Our Surveys AIMS Ireland will be conducting a number of surveys in order to gather the information we need to successfully improve the Maternity Services and to help women and their families. This will be an invaluable tool for us to evaluate exactly what issues are important to you and how they need to be tackled. Please take a few moments to answer any surveys you feel would be relevant to you. We will use this information not only as a tool to guide us, but we will also publish the results here on our site for your interest. We will include as much of the data and as many of your comments as possible. *Please note - All of our surveys are anonymous. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Current Surveys Availability of Information and Consent
how this effects informed consent in labour, birth, and post-natally. Also to determine if consent is absolute in relevant instances. All medical procedures, tests, and treatments require informed consent by law. Informed consent is when information is presented to women in order for them to decide if they wish to consent to a procedure, test or treatment. Informed Consent by definition is to assist the woman in understanding why the procedure, test or treatment is being suggested, How the procedure is performed, and any risks and/or benefits attributed with the procedure. Participate in this survey here. Antenatal Classes *This survey is now closed, thank you for taking part.
*This survey is now closed, thank you for taking part. |
What Matters To You Survey AIMS Ireland ran the following survey on our website:
you affected by previous experience? What improvements would you like to see? This will help us gain a better understanding of what is most important to women with regard to their care during and after pregnancy and what improvements most women would like to see. This particular survey is aimed at women who have had a baby in Ireland in the last 5 years.” This survey was closed after 326 women responded. We would like to thank everyone who took the time to give their input. The survey was well balanced between the types of service women chose. 39.3% of respondents chose Public care, 21.2% Semi- Private care and 39.6% Private care. Below is a preliminary summary of what these results have told us: levels of care and information they received with . However, the women became increasingly unhappy as they moved to labour, birth and post natal care. The most negative . However, the women became increasingly unhappy as they moved to labour, birth and post natal care. The most negative feedback we received was in relation to post-natal care, support and information. negative feedback we received was in relation to post-natal care, support and information. Q. How would you rate the information given to you regarding choices of care available to you? (Combined care, private / sp / public services, midwife-led care, homebirth etc) 326 responses. The majority, 37.4% of women answered “Poor” Q. What type of care would you like to have had available to you that wasn't? (Tick all that apply) 427 responses. The majority, 41.9% of women were happy with their choice of care. 21.8% answered that they would like to have had Local Midwife-led care (e.g.: in a local Health Centre) 16.9% answered that they would like to have had Midwife-led hospital care Q. How would you rate the care you were given during labour? 319 responses. The Majority, 56.1% answered “Excellent” Q. How would you rate the information you were given during your labour (e.g.: pain relief options, routine hospital procedures) 318 responses. The majority, 35.5% answered “Excellent” Q. How would you rate the care / support you received after your baby was born? 326 responses. The majority, 35% answered “Good” When asked “What type of care / support would you like to have had that you did not have?” 233 women responded. Lack of feeding support came up over and over, a basic skill any mother needs in order to nurture a healthy newborn: “The nurses were too busy to show you how to breastfeed properly, I would have liked someone to talk to about why it was sore, what should I do, to give me more confidence.” “As a second timer they left me alone and I also felt because I was not breastfeeding I should automatically know how to bottle feed!” “no breastfeeding support in special care unit (baby was premature). No possibility to stay in the hospital after three days made establishing breastfeeding really hard.” “I would have greatly appreciated someone showing me the correct method to bottle feed and wind my baby as breast feeding was not working. I was left completely alone in the middle of the night knowing nothing regards bottle feeding.” “Nurse at hospital insisted I give a bottle to my breastfed baby. I hadn't a choice as she shoved the bottle right at my face. I felt it was really unfair that at this day and age when I’m trying my best to breastfeed… another nurse off another shift said exactly the opposite that there is no reason why my baby should need a bottle...it is simply frustrating” “Would have like more encouragement for breastfeeding - and less encouragement to give the child a