would not recommend-ever.

Wish i could rate 0 stars.

Had an ECV and gave birth at this hospital. Both experiences were extremely unpleasant.

Had to wait for hours to get the ECV done because all the nurses left to celebrate someone's birthday. When the doctors finally came, they looked through our files (we were 6 in 1 room) and had a small discussion about each patient in a manner that resembles a zoo keeper describing each zoo animal in it's confined habitat. It felt very disrespectful. They didnt even greet or include us in the discussion. Nurses got impatient and shouted every time i ran to the bathroom to throw up or pee. One nurse even got upset that i ran to the bathroom on my socks because it was so urgent that i couldnt still put shoes on. When i went into active labour, Labour & Delivery nurses in the other ward were arguing because they were both tired and neither wanted to help, so we had to wait for a very long time while the baby was already coming. Thereafter they saw that I documented a birth plan and inserted it in the maternity book. On the Western Cape health department's website it said that it is not necessary to document a birth plan because hospital staff will treat patients with respect, but that was not the case. The nurse who helped me deliver the baby first read my birth plan back to me and disagreed with 90% of what what on it. She also told me that it was inappropriate to have one. (Apparently wanting to be treated with respect and wanting privacy while giving birth is inappropriate in a government facility and you just have to say yes to whatever they tell you). I included that i didnt want a vaccum birth nor an episiotomy and then the nurse wanted to do both. Ended up getting an episiotomy because the baby's head wouldn't come out. The stitching done by the nurse thereafter was done very roughly and the stitches felt tight. I couldnt sit or walk thereafter without feeling immense pain. In the week after, the stitches ripped when i sat up in bed at home. In the birth plan i also included that i didnt want to be rushed on while giving birth and the nurse assured me that there is no time limit, but then she said that i must listen to her so that the baby can be born within 5 mins and if i dont listen she'll leave me there to push the baby out on my own. she then proceeded to tell other nurses about the birth plan i had and somehow the patients also started spreading the news of "a patient who cant wear a hospital gown because of her religion" but i only added that i would have liked to wear my own clothes (a modest hospital gown) because i am muslim and wearing the niqab and wanted to maintain a certain level of modesty around the other patients and male staff before active labour started.

After giving birth, we had to wait in an overcrowded room with our babies because there were no beds available. They also expected us to all use the same plastic bath to sit in with salt water. Hygiene left the room. We then had to sit and wait the whole morning and most of the afternoon to get discharged because the nurse who had to give our babies their first vaccination drops and complete the discharge papers left and only came back much much later.

I honestly feel like i would have had a more dignified birth at home under a bed like a cat. The nurses have no respect and treat you badly when you speak up for what you want. i understand that we cant always get what we want at a government hospital, but my requests were reasonable.

We were also told that treatment is free for pregnant mothers, but months after the birth, i received an invoice via post for an amount of. over R17000 that i sill have to pay. For every 30 days of non-payment they also add a penalty fee of over R2000.

This hospital is supposed to help people, but i feel like i was done a great injustice. The unfortunate experience was the spark that started my postpartum depression.