Hi everyone! Ooooh..this seems a bit weird writing in another forum than the PG after loss group...so Hi :smt039

I'd like everyone's opinion on the following regarding removal of the belly button stump..but some background first...

OK..to put you in the picture...I had my son 7 weeks ago today...he was 4 weeks prem due to me having Pre Eclampsia and having to be induced. I was in my last week of work and went straight from work to attend one of our Ante Natal classes..when I felt a little 'weird'in the class. Long story short, I was taken up and given a once over, admitted straight away and told I was being induced the next day. Needless to say..this was the start of feeling a little vunerable and I was just going along with with the experts...

The first few days I was VERY weak and 'out of it' due to a pretty full on induced birth and quite a big blood loss (they pumped me with syntocin to get him out fast!!)...I was also feeling quite vunerable and not in the mode to ask questions (very unlike me!!) as I was so worried with Reuben being so early....and was pretty much operating through a fog of recovery....and I must say my care was on the whole..exeptional, and I had no reason to question care from the staff.

Here's my question: On day three, my DH went home to tend to a few things (he stayed the whole time..the hospital rooms are quite hotel-like and he was able to stay). Reuben was taken away for his first vaccinations and heel ***** etc by a midwife (who had already totally upset me by telling me by coming in and telling me off for something that the midwife from the previous shift had told me TO do...but thats'another story!!) . Firstly, she came and told me there was a physio session I could attend if I liked while DH was away and while she did Reuben's needle...and very hesitantly I did go and left him on her request back in the nursery ( I had him in my room a few hours each day) and that I could come and get him on my way back.

A good hour and a half later, I returned to get him..to find him still where I'd left him. A very lovely midwife in charge of the nursury that shift explained the yukky one (my term for her) hadn't gotten around to him (read here FORGOTTEN as she'd told me she was doing him straight away) so to take him back to my room if I like...which I did.

Next thing yukky midwife dashes into my room (she'd obviously been reminded by the other midwife) and whisks him away telling me to have a rest on the bed while she does it all...once again, I hesitantly agreed not knowing any better and feeling like crap still. I'm kicking myself now for not going with him..but once again this is 20/20 hindsight.

When he came back, he was still crying a little but no more than when he'd had a nappy change or something so I wasn't worried and she reminded reminded me it would be time for one of his 3 hourly feeds then she left.

After this feed I went to check his nappy (he'd hardly fed so they were monitoring uraids etc) and noticed his cord..which I KNOW was still very fresh from the birth 3 days before (and considering he wasn't meant to be born for another 4 weeks...was well and truely attached!) was GONE..as was the cord clamp (which I'm also now very upset about not having). It was bleeding a little and I thought it a little early...but in the frame of mind I was in...thought it must be what they do.

It continued to bleed a little (bleed as in bleed, dry to a scab, scab falls off, bleed..in this cycle) for a good week after we returned home...so I took him to the paed who had attend him due to his premmi-ness. He gave me some wipes to assit drying the wound up.

Now, 7 weeks on, there is still a prominant red centre on his belly button (looks like a red bruise or bloody blister) and he has developed an umbilical hernia!!. I cant help but think this is due to the early removal of the fresh stump...and for that I'm furious at her for doing it..and furious at myself for not saying anything at the time.

Can I get your opinions on this...

Should I say anything to the hospital (they DID give me a complaints and comments form in my leaving documents).... I'm concious of sounding like a pedantic new mum....

Also, at what stage should the stump have come off?...particularly that he was prem and it was a long way from coming out. I thought it was at least a week and that's once it's dried up (Reubens was still pretty wet fresh from the birth).

Appreciate your feedback...

;-) Pukeko

PS: Oh..and just to not only give you a laugh..but a lesson in how much we new mums DO take what they say as gospel... Reuben was born at 2.970kg as weighed in the labour room. The midwife (a really wonderful one I must say) did a mental calculation in her head for us at 6 pounds 9 ounces. So for the last 6 weeks that's what we've been telling people and published it loud and claer in all his birth announcements. Until a few days ago I get on a metric to imperial converter (and several others to confirm it) to find he was actually 6 pounds FIVE ounces..not 9!