bottle so quickly” “Everyone seems very eager to get you to breastfeed, but little help is offered to get going” “I think mothers who bottle feed shouldn't be dismissed as not needing advice or a listening ear… in general I do feewhen Moms choose to bottle feed they are just left to their own devices ” “I was told I should bottlefeed instead of breastfeed and I was a neglecting my baby by not giving her a bottle” “This was so frustrating that breastfeeding is so promoted in antenatal care yet there is no-one to help promote this when baby arrives.” “I had a very hard time establishing breastfeeding and the lactation nurse was excellent but obviously very busy. Would have liked to have had more time with her.” “More assistance with breast feeding (and not having my baby being given formula against my wishes and without my knowledge,)” “I would have liked to have seen a lactation consultant soon after the birth of my baby but there were none in the hospital as I gave birth at the weekend.” “Proper Breastfeeding support. Every nurse had a different opinion which was very confusing.” Poor hygiene was highlighted as a major concern many times: “bathroom dirty, blood everywhere, couldn’t wait to get home.” “Both myself and my baby got mrsa from the section - this should not have happened.” “A sanitary towel bin was nearly full when I arrived and despite 3 complaints on my behalf only emptied the morning I left 3 days later-disgusting.” “I was in hospital for 5 days and in all that time my sheets were never changed, my baby was never washed, nor was I shown how to change or wash her” “The hospital was filthy…was like being in a 3rd world country” “It is enough being pregnant or after having a baby and then having to subject yourself to smelly sanitary boxes, dirty toilets, showers and baths.” “the standard of cleanliness and quality of toilets and shower facilities were disgraceful” It concerned us that a lot of first-time mothers left the hospital without being shown basic skills to care for their newborn and with unanswered questions relating to their own well-being. There were also issues raised with mothers whose babies were in special care. They felt they were excluded from receiving any information or support as they were on the ward without their newborn. “Just left to cope / get on with it” “I felt as an older mother people expected me to know what I was doing and I hadn't a clue…I was still a First time mum and in awe of the tiny bundle they handed me!” “The nurses were very busy and although helpful and friendly there wasn't enough of them.” “More advice rather than assuming I would know things” “Someone to take baby while we showered” “if we asked a question , we were made feel bit stupid for askin it” “I had a premature baby and baby and I received great care in hospital…Prefer not to be put into a ward after labour full of babies and just an empty cot beside my bed.” “I found that I had to ask questions a number of times before getting any answers.” “staff in hospital were good but once it hit evenings I got very depressed cause the care was dreadful. Best thin I could have asked for was coming home. Had the help of my partner and support I needed” “No advice when leaving the hospital about what to do/look out for with new baby” “I felt that once I had the baby I was not given much attention and because the baby was in ICU when I was in the ward I missed out on the baby care help that the midwives offered other patients. I still needed to look after him when he came home” “a dry slice of toast after 12hours labour and then being left alone for 2 days is horrible” “conflicting advice very difficult to deal with, ending up not knowing who to believe/follow” Lack of post-natal care is a serious issue. Lack of emotional support can lead to undiagnosed Post Natal Depression. Lack of physical support for mothers who are ill or recovering from surgery has a huge impact on the safety of the baby that they are left to care for. Busy, over-crowded hospitals and lack of staff are the main factors. There also seems to be inconsistency in the amount of care (if any) a woman gets from a local PHN. “I found it very difficult to come to terms with my second emergency section. I was extremely upset that in Ireland such a situation means that there is very little chance I will ever get to experience a natural delivery. I was extremely traumatised by the circumstances of the birth and I feel it would be hugely beneficial to women to have some sort of counselling for all women who have a difficult birth.” “I could not fault the care in delivery… The aftercare was atrocious though and by the time I got home I was exhausted and stressed out” “I was left alone all night without being checked despite having had a postpartum haemorrhage just after the birth.” “I would have liked more help with breastfeeding, information on PND and how to cope and some emotional support, the first 6 weeks were extremely difficult and I felt that the public health nurses were not interested in discussing mental health at all, and I am a nurse myself so I would have expected some support.” “there doesn't seem to be much support regards