• File a Complaint
  • Community Story Blog
    • Read the Blog
    • Share Your Story
    • FAQ
  • Research and Advocacy
    • Free Palestine
    • Patient Experiences at St. Joseph's Health Centre
    • Doulas and Obstetric Violence
    • COVID-19 Open Letter for Birth Support
  • Menu

The Obstetric Justice Project

  • File a Complaint
  • Community Story Blog
    • Read the Blog
    • Share Your Story
    • FAQ
  • Research and Advocacy
    • Free Palestine
    • Patient Experiences at St. Joseph's Health Centre
    • Doulas and Obstetric Violence
    • COVID-19 Open Letter for Birth Support
The Obstetric Justice Project

The Obstetric Justice Project

Y's Story - Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario

May 29, 2019

May 6-8, 2018 - I’m a young mom, went in due to leaking at 39 weeks 1 day, they told me I peed myself - I assure you all I didn’t - and they sent me home still leaking. I woke up to a giant gush of coloured fluid on the 7th, blood and definitely the baby’s first poop. I rushed to hospital where they immediately put me in the birthing room, I was told not to moan or “yell”. I wasn’t even swearing, just a nice cow-like moan. The nurse told me I was scaring and stressing everyone out as if they were the ones in labour. The gave me four failed epidurals and continued to give me drugs when I asked them to stop and said I didn’t consent. They told me to suck up the pain that the medication was causing as she was pushing a whole needle of still unknown medication in my IV, it felt like I was going to have a heart attack. My mom started yelling at her to stop as she said I looked like it was killing me. They had me lying flat on my back unable to move or drink for 30 hours steadily leaking poop-filled fluid. After almost 2 days in bed lying flat in labour and they finally said it’s time for an emergency c-section as mine and my baby’s heart rate were dropping fast. The spinal block didn’t take and I remember screaming, “Put me to sleep please help me!” The pain I remember from that moment is traumatic. I woke up to my lovely son and me in a decent state for what I’d just experienced. At his one week check-up, my doctor admitted they should have checked the baby’s position as he was locked in a weird position and it never would have been a vaginal delivery from the beginning. Also after birth my son didn’t eat for two days while I was there. Nobody helped me learn breastfeeding and they wouldn’t get me formula or help. They also didn’t help me learn the diapers. I was basically a 20 year old mother totally unprepared and unhelped (I’m lucky I had family to go home to).

My back is really bad now I have a huge swollen tailbone and nerve damage from the epidurals and surgery.

I was discriminated on being a young mom.
I wasn’t assisted in feeding.
I wasn’t brought lunch on multiple occasions. 
I was told to be quiet. 
I was asked if I was going to have help raising him as I’m very young
They told me to suck up the pain from the medication that I expressed I didn’t want and I told the nurse to stop giving me it, she didn’t listen until my mom intervened.
I have a history of mental health and I was asked multiple times if I feel confident I’m not going to hurt him.

I didn’t give feedback, but my fiancé did. I don’t even know what he wrote I was terrified to tell anyone what was happening to me (staff, doctors, etc.)

DON’T GIVE BIRTH HERE if you’re a teen/young adult.
Make sure you DEMAND help breastfeeding or for formula.

I cry every time I think about my experience and how I was treated less-than because I am a young mom.





Submitted by Youngmominthegutter

Tags: Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Care Without Consent, Mental Health, Marginalized Identities, C-section
Prev / Next

Community Story Blog

These are your stories of pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care in Canada.

A public body of evidence of mistreatment, negligence, and violence.


Browse by tag:

Featured
Featured Stories
Featured Stories

A selection of submissions ideal for readers new to the Community Story Blog and The Obstetric Justice Project.

C-Sections
C-Sections

Story submissions featuring Caesarean section surgery.

Care Without Consent
Care Without Consent

Consent violations at the hands of healthcare providers.

Abortion Stories
Abortion Stories

Story submissions featuring abortion care and access in Canada.

COVID-19
COVID-19

Community submissions and our own Calls to Action related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

NICU Stories
NICU Stories

Stories from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

PAIL Stories
PAIL Stories

Story submissions about miscarriage, stillbrth, termination for medical reasons, pregnancy and infant loss.

Midwife Stories
Midwife Stories

Story submissions featuring midwives and midwifery clients.

Toronto
Toronto

Story submissions from Toronto, Ontario.

