Readers on how a lack of communication and not being listened to by doctors left them traumatised, plus an example of an excellent midwifery practice that was closed down
Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett’s article really moved me (A third of new mothers are traumatised by childbirth, but there’s one easy way to help, 30 May). I am a rational, sensible person who has weathered my fair share of storms, but pregnancy caused me such anxiety that I had an elective caesarean because I was so certain my baby was going to die. I even wrote this on what is inaccurately called a “birth plan” (everything else I asked for on the plan was refused, even my request for my husband to be allowed to hold our son).
I was terrified during the operation. I had asked to be kept informed about what was happening, but no one told me anything except a kindly anaesthetist who could see that I was frightened and took pity on me. I haemorrhaged badly. A nurse berated me when I struggled to breastfeed my baby at 3am. Another nurse shouted at me in front of other patients when I tried to go to the toilet.
