Feeling alone
One of the things I really struggled with after a traumatic forceps delivery was the hospital not allowing my husband to stay at night. I spent a week completely traumatised, unable to sleep with a poorly jaundiced baby, feeling unsupported by night nurses offering conflicting advise. I think it would have made all the difference if I'd been allowed to have someone I trusted with me. Perhaps it would have helped protect against the rapid decline into post natal depression? Thankfully I was blessed in having a wonderful supportive home birth second time around, helping to heal some of those earlier wounds ....
