Netmums' Joanna Lovell shares her traumatic birth story as the CQC say maternity care improvements are needed.

Ask any woman who has given birth and they will all have a story to tell.

Before I share my story, I'll start by saying I'm very pro NHS. Countless times over the years they've helped me and my family – the most memorable being when my five-week-old baby stopped breathing and the ambulance arrived at our house within minutes. Thankful doesn't come close to describing how I felt.

But the maternity care I received when I had my second baby fell short.

There's no way to sugar-coat that and I'll go so far as to say it totally ruined my birth experience. Thankfully my daughter was OK, but the 'what if's' haunt me.

• CQC report calls for major improvements to maternity care

14 days overdue

I'd gone into the maternity hospital when I was 12 days overdue to be induced. It was a Sunday and as we arrived at the ward door to be buzzed in, my partner joked through the intercom: 'We're here to have a baby!'

There wasn't a lot of movement though. Baby seemed comfy but after having my first-born nearly 3 weeks early, going so overdue with my second was a bit of a surprise. I was SO ready to meet him/her.

Fast-forward to the Monday evening (plus 13 days) and I was told that the next day, on Tuesday – plus 14 days – would be delivery day, 'come-what-may.' They would not let me go past 14 days because the risk of having a stillborn increases after 42 weeks.

Birthing partner sent home

Still on the antenatal suite, it got to 7pm and visiting hours ended so my mum – who was my second birthing partner – had to go home.

At this point I asked if I could be moved into a single room, as I'd seen there were some available and it was highly likely that in the night I'd disturb the 3 other women in my room when I was inevitably transferred up to the labour suite.

They agreed but weren't available to sort the move until nearly midnight.

Due to the fact I had my own room (and probably because I was so close to giving birth), they actually let my partner stay overnight on the antenatal suite (he put an air bed up for himself!).

I never did go to sleep though.

Refused entry to the labour suite

The pains intensified and, knowing I was in labour, we called the midwives on the buzzer. They came a couple of times but told me I wasn't in 'active labour' and refused to admit me to the labour suite.

I knew I was in labour. And I kept telling them.

The last time the midwife came in, she said she would get me some pethidine – because so far I'd not had so much as a paracetamol. But then she basically turned off the light and instructed me to 'get some sleep.' She also told me to 'hush.'

Just minutes after she left the room I felt a huge urge to push, one I couldn't not go with – my body took over, it wasn't a conscious decision. Before I knew it I was holding my daughter's head in my hands between my legs.

'I was terrified'

I was terrified. It was pitch black, my partner had nodded off and the midwives were wherever they were, but not in my room.

I screamed at my partner who jumped up and buzzed for help and – on hearing his shouting, coupled with my screaming, 2 midwives ran in.

I'll never forget the look on the face of the first midwife who came in – the one who had told me to go to sleep. She very calmy told my partner to get me on the bed 'now.'

With that, my daughter shot into this world at 5.38am on April 16. She had been due on April 2.

I was so worried it was all happening on the antenatal suite. If I'd not asked to be moved, I would have given birth in a room with 3 other women, probably more horrified than me.

'Robbed of my birthing experience'

Luckily all was well and my daughter was born a healthy 8lbs 13oz. They also let both my mum and dad visit us on the antenatal suite straight away. We didn't make it to the labour suite, or the post-natal ward. We stayed in that antenatal suite for a few hours then left hospital.

I remember having to ask for a cot as I had nowhere to put my daughter down. It's not like the labour suite where everything is ready.

I felt so robbed of a positive birthing experience. I was left in the dark and told to be quiet. I should have been listened to. The only saving grace is that they didn't make my partner go home, or he would have missed the birth of his baby.

My mum had missed it, which upsets me a lot. She has been with me for the arrival of my son.

I'm not alone with my negative experience

I know I'm not the only one with a distressing birth story. Over the years as a journalist I've written many stories with women who were denied entry to the labour suite.

I remember one woman had been sent home because she 'wasn't in labour' and ended up giving birth in the hospital lift.

I'm sure many women reading this will be able to relate and may find comfort in knowing they're not the only ones if they've had a difficult birth.

• Were you satisfied with your maternity care, or did your experience fall short? Let us know in our chat thread below or email joanna.lovell@netmums.com with your story.

Fewer women are having positive birth experiences

I'm sharing what happened to me after the Quality Care Commission (CQC) published the data from its latest national maternity survey , which captures what people using maternity services in 2022 felt about the care they received while pregnant, during labour and delivery, and once at home in the weeks following the arrival of their baby. You can read the full story here.

The report found improvements in maternity care are needed. Overall, fewer women reported positively about their experiences, with a notable decline in the number able to 'get help when they needed it' from staff while in labour and in the first few days when they go home with their new baby, compared to 5 years ago.

The birth of my daughter was actually nearly 10 years ago now – but this report shows that overall, things haven't improved. It also shows the long-lasting effects such an experience can have on women and their families.

'It's no secret the NHS is short staffed'

For every negative birth story, there is a positive one and the national clinical director for maternity and women's health at NHS England has acknowledged improvements need to be made.

Netmum's official midwife, Sarah Joy Owen said it's no secret the NHS is short staffed, but reassured patients improvements are being made and huge efforts are being made to recruit more midwives.

She said: 'It’s no secret that maternity services (along with most other areas of the NHS) are incredibly short-staffed.

'This is for a number of reasons including retirement, ill-health (both mental and physical), people leaving the profession and maternity leave – the loveliest of reasons.

'In fact we know that for every 30 midwives who qualify, nearly 29 leave the profession.

'The safety of women remains at the heart of all we do'

'This shortfall inevitably has a knock-on effect on the care we aim to provide however let me assure you that the safety of the women and birthing people we care remains at the heart of all we do.

'We are also trying as a profession to look at ways we can work smarter not harder eg online antenatal classes, using technology such as the Tommies app, moving to electronic notes and creating a true partnership with women and other areas of healthcare.

'Additionally we are looking to recruit new midwives, sometimes from overseas and encouraging others who have retired to come back to work part time. We are also trying to nurture the midwives we do have and many trusts are getting better at offering flexible working etc.'

How will my maternity care be affected?

Sarah added: 'The truth is you may have to wait a little longer to be seen, often because your midwife is offering care to someone else, but that means when they get to you they will give you the same care and attention.

'And, demands in services do mean, unfortunately there may be delays with things like inductions or appointments.

'It’s also with remembering that we are constantly reassessing in maternity as things can change very quickly so rest assured if your situation changes we will work to change your level of treatment – although, we need to be actively listening and assessing women for this to work.

'We also reassess our own services too and will work as a unit to ensure the most demanding areas are well-staffed e.g. rearranging training, re-deploying midwives from other areas, swapping shifts, or employing agency staff etc.

'Finally if you are concerned please do speak out and please never not try to contact us if you have any concerns or are worried about your baby.

Can I have a birth de-brief?

Sarah said it's important to discuss what happened during labour if it did not go to plan.

She added: 'Most hospitals and trusts offer a birth de-brief service either through PALS (patient advisory liaison services), an obstetrician or a midwife who has undergone specialist training to become a Professional Midwifery Advocate.

'It is also possible to request your notes from and arrange a debrief from someone independent.

'Things can happen very fast during labour and birth and a debrief can be incredibly useful to understand the decision-making or rationale behind what happened and ultimately to help families feel at peace with their care, or to help them decide how they would like their next birthing experience to be different.

'It’s with remembering that a debrief can happen at anytime from a few months after the birth to years later if you feel it would be useful.'

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