September 2010 - It was still 2 weeks until my actual due date, but I had contracted a bladder infection (which for me is literally nothing out of the ordinary as I’m prone to them) so it was decided I would be induced. I was 20, I knew nothing of labor or parenting. It wasn't until I’d gotten pregnant with my second child that I began researching and making myself more knowledgeable about pregnancy / labor and postpartum. (Much obliged to my best friend who became a doula around this time) that I realised how wrong every instance in my previous delivery (and appointments leading up to it) were. I'd never even held a baby so naturally I was incredibly anxious. The nursing staff did absolutely nothing to ease that.
I didn't want my Mother OR step mother in the room during labor however it was decided for me by a nurse that they would both accompany me during pushing for "support".
I was given oxytocin despite making it very clear in my birthing plan that I wanted a natural birth. I wasn't told what it was , I was just hooked up to an I.V. , which sped things up drastically (which isn't even the worst part , it was the fact that ((and I truly believe this)) it had such an effect on me that it made it so difficult for me to connect with my daughter after birth, all that fake love drug on top of an already traumatic labor) every time my dilation was 'checked' I was swept, (without consent) and during pushing I was told repeatedly that I needed to "be quiet" or "keep it the hell down" as there were other mothers on the ward who were sleeping. After almost 30 hours in labour I gave birth, and was then proceeded to be woken up every 3 hours to nurse. (Which is standard at CK , I know) but the baby's stomach is the size of a walnut, nursing for a half hour every 3 is unnecessary, unfortunately when all was said and done I couldn't breastfeed in hospital. I'm sure I could have gone home and gotten the hang of it but it was also decided for me that my baby would be supplemented and then ultimately bottle fed by staff as they were just so insistent that the baby needed more more more. I was also initially told that I could not bring home my placenta, and made to feel like I was imposing AND 'gross' for doing so.
Now that I know more, I am mortified. The staff at CK make new and young moms feel ostracized and they take authority in making decisions they have absolutely no right making.
My advice: Know your rights!
Submitted by C