More Coming Soon
More Coming Soon

Stay tuned for more!


LOGO 2020.png
  • March 2024
    • Mar 16, 2024 Violation at Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center - Los Angeles, California, USA Mar 16, 2024
    • Mar 16, 2024 PAP Test But Still a Virgin - Clinic - Toronto, Ontario Mar 16, 2024
    • Mar 16, 2024 Birth Story - Winchester, Ontario Mar 16, 2024
    • Mar 16, 2024 Inappropriate Touching By Nurse - British Columbia Mar 16, 2024
  • July 2023
    • Jul 21, 2023 V's Story - Sault Area Hospital - Sault Ste Marie, Ontario Jul 21, 2023
    • Jul 21, 2023 Doctor Creepy - North York General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario Jul 21, 2023
    • Jul 21, 2023 Sneaky Charges - North York General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario Jul 21, 2023
    • Jul 21, 2023 Chasing a nurse down the hallway postpartum - North York General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario Jul 21, 2023
    • Jul 21, 2023 Ashtray Nurse - North York General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario Jul 21, 2023
  • May 2023
    • May 24, 2023 I see you, mama. The midwives lied to me, too. May 24, 2023
    • May 7, 2023 My Experience at Kingston Health Science Centre - Kingston, Ontario May 7, 2023
    • May 7, 2023 Smiths Falls OB - Smiths Falls, Ontario May 7, 2023
    • May 7, 2023 Neglect at Montfort Hospital - Ottawa, Ontario May 7, 2023
  • January 2023
    • Jan 17, 2023 You Are Not Alone, Part II - Kawartha Community Midwives, Peterborough, Ontario Jan 17, 2023
  • September 2022
    • Sep 14, 2022 Midwife Assault - Quinte Midwives, Belleville, Ontario Sep 14, 2022
    • Sep 14, 2022 Wrong Breastmilk to My Baby in the NICU - St. Joseph's Health Centre, Toronto, Ontario Sep 14, 2022
  • March 2022
    • Mar 12, 2022 You Are Not Alone - Ontario Mar 12, 2022
  • February 2022
    • Feb 13, 2022 An Immigrant at Côte-Nord - Sept-Îles Hospital, Québec Feb 13, 2022
  • January 2022
    • Jan 27, 2022 J's Story - Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, Québec Jan 27, 2022
  • February 2021
    • Feb 28, 2021 How to File a Complaint After Experiencing Obstetric Violence Feb 28, 2021
    • Feb 28, 2021 What is Obstetric Violence? Feb 28, 2021
  • January 2021
    • Jan 31, 2021 MOF's Story - Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario Jan 31, 2021
  • December 2020
    • Dec 12, 2020 Cielo's Story - Markham Stouffville Hospital, Ontario Dec 12, 2020
  • October 2020
    • Oct 24, 2020 A's Story - Michael Garron Hospital, Toronto, Ontario Oct 24, 2020
    • Oct 1, 2020 Lauren's Story - St Joseph's Health Centre, Toronto, Ontario Oct 1, 2020
  • September 2020
    • Sep 17, 2020 Tarin's Story - Peace Arch Hospital, White Rock, British Columbia Sep 17, 2020
    • Sep 15, 2020 "Giving birth to twins is an undertaking" - Ontario Sep 15, 2020
    • Sep 8, 2020 C's Story - Chatham, Ontario Sep 8, 2020
  • August 2020
    • Aug 3, 2020 Maciel's Story - BC Women's Hospital, British Columbia Aug 3, 2020
  • July 2020
    • Jul 16, 2020 AM's Story - Prince County Hospital, Summerside, Prince Edward Island Jul 16, 2020
    • Jul 16, 2020 Mom now's Story - Victoria Hospital, London, Ontario Jul 16, 2020
  • May 2020
    • May 25, 2020 Keavy's Story - Royal Alexandra Hospital, Edmonton, Alberta May 25, 2020
    • May 25, 2020 G's Story - Sault Ste Marie, Ontario May 25, 2020
    • May 25, 2020 Babygirl's Story - Stratford, Ontario May 25, 2020
  • April 2020
    • Apr 9, 2020 CALL TO ACTION: Birth Support Banned at Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, Québec Apr 9, 2020
