I was sent to a ward. My partner wasn’t allowed to stay with me, my baby was taken to special care.

I remember ringing for help as needed to change my pad and also had a catheter that needed emptying. The nurse was so rude, basically you should be able to do this yourself. I’d just had a major operation, my baby had been taken and I was groggy from all the medication and I sat there and cried my eyes out.

I had to stay in there for a week and I can categorically say it was the worst time of my life.

Finally me and baby were discharged and I had meeting with the hospital a week or 2 later I believe to discuss what went wrong. They basically made me feel lower, they mentioned several times that the NHS pot is running low and they can’t keep being sued. I didn’t mention suing anyone, just wanted answers.

I find it difficult to talk about.