post natal depression etc, there still seems to a bit of a taboo regards post natal depression” “Overall I felt the care was average. Lack of follow up visits post natally… probably a lot of women suffer alone from PND” “the post natal wards were under staffed and there was never anybody on hand when you were looking for them - no matter how urgent it was” “The public health nurse I wish I saw more of, as I had many questions and concerns. I felt like after her second visit that I was just forgotten about…wish the public health centre gave out information about local groups: Breastfeeding support groups...etc” “I suffered post-natal depression but did not realise that that was what I was suffering for a year and a half” “I feel new mums should be encouraged in the couple of days after the birth to talk through the experience with a professional to see if there are any issues which should be addressed” “I would have liked better help in coping with post natal depression” “I felt like all the people involved, GPs, Doctors and nurses did not care about me… after I gave birth I practically didn’t exist they put me in a room next to the delivery suite for the duration of my stay, on my own, and very down.” Also highlighted was the lack of local information and support when the woman returns home. This is a critical time in the development of the health and well-being of the mother and baby and an area in which services clearly need to be given a serious overhaul. What especially concerned us was the lack of physical and emotional support provided to mothers who had had a difficult birth and / or a surgical birth. The dangers involved in a mother being left unattended to care for her newborn baby while she is physically unable to do so must be addressed. “Having drips attached to both arms after a c-section (major surgery), no woman is fit to look after a child on the first night. I received little or no help from the midwives at night time. During the day was fine because of my husband's help. There should be more midwives on at night time to help with feeding, changing nappies and simple tasks such as lifting the baby over to you when you are just over major surgery” “suffered from spd throughout pregnancy, could not walk without the aid of crutches, needed help after the birth to lift baby etc but staff not available to give same. Had to rely on other patients for help.” “I was only out of a general anaesthetic (very drowsy) and was left to try and breastfeed baby myself, get to grips with this without much support and also found it very hard to get a nurses attention when I needed it urgently…(on these occasions baby had stopped breathing) on the 1st 2 occasions I managed to get her breathing again on the 3rd occasion she had turned blue and was taken away and given oxygen - I had fallen asleep and only woke to see baby struggling because the baby across the way started to cry, would not like to think what may have happened if I hadn't woken up” “I was sedated at night due to bells palsy that developed in Labour and I had no power in my eyes to close them so was given sedation to sleep but still had to try and look after the baby and I felt this was dangerous.” “After a c-section, midwives were reluctant to administer the morphine that I was charted for, because I wouldn't be alert/awake for the night feed.” “Had a elective section on a Friday and was not told how to get in & out of bed till the Monday afternoon, first pregnancy and was terrified to sleep as I couldn't get out of bed to get to my baby during the night, this was distressing.” “I would love to have access to a trained counsellor to discuss the trauma of the birth” “I have had 2 emergency sections…I feel there should be more support given to mothers who have undergone surgery in the 1st 24hrs after birth. It is incredibly difficult and physically demanding time. I don't feel on either birth I should have been the sole carer for my child for the first 24hrs.” “I was left alone all night without being checked despite having had a postpartum haemorrage just after the birth.” Another issue that this survey raised was lack of choice, lack of information and more worryingly, sometimes even lack of consent for certain procedures. Informed consent and informed refusal is not always taken into consideration in our busy hospitals. Often “procedure” and “routine” outweigh what a woman and her baby actually wants and/or need, sometimes infringing on their basic human rights. “Most women do not have any choices in birth in this country…most women, especially women like me in rural Ireland, have no access to midwife led care or homebirth. In this day and age that is not acceptable” “I would've liked to have had… more information offered to me by my Ob… not to have routine internals forced upon me during labour, not to have formula constantly pushed on me when I was BF (breastfeeding) my baby” “Received appalling 'care'. At birth, the doctor thought it more important to give a non consensual rectal exam than tell me why baby was placed in an incubator…Almost 18 mths later, I am still grieving for the bad experience and the fact that I am terrified of