    • Apr 8, 2020 CALL TO ACTION: Almonte General Hospital, Ontario Apr 8, 2020
  • March 2020
    • Mar 31, 2020 CALL TO ACTION: Nova Scotia Suspends Home Births During COVID-19 Pandemic Mar 31, 2020
    • Mar 3, 2020 E.P.'s Story - St. Joseph's Health Centre, Toronto, Ontario Mar 3, 2020
  • November 2019
    • Nov 27, 2019 Z's Story - Maternity Care Midwives, Thunder Bay, Ontario Nov 27, 2019
  • October 2019
    • Oct 16, 2019 VB's Story - Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario Oct 16, 2019
  • September 2019
    • Sep 9, 2019 A's Story - Sunnybrook Hospital, Toronto, Ontario Sep 9, 2019
  • August 2019
    • Aug 2, 2019 Lasting Brachial Plexus Injury Due to an Impatient Obstetrician Aug 2, 2019
    • Aug 1, 2019 DB’s Story - Winnipeg, Manitoba Aug 1, 2019
  • July 2019
    • Jul 31, 2019 L.B.'s Story - Kingston General Hospital, Kingston, Ontario Jul 31, 2019
    • Jul 31, 2019 Maddison's Story - Winnipeg, Manitoba Jul 31, 2019
    • Jul 30, 2019 Lisa's Story - Clarence-Rockland Family Health Team, Rockland, Ontario Jul 30, 2019
    • Jul 30, 2019 A's Story - Ottawa General Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario Jul 30, 2019
    • Jul 30, 2019 Margaux's Story - Flashbacks to South Africa, 1985 Jul 30, 2019
    • Jul 29, 2019 A's Story - Ottawa Valley Family Health Team, Almonte, Ontario Jul 29, 2019
    • Jul 29, 2019 S's Story - Calgary, Alberta Jul 29, 2019
    • Jul 14, 2019 Jen's Story - Brampton Civic Hospital, Brampton, Ontario Jul 14, 2019
    • Jul 8, 2019 Twin Mom's Story - Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario Jul 8, 2019
    • Jul 8, 2019 Manon's Story - Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario Jul 8, 2019
  • May 2019
    • May 29, 2019 Y's Story - Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario May 29, 2019
    • May 10, 2019 Remain Calm - St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario May 10, 2019
  • April 2019
    • Apr 23, 2019 C's Story - Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital, Orillia, Ontario Apr 23, 2019
    • Apr 11, 2019 Black Maternal Health Week Apr 11, 2019
    • Apr 10, 2019 MJ's Story - Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island Apr 10, 2019
    • Apr 10, 2019 L.G.O.'s Story - Guelph General Hospital, Guelph, Ontario Apr 10, 2019
  • March 2019
    • Mar 26, 2019 World Doula Week Survey Mar 26, 2019
    • Mar 22, 2019 G's Story - Grey Nuns Community Hospital, Edmonton, Alberta Mar 22, 2019
    • Mar 22, 2019 EK's Story - Paterson Medical Centre, Kenora, Ontario Mar 22, 2019
    • Mar 13, 2019 T's Story - Peace Arch Hospital, White Rock, British Columbia Mar 13, 2019
    • Mar 13, 2019 AJ's Story - Winnipeg, Manitoba Mar 13, 2019
    • Mar 12, 2019 HJL's Story - Markham Stouffville Hospital, Markham, Ontario Mar 12, 2019
    • Mar 9, 2019 S.N.T.'s Story - South Cowichan Medical Clinic, Mill Bay, British Columbia Mar 9, 2019
    • Mar 9, 2019 R's Story - Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario Mar 9, 2019
  • February 2019
    • Feb 22, 2019 Regroupement Naissance-Renaissance and the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health - Montréal, Québec Feb 22, 2019
  • December 2018
    • Dec 4, 2018 J's Story - Scarborough General Hospital, Ontario Dec 4, 2018
  • November 2018
    • Nov 23, 2018 Susan's Story - Stratford General Hospital, Ontario Nov 23, 2018
    • Nov 3, 2018 Being a Doula in Toronto Nov 3, 2018
  • October 2018
    • Oct 29, 2018 Survey Response - St. Joseph's Health Centre, Toronto Oct 29, 2018
  • September 2018
