"Never has anyone treated me like [that doctor] did! I have been the victim of sexual assault in the past, and even that did not compare to how [she] treated me or how it made me feel. I repeatedly asked her to stop the exam, give me a moment, etc., all of which she ignored. She continued forcefully with the exam, while I cried and writhed in agony. "
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Submitted by Krista
Krista's Story - The Ottawa Hospital - Civic Campus, Ottawa
"I had questions and pain and all the nurse would say is "that's normal." I got a call from the NICU that my daughter needed to be fed. I called a nurse for a wheelchair as I couldn't walk and it never came. The NICU called and then said "Well, we have to give her formula as you aren't here." Like I was ignoring my child who was critically ill. I got up and made the long and painful walk in tears."
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Read MoreJolinda's Story - Woodstock General Hospital, Woodstock
"I want people to know I'm sure to the midwives and everyone else this just looked like a run-of-the-mill birth. It wasn't long or complicated and both I and my baby were physical healthy, but it's what's on the inside that matters. I hope women reading this can learn from all these experiences and find the courage to say no to disrespectful care providers."
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Read MoreSally's Story - The Ottawa Hospital - Civic Campus, Ottawa
"In my most vulnerable state I felt ignored and bullied.
They were too stubborn to listen and there was nothing that I could do about it. I am not sure if they are desensitized because they see too many pregnant women but they could have saved me from a lot of suffering if only they listened.
This was an experience that I will never forget and it still haunts me today."
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The Obstetric Justice Project
Jessica's Story - Queensway-Carleton Hospital, Ottawa
"I felt like I had no one to connect to after that. Others viewed it as a good thing for me. I felt all the pain that comes along with miscarriage. That man would never know the pain and loss I felt in that moment and yet he felt it was alright to tell me that this was something I should actually be happy about. It took me a long time to be okay again."
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Read MoreJ. M's Story - The Ottawa Hospital - Civic Campus, Ottawa
"So OB returns and says it’s time, gives me some info and I ask about a ‘gentle c-section’ that I had learned about in our prenatal class and she laughed at me.
After 30 hours of labour this doctor laughed at my distress that my daughter wouldn’t have skin to skin with me or be able to try to latch on her own soon after birth."
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Submitted by Emmilee