Employees who work in maternity wards have recently beenopening upon Reddit about the absolute worst moms and dads they’ve encountered. We’ll warn you right now that these may not be the easiest stories to get through, but they’re good reminders to hold your children close today if you’re a parent. And keep reading to find a conversation with author, teacher, speaker and former midwife,Rachel Reed, PhD.

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To learn even more about this topic, we got in touch with author, teacher, speaker and former midwife,Rachel Reed, PhD. Rachel was kind enough to have a chat withBored Pandaand explain what it’s really like to be in the maternity ward.“Very busy and task-orientated. Over the past decade there has been increased work pressures, short-staffing and excessive amounts of documentation,” she explained.

To learn even more about this topic, we got in touch with author, teacher, speaker and former midwife,Rachel Reed, PhD. Rachel was kind enough to have a chat withBored Pandaand explain what it’s really like to be in the maternity ward.

“Very busy and task-orientated. Over the past decade there has been increased work pressures, short-staffing and excessive amounts of documentation,” she explained.

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Not in the maternity ward but in the ED, we have a regular patient. She has had 8 kids taken away. She said she is going to keep having them until she gets to keep one.

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Dr. Reed also says it’s not the job of ahealthcare provider to judge parents. “It is their job to support them,” she explained.

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30 Maternity Ward Workers Share The Worst Cases Of “You Shouldn’t Be A Parent” They’ve Ever Seen

So what should parents know before entering the maternity ward? “Their legal rights regarding consent and to know that care providers are often following policies and protocols that may not fit their individual needs,” Dr. Reed says.

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Dr. Reed added that we still have a long way to go in improving maternity wards. “Maternity systems were not set up to support the individual needs of mothers and babies. They were set up to support the needs of the institutions,” she explained. “One-third of women leave their birth experience traumatized. We need care that better supports women and new families, rather than pointing the finger at a minority of parents.”

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30 Maternity Ward Workers Share The Worst Cases Of “You Shouldn’t Be A Parent” They’ve Ever Seen

30 Maternity Ward Workers Share The Worst Cases Of “You Shouldn’t Be A Parent” They’ve Ever Seen

A mother holding her child in a dimly lit room, reflecting on parenting challenges.

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30 Maternity Ward Workers Share The Worst Cases Of “You Shouldn’t Be A Parent” They’ve Ever Seen

I once had an 10th grade student who was pregnant with her third child. It was horrible. I felt so bad for her. All three babies were with the worst guy ever. He was so mean. (I had him in class, too.).

Pregnant woman in a yellow dress standing outside, gently holding her belly, relating to maternity stories.

I worked in an abortion clinic in the 90’s and I remember a young woman who couldn’t stay sober long enough to have the abortion she wanted. Fetal alcohol syndrome is more serious than people know. Sad.

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30 Maternity Ward Workers Share The Worst Cases Of “You Shouldn’t Be A Parent” They’ve Ever Seen

Person holding a newborn, illustrating challenges in parenting discussed by maternity employees.

30 Maternity Ward Workers Share The Worst Cases Of “You Shouldn’t Be A Parent” They’ve Ever Seen

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Family medicine clinic here, we had a woman from out of town bring her 5 year old in. Kids healthy enough, but the both STINK to high heaven. Like the smell lingered in the exam room after they left, for hours. Mom’s feet and clothes are filthy. Turns out mom also needed medical care, because she was pregnant and had been having some vaginal bleeding. Mom has had TWO miscaraiges in the last year, has had no prenatal care, already has 5 kids (only one or two with her) and is living in a old camping trailer with boyfriend and kids. Boyfriend made her come to the doctor because of the bleeding, she didn’t think it was a big deal! She was supposed to come in for a follow up but they left town the next week. They were travelling in the trailer and “wanted to let the kids decide where they stayed”. I hope she’s okay but I’m doubtful.

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Age gaps age gaps age gaps. It’s always some couple, that’s related, uneducated, living in a cramped trailer or apartment with like 5 other people. Always overweight, on d***s, etc. and they’re shocked when they have loads of complications.

Woman holding baby near trailer under cloudy sky, highlighting maternity challenges.

My worst one was a consultation with a women who had her daughters taken away because their dad (biological) was sexually abusing them. She had 7 or 8 kids, I can’t remember and was pregnant again. There were so many issues, housing wasn’t good enough because of mold, small house, both were doing d***s and drinking. No family support, neither worked. Her toddler son was dirty, nappy looked heavy, no shoes on and he had to walk. I never felt like shaking a patient before, at the time I was struggling to get pregnant and it just broke my heart knowing my foster child could have experienced some of this.

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