Your experiences

A mother's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2023: I gave birth to my daughter via a category 1 emergency caesarean section following seven days of latent labour. During that week, I was admitted to Spires and then spent three days on Level 6 awaiting an induction. Induction was presented as the only option, and a caesarean birth was never discussed with me. In the weeks leading up to delivery, I had experienced repeated episodes of reduced fetal

A mother's expierence of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2018: The experience I had with Oxford University Hospital requesting an elective caesarean was horrific and led to a massive lack of bonding with my baby. I am a healthcare professional, and prior to becoming pregnant I had only ever seen a mother go through a still birth, and a second mother suffer a haemorrhage all as a young student at the JR. I remember at the time one of the obstetricians sayin

A mother’s experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2018: This happened 8 years ago, and I finally feel ready to share my story. I lost my little girl when I was 18 weeks pregnant. I had PPROM, which meant my waters broke very early, and I was told there was very little chance of survival. We had a scan at a private gender scan, and that was where we were told that her heart was no longer beating. I was booked into the JR. I wasn't really told what

A mother's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2019: I gave birth to my first child at the John Radcliffe hospital in 2019. It was a high risk pregnancy due to maternal type 1 diabetes. My pregnancy had been relatively straight forward until a few admissions via MAU for repeat high protein readings. The cause for these high readings were never investigated or solved, and after a night or 2 I would be discharged home. This happened more than once.

A mother's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2026: I gave birth at the John Radcliffe last week, and I need to share my experience. Before I begin, I do want to say that there were some lovely members of staff. Sadly, these were diminished by the 'care' of others. I will explain the full birth, from start to finish. I arrived at the JR during the early hours of [date] June 2026. I didn't know if I was in labour or not, but the contractions were

A mother’s experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2015 and 2017: I experienced a problematic first pregnancy with what they described as “an irritable uterus” from 16 weeks which involved contractions whenever I or the baby moved. When it was investigated a junior doctor during a check up, he told me he didn’t know a lot about pregnancy but in all probability I had had a miscarriage and should go home and wait for the baby to pass. I was eventually re

A mother's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2016 and 2021: I had my first son in Nov 2016. Whilst on the MAU I was in agony. They didn’t listen, sent me up to a waiting level. They didn’t check on me once. My mum had to beg them to. Then when they finally checked me, I was (idk how many cm but it was very far along) they rushed me up to the labouring ward. I was left in cold water to birth my son – I was shivering etc. When he finally arrive

A mother's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2009 and 2013: Nov 2009: Induction at 42 weeks with first baby, eventually delivered by Ventouse weighing 4kg. The delivery was brutal, I thought I was going to suffocate on my own vomit as I was given pethidine and was hallucinating, but was forced to lie flat on my back. I wrote down afterwards how I had endlessly vomited over several hours while the baby was delivered; I was terrified I couldn’t kee

A mother's experience of Oxford maternity services in 1967: My baby daughter should have been born on 10th May. I was two weeks overdue and terribly neglected so she was delivered by vertical caesarean on 28th May 1967. She was my first baby. I had a 72 hour labour, no pain relief, emergency vertical caesarean which I had to wait 8 hours for. After 2 weeks in hospital I was traumatised and couldn't eat or sleep. I was forcibly separated from my daughter who I was breastfe

A mother's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2020: I had my first born in 2020 and had an overall poor experience at the JR maternity unit. My first midwife was rude and snapped at my husband and barely spoke to me. I had so wanted a water birth and to avoid forceps at all costs. However, I felt so unsafe and cared for by our first midwife that I asked for an epidural as I felt I wasn’t coping well and also knew it would mean I would change war

A mother's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2020 and 2025: I was told by a previous midwife from my pregnancy with my 10 month daughter that I had FOB "fear of Birth" when actually it was fear of the John Radcliffe. I was explaining to her I didn't want to give birth in John Radcliffe due to my son’s birth in 2020 and explained why. Yet I had no choice but to have my 10 month old at John Radcliffe. Both times have been horrible. My sons was th

A mother's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2020: I was given an episiotomy which remained painful for years and now causes me discomfort. Part of my labia was sewn to the wrong part which has left me with almost no labia on one side. Five and a half years on it still itches and is uncomfortable and urine doesn’t flow out properly. I was also left with a tight piece of skin over the posterior of my vaginal opening which made sex very painful. I

A mother's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2018: When my youngest was born, and before I held her, she was put under a heat lamp. I commented that her face looked quite red, and they said it was because of the heat lamp, yet they didn't increase the distance from the lamp. With my previous births, I was desperate to get home and pushed beyond my limits to get there. This time it was different; I felt extremely unwell and asked to be admitted.

