Blissful Births

<div>They claim that they only birth low-risk births but put my baby in danger.

During my 36 week scan, the sonographer picked up a "solid mass structure " on the top of my babies kidney. She also picked up that I had hydronephrosis (a swollen kidney) However, they insisted that I will be safe birthing with them when there was already a risk involved.

On the evening of 16 June 2022, I went into labour. I reached the blissful births unit at 9pm. The midwives did an ECG and thereafter Doula Shireen made me do some exercises to speed up labour. During this time, they continously asked me if I can feel my baby move. (at this point, they made no mention of any issues even though it was evident that something was wrong.) By around 11:45pm they repeated the ECG and only then informed about my babies rapid heartbeat & the possibility of a stillborn and the need to refer me to Rahima Moosa. They claimed that I was 7cm since 10:30pm and that I didn't dilate at all. However, I already had the urge to push During this state, with strong contractions, they forced me into my husband's car. The doula did not even come support me and the midwives drove in another car.

My mother, who sat next to me in the car could feel the babies head. I feared birthing him in the car. Thankfully, I made it to the hospital and my baby was born almost immediately.

After birthing there, the blissful birth team did not bother to check up on us. I got a message from Shireen at 1am saying congratulations and that we will chat later that morning. I was only contacted 3 days later. (20 June).

Due to no support whatsoever, i called to ask for a refund but this was denied. FIRSTLY , when I asked them after the 36 week scan if it's still safe to birth with them, they assured me that it will be ok. SECONDLY, during the first ECG when they noticed that my baby was in distress, why did they not mention it? This put us in great danger. Why was I left right until the end to be rushed off to Raheema moosa? THIRDLY , I DID NOT BIRTH WITH THEM. (16K for birthing?). FOURTHLY, their package includes post partum support, however, I did not receive any support whatsoever. Therefore, I felt that I was entitled to at least a portion of a refund I have paid R16 000 and only used the facility for 3 hours prior to my birth. I was also sent a ridiculous breakdown of the charges and even claimed that I still owe them more money above the the R16k. I wonder how much more I'd have to pay if I had to actually birth there.

In an attempt to start my healing journey from this traumatic experience I contacted the team at blissful births 3 weeks later to have the matter resolved amicably and inquire about a portion of a refund which i felt was due to me as i did not receive half of the services in the package i paid for. During my phone call with the team at blissful births they ganged up on me, started gaslighting me and were extremely unpleasant to me. Needless to say my refund was rejected immediately and no accountability was taken for their part in my trauma

During the phone call I was told by Magdaleen in a very cynical manner that she can still provide the food (Postpartum diet offered as part of the package) to my house and provide me with the breastfeeding support I had paid for. I was three weeks postpartum at this stage. I was also asked by the team why would I risk my babys life for a home birth. At 36 weeks I had asked a team member during one of our phone calls more than 3 times if she is absolutely sure I should birth with them and she confidently said yes and assured me it was a safe option. After trusting them with not just my life but my baby's life too, i was **** to about how far dialated I was and left to the very last minute to find out my baby's heart rate is high.

Consults were not thorough and that should of been my first red flag. I am appalled for the service/non service received. More than anything I am disappointed. When you are pregnant and during the stages of labour you are at your most vulnerable, it is not the time to be taken advantage of or to be let down by people you trust. Giving birth is an experience that no mother can ever forget, I am sad that such a horric experience is attached to the birth of my miracle baby.

Please be warned. I understand that anything can go wrong during a birth and that births are always unpredictable but Kindness, professionalism and compassion from your birthing team can make or break your experience. These type of experiences could lead you down a very dark road such as post partum depression 10 weeks postpartum and i still get nightmares.

Blissful births, please keep up to the low risk births only. If there was anyone else that encountered a negative experience with them, please put your story out there. Please becareful who you entrust with you and your babys life, for some, its only about the money.

Negative reviews are always being reported and deleted. No wonder why I was fooled into the 5 star rating.</div>