getting pregnant again” “I felt like a trouble maker as I did not want any intervention. It was a traumatic and soul destroying experience” “During my labour I was told that if the baby wasn't born within an hour that they would have to use forceps etc. I was only in the delivery room 4 hours and neither I nor my baby were in distress. I found it very upsetting to be told this and the midwife told me it was hospital policy to have stage 3 completed within 2 hours. I think that once mother & baby are doing ok that things should be left to progress naturally.” “I felt that I had no choice with regard to the type of labour. It was the usual lie down on your back” “was given very little valid information prior to being induced. I would have liked to have been told that the induction was very likely to fail and end in CS. I would have liked to have been offered monitoring instead of unnecessary induction” “I felt the midwife was very eager for me to have an epidural, I would have liked to have other options available like a birthing pool or a mobile epidural” “I wanted a homebirth, and was denied it for no good reason. I wanted a natural birth on baby3, but because of being breech, was sectioned immediately, and wanted a vbac on baby4 - also denied. If I were to have another baby, I'd do anything to deliver vaginally - but that's completely against 'the rules' following 2 sections in this country.” “there is still this notion of getting info on a 'need to know basis'.” “I had my waters forcibly broken , was bullied into an epidural, stirrups, labour slowed and baby distressed, "routine" epesiotomy,ventouse machine "broke", and two minutes before the decided deadline for a c section my baby was yanked out with forceps. His agpar score was low and spent time in an incubator. I was only introduced to him 8 hours later and was then bullied into giving him formula. Once I escaped from hospital we established successful breastfeeding.” “midwifes were very pushy and wouldn’t listen to me kept fobbing me off regarding getting the epidural felt some of my choices were not heard and were ignored.” “I had a sad and stressful time trying to organise a homebirth…My dealings with (the hospital) and the local clinic I found very upsetting. I think the hostility towards homebirth on the East Coast is appalling and tragic” “ I feel that all women should have the right to the type of birth they want and should be treated with dignity and respect… it is a sad fact that Irish hospitals practice defensive medicine so we as women have no choice but to practice defensive birthing” “At last AN app doctor frightened us into being induced when 11 days OD (overdue) when I wanted to let nature take its course. Baby was NOT ready and resulted in a cascade of medical interventions finishing with ecs (Emergency C-Section) and minor complications for mother. Very bitter about this!” “During induction no methods of pain relief were discussed, midwives tried ARM when I asked them not to, they LIED when I asked them about monitoring baby.” “This was my 3rd baby and opting for a homebirth was my personal option. My GP said she could no longer see me if that was the way I wanted to go. I had to tell lies to the hospital just to get my bloods checked” “I didn't want an epidural but Midwife insisted they needed to speed me up and I didn't want to be sped up unless I had pain relief. I gave birth only 1 ½ hours after this without being sped up and so was angry I'd had an epidural as I felt I could have coped without. Ended up being cut!” “(My Obstetrician) was an old school doctor who wouldn't listen to any of my concerns and on several occasions he belittled me” “in labour it seemed as if the midwife really did not want me to have an epidural. when I asked for it I was told it was to early... after 30mins asking I insisted she examine me to be told oh it’s to late now. My baby was born 7mins later. Not for the first time I got the feeling that I wasn't being listened to” “They insisted on inducing and told me horror stories of what could happen to my baby if I didn’t induce."
AIMS Ireland is interested finding out what information women would like to receive in Antenatal classes. This comes after we received several complaints about the information and the way in which information is being presented in some antenatal classes. We would particularly like to hear from women who have had good antenatal classes that provided information that proved useful during pregnancy and when it came to labour, birth and caring for your newborn. We hope to use this information to improve the current inconsistencies in antenatal classes and ensure that all women are receiving the same high level of valuable information. We would like to thank everyone who took part in this survey. We have, so far, passed on your comments to one of the main antenatal class providers who were very interested in the results. |
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Surveys
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Please take a few minutes to fill out our survey on Availability of Information and Consent by clicking on the link below. Take the survey |