A mother’s experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2010: I had an extremely difficult pregnancy, including hyperemesis, cholestasis, kidney issues, arrhythmia - every check-up seemed to include something new. I was under the care of the Silver Star team who kept me sane but made it clear there was a possibility there would not be a happy outcome for either of us. We got to delivery and labour went wrong, only saved by the fact that I was kept on a mo

A grandparent’s experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2020 and 2021: My daughter had two babies at JR. The first wasn't feeding well, but discharged, with daughter being dismissed as inexperienced, worrying & 'you'll get the hang of it'. Baby had a severe tongue-tie. I paid for a private midwife to rectify the problem, (I'm a retired paramedic of many years experience). Second pregnancy, daughter presented in labour, and was told to go home (withou

A mother’s experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2020/21: I am writing to step forward and join the families affected by maternity care at John Radcliffe. I am sharing my full account now because I have only just become aware of the scale of the current investigation, and because I finally feel able to speak after holding this for five years. Our daughter, [daughter’s name], was stillborn on [date] 2021 at 39 weeks. She weighed 9lb 5oz. Before th

Parent’s experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2025: We are heartbroken parents, grieving the tragic loss of our firstborn son, [son’s name] . It was such a difficult pregnancy, with hyperemesis gravidarium tormenting our brave [mother’s name] morning, noon and night. Throughout pregnancy [mother’s name] also suffered with UTI’s and general bloated feeling from second trimester. One of her final UTI’s she suffered visual disturbances believing this

A mother’s experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2024: When I went overdue, I requested a Caesarean instead of being forced into induction which I did not want, due to the statistical rate of extreme interventions that scared me. I was denied and forced into an induction. Left to hyper stimulate for 10 hours (1 minute on, 40 seconds off), and treatment to help stop it never came. Pain relief denied. Eventually when baby went in to distress we got m

A mother’s experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2019 and 2023: First pregnancy – 2019 In 2019, I presented to the hospital at 24 weeks pregnant with vaginal bleeding and significant pain. I was admitted but no scans were performed, no internal examinations were carried out, and no meaningful assessments were made beyond routine observations. Despite my symptoms, I was discharged and sent home. Six days later, as my condition worsened, I brought

A mother's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2025: I had a traumatic childbirth. Although I was experiencing bleeding and the fetus had a weak heartbeat, I was given only two paracetamol tablets and asked to wait, being considered a non-urgent case. Later, I required emergency surgery.

A mother's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2001: I had a terrifying and excruciating experience at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford in 2001. Now, nearly a quarter of a century later, I still bear mental and physical scars. I realise that I am fortunate because my daughter survived the ordeal and has grown up healthy and well. When my waters broke late on a Wednesday night the baby dropped to the left and my bump was distinctly lopsided. On

A mother's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2020: I nearly lost my life due to the midwife pulling the umbilical cord with my retained placenta causing a major haemorrhage with baby number 1.

A mother's experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2023: I had my 1st baby in early 2023 and I didn't know what to expect, but I did not prepare for what had happened. I had my usual 40week (I was 40+5) midwife appointment and my blood pressure was taken. It was a little high, but I thought it was nerves due to having a sweep during the appointment. The reading didn't go down, but no protein was in my urine but advised to go to the maternity assessment

A partner’s experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2025: My partner had a difficult C-section. It was planned but the process didn't go as smoothly as it should have. They nicked a blood vessel during the procedure and she lost a lot of blood. Then they had difficulty getting baby out and he required resuscitation immediately after being delivered. Thankfully he responded quickly and is completely fine. However, despite this the surgical team were by