Oxford Mail readers have been reacting to news that maternity services in Oxfordshire need to improve.

Concerns were raised about bullying, hierarchy and dysfunctional teams after the Care Quality Commission made unannounced visits in May to the maternity unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, Cotswold Birth Centre in Chipping Norton, and Horton General Hospital’s Midwifery-led unit in Banbury.

The visits were made after a whistleblower reported concerns in January about the culture in maternity services at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust .

Mums got in touch on the Oxford Mail Facebook page to share their experiences of giving birth.

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ASHLEE COX: “I genuinely couldn’t thank the midwives enough for how they were with me three years ago but I haven’t had a child in the last year so I don’t know. However, looking back through my son’s red book they’ve written that I had sepsis in hospital while in labour and I or my birthing partners had absolutely no idea now it makes me want to request my notes from birth because it’s quite a big thing to not tell someone or explain it.”

TINA THOMPSON: “This this was once a pioneering hospital back in the day when I had my first child there which was amazing. However, I was there a while ago as my mother died there quite suddenly and I was totally shocked, it was a shambles - doctors and nurses on their phones all day hanging around the central admin area, chatting and laughing.”

RHONDA HAGUE: “The Horton maternity unit was just awful. Had such a terrible experience there when my son was born 13 years ago.

“I was treated like a prison inmate and they missed so many medical issues that should have been addressed urgently.”

STACE NULTY: “Rhonda Hague it was the same for me."

ANI AHMED: “I had my daughter six weeks ago and I had no issue - the midwives in the maternity assessment unit and delivery suite were wonderful to me.”

HANNAH MITCHELL: “I’m not discrediting what any of the ladies here have said, but I had a wonderful experience giving birth to my daughter there in October 2019, also had a student midwife in and she was so lovely. My only issue would be that my temperature shot up moments after giving birth and my mam had to tell the new midwife on shift that because I’d had so many internal exams during labour I need the injection to prevent infection.

“Other than that it really was a very positive birthing experience. Way better than the birth of my son in 2012.”

DANNI ELLIOTT: “Yep! Everything that happened was awful. Still have PTSD about that experience.”

DENISE MOSS: “Left in a private room with no dr/midwife in 24hrs. Pressed the bell and it was finally answered by a secretary who was sick of hearing it. Shocking treatment 15 years ago.”

ERIN CASANOVA-AMOS: “Worst care I’ve ever received!”

STEPHANNIE GARNER: “Level 5 left me in tears. Didn’t have any help with breastfeeding, wasn’t given any food except some cereal was left whilst I was sleeping.”

STACE NULTY: “No surprise about the Horton but level 7 at the JR were amazing.

“After Horton failings I wouldn’t have had my son or my daughter if it wasn’t for the JR.”

GEMMA COLLIER: “It took seven hours for them to listen to me, baby wasn’t feeding or sleeping at all over that period of time. Ended up being rushed down to high dependency when the doctor finally saw her!”

EMMA LENTON: “It was bad when I had my baby in November last year - it was like the midwife that looked after me didn’t care cause her shift finished in a few hours.”

KERRY CHINA-LEE: “When I had my daughter 15 years ago I told the midwife I needed to push but she didn’t believe me and walked out - when she returned she saw me struggling for breath as my baby came out in one very long push. That was an extremely scary labour.”

EMILY BORG: “Always had great care from maternity units within Oxfordshire.”

DANIELLA ROGERS: “My birth and aftercare wasn’t great either, I put on my birth plan I had depression and anxiety and I don’t even think one of them looked at it.”

STEFANIA MONTERISI: “Not enough money for NHS.”

PAULA HADDY: “When my daughter gave birth 10 years ago at the JR I ended up being the one to encourage my daughter to push.”