Kimberley Vestermark got PTSD after childbirth without anesthesia despite needle phobia

During the pregnancy, Kimberley informed the midwives about her needle phobia. In her medical record and birth certificate, it was clearly stated that she is "very afraid of needles" and cannot imagine being stitched without anesthesia.

"High workload"

The birth itself went well according to Kimberley. She describes the staff before the birth as responsive and the atmosphere as good. During her time in care, the staff simultaneously registered a deviation about high workload.

After the birth, she needed stitches for a grade two hernia. Kimberley says that she protested when the staff wanted to administer local anesthesia and to sew in the delivery room.

- I screamed, cried, shook my head and said no. I know that the patient has the right to refuse care. I myself am a trained assistant nurse and in such a situation the healthcare staff can only inform the patient, she says.

Reported the care

The procedure was eventually called off and Kimberley was taken into surgery to close the rupture.

When SVT meets Ingrid Edman at Vårdförbundet and tells about the incident, she reacts to Kimberley's story:

- I just get desperate. This creates unnecessary human suffering. I am very sad when I hear this. A given care plan must be kept, she says.

Kimberley later reported the incident to both the Patient Board and IVO.

The women's clinic changes routines

Operations manager Mats Stenberg has responded to Kimberley in a letter and said that the information about her needle phobia could have been passed on more clearly to doctors. He also writes that a doctor's visit before the birth could have been used to make an individual plan and assessment.

"When there was no individual plan written down but an assessment would be made on the spot, essential information about your individual needs was missed," he writes in the response.

After the incident, the Women's Clinic has introduced a team birth chart where the needs and wishes of the person giving birth must be written down. The birth certificate must also be posted on the board.

IVO's processing is still ongoing.

In the Playlist: "At every pinprick they hold me" - this is how Kimberley Vestermark talks about the stitches that gave her PTSD