    • Sep 29, 2018 Katie's Story - McMaster Children's Hospital, Hamilton, Ontario Sep 29, 2018
    • Sep 3, 2018 Alicia's Story - Royal Victoria Hospital, Barrie, Ontario Sep 3, 2018
  • August 2018
    • Aug 2, 2018 LM's Story - Cambridge Memorial Hospital, Cambridge Aug 2, 2018
  • July 2018
    • Jul 1, 2018 Jennifer's Story - Ottawa General Hospital, Ottawa Jul 1, 2018
  • May 2018
    • May 13, 2018 Chelsey's Story - Ottawa General Hospital, Ottawa May 13, 2018
    • May 13, 2018 Pigion's Story - Kingston General Hospital, Kingston May 13, 2018
    • May 8, 2018 Chloe's Story - Queensway-Carleton Hospital, Ottawa May 8, 2018
  • April 2018
    • Apr 29, 2018 Jen's Story - Guelph General Hospital, Guelph Apr 29, 2018
    • Apr 29, 2018 Terri's Story - Sault Ste Marie General Hospital, Sault Ste Marie Apr 29, 2018
    • Apr 28, 2018 Melissa's Story - St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton Apr 28, 2018
    • Apr 28, 2018 AN's Story - Alexandra Hospital, Ingersoll Apr 28, 2018
    • Apr 28, 2018 A's Story - London Health Sciences Centre, London Apr 28, 2018
    • Apr 28, 2018 Kim's Story - Bay Centre for Birth Control, Toronto Apr 28, 2018
    • Apr 27, 2018  Karyn's Story - Victoria Hospital, London Apr 27, 2018
    • Apr 26, 2018 Kara's Story - William Osler Health System, Brampton Apr 26, 2018
    • Apr 25, 2018 K.T.'s Story - London Health Sciences Centre, London Apr 25, 2018
    • Apr 22, 2018 Terri's Story - Georgian Bay General Hospital, Midland Apr 22, 2018
    • Apr 22, 2018 K's Story - ONE Fertility, Burlington Apr 22, 2018
    • Apr 21, 2018 A's Story - St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton Apr 21, 2018
    • Apr 21, 2018 K's Story - Victoria Hospital, London Apr 21, 2018
    • Apr 21, 2018 Crystal's Story - St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton Apr 21, 2018
    • Apr 19, 2018 Lysa's Story - Queensway-Carleton Hospital, Ottawa Apr 19, 2018
    • Apr 19, 2018 Jas's Story - Victoria Hospital, London Apr 19, 2018
    • Apr 18, 2018 Hanna's Story - Dr. Saraf, Sarnia Apr 18, 2018
    • Apr 18, 2018 Hilary's Story - Kingston General Hospital, Kingston Apr 18, 2018
    • Apr 17, 2018 T's Story - Kingston General Hospital, Kingston Apr 17, 2018
    • Apr 17, 2018 A.D.'s Story - St. Joseph's Health Care, London Apr 17, 2018
    • Apr 16, 2018 Jacqueline's Story - Kingston General Hospital, Kingston Apr 16, 2018
    • Apr 16, 2018 Natalee's Story - London Health Sciences Centre, London Apr 16, 2018
    • Apr 16, 2018 K's Story - London Health Sciences Centre, London Apr 16, 2018
    • Apr 15, 2018 Jesica's Story - St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton Apr 15, 2018
    • Apr 15, 2018 Tara's Story - McMaster University Medical Centre, Hamilton Apr 15, 2018
    • Apr 14, 2018 A's Story - North Bay Regional Health Centre, North Bay Apr 14, 2018
    • Apr 14, 2018 Tasha's Story - Mackenzie Health, Richmond Hill Apr 14, 2018
    • Apr 13, 2018 J's Story - Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital, Oakville Apr 13, 2018
    • Apr 7, 2018 K's Story - Stratford General Hospital, Stratford Apr 7, 2018
    • Apr 7, 2018 Jessica's Story - Midwife Alliance, Toronto Apr 7, 2018
  • March 2018
    • Mar 27, 2018 Danielle's Story - St. Joseph's Health Centre, Toronto Mar 27, 2018
    • Mar 23, 2018 Jen's Story - Victoria Hospital, London Mar 23, 2018
    • Mar 21, 2018 Catherine's Story - Montfort Hospital, Ottawa Mar 21, 2018
    • Mar 21, 2018 Holly's Story - Markham Stouffville Hospital, Markham Mar 21, 2018
    • Mar 21, 2018 C's Story - London Health Sciences Centre, London Mar 21, 2018
    • Mar 21, 2018 M's Story - Sudbury Memorial Hospital, Sudbury Mar 21, 2018
    • Mar 21, 2018 N.H.'s Story - Grand River Hospital, Kitchener Mar 21, 2018
    • Mar 21, 2018 G.M.F.'s Story - Solutions Health Care Associates, Toronto Mar 21, 2018
    • Mar 21, 2018 Anna's Story - Stratford General Hospital, Stratford Mar 21, 2018
    • Mar 5, 2018 C's Story - Southlake Regional Health Centre, Newmarket, Ontario Mar 5, 2018
    • Mar 5, 2018 Amanda's Story - Royal Victoria Hospital, Barrie Mar 5, 2018
    • Mar 1, 2018 K.M.'s Story - Royal Victoria Hospital, Barrie Mar 1, 2018
  • February 2018
    • Feb 27, 2018 S.P.'s Story - Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital, Orillia Feb 27, 2018
    • Feb 27, 2018 Krista's Story - The Ottawa Hospital - Civic Campus, Ottawa Feb 27, 2018
    • Feb 27, 2018 Jolinda's Story - Woodstock General Hospital, Woodstock Feb 27, 2018
    • Feb 26, 2018 Sally's Story - The Ottawa Hospital - Civic Campus, Ottawa Feb 26, 2018
    • Feb 26, 2018 Jessica's Story - Queensway-Carleton Hospital, Ottawa Feb 26, 2018
    • Feb 26, 2018 J. M's Story - The Ottawa Hospital - Civic Campus, Ottawa Feb 26, 2018
    • Feb 25, 2018 Emmilee's Story - Royal Victoria Hospital, Barrie Feb 25, 2018
    • Feb 25, 2018 JJ's Story - Royal Victoria Hospital, Barrie Feb 25, 2018
    • Feb 25, 2018 Morgan's Story - Health Sciences North, Sudbury Feb 25, 2018
    • Feb 25, 2018 Kiwi's Story - Royal Victoria Hospital, Barrie Feb 25, 2018
    • Feb 25, 2018 J's Story - Brampton Civic Hospital, Brampton Feb 25, 2018
    • Feb 25, 2018 AC's Story - Health Sciences North, Sudbury Feb 25, 2018
    • Feb 19, 2018 AB's Story - St. Joseph's Health Centre, Toronto Feb 19, 2018
    • Feb 6, 2018 Nicole's Story - Kingston General Hospital, Kingston Feb 6, 2018
    • Feb 1, 2018 AD's Story - Brantford General Hospital, Brantford Feb 1, 2018
  • January 2018
    • Jan 29, 2018 Jess's Story - Sunnybrook Hospital, Toronto Jan 29, 2018
    • Jan 24, 2018 Laura's Story - St. Joseph's Health Centre, Toronto Jan 24, 2018
    • Jan 22, 2018 RT's Story - St. Joseph's Health Centre, Toronto Jan 22, 2018
    • Jan 21, 2018 A's Story - Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto Jan 21, 2018
    • Jan 19, 2018 Sammy's Story - West Parry Sound Health Centre, Parry Sound Jan 19, 2018
    • Jan 19, 2018 S's Story - Markham Stouffville Hospital, Markham Jan 19, 2018
    • Jan 18, 2018 LNH's Story - St. Joseph's Health Centre, Toronto Jan 18, 2018
    • Jan 16, 2018 Melissa's Story - Humber River Hospital, Toronto Jan 16, 2018
    • Jan 15, 2018 CK's Story - Stratford General Hospital, Stratford Jan 15, 2018
    • Jan 15, 2018 Ana's Story - Toronto East General - Michael Garron Hospital, Toronto Jan 15, 2018
    • Jan 13, 2018 Kate's Story - St. Joseph's Health Centre, Toronto Jan 13, 2018
Share Your Story


Please respect the brave, sensitive, and vulnerable stories shared here and do not republish them elsewhere, outside of their intended context, without the explicit written consent of the authors.

Academics, students and researchers: the Community Story Blog is not your data set.


The stories and content shared on the Community Story Blog represent the views, experiences, opinions, and perceptions of the individuals who wrote and submitted them.

As views, experiences, opinions, and perceptions are wholly individual, they do not necessary reflect those of The Obstetric Justice Project.


Privacy Policy • Terms and Conditions
The Obstetric Justice Project © 2017-2025 All Rights Reserved