I gave birth to my first child recently, and while it should've been one of the happiest times of my life, my experience with Dr. Helen Salsbury and her daughter Anne (PA) left me feeling neglected, overlooked, and deeply disappointed.
For most of my pregnancy, I was only seen by Anne, the PA, not Dr. Salsbury herself. I didn't even meet the doctor who would be delivering my baby until I was 36 weeks along. That alone was unsettling. Anne came across as impersonal and cold. My appointments were rushed, and she never really looked me in the eye or took the time to understand my concerns. Her responses felt robotic, like she was reading straight from a textbook. I didn't feel seen, heard, or cared for, which is the last thing any expecting mother should feel during such a vulnerable time.
Eventually, I requested to be seen by Dr. Helen Salsbury. While she seemed slightly warmer than Anne, I quickly realized that she too was very quick with appointments--always in a hurry, like she had somewhere else to be. What really disturbed me was her rough approach during cervical checks. When I told her it hurt, she responded with an incredibly inappropriate comment: "I know your husband's penis is bigger than my fingers." That level of unprofessionalism is unacceptable.
She also tried to pressure me into being induced before my due date simply because she had a vacation planned. I refused, because I didn't want unnecessary interventions and I knew the risks of induction leading to C-sections. Thankfully, I went into labor after her return. While the delivery itself went smoothly, and she did her job efficiently, the care afterward is what truly shook me.
About 8 days postpartum, I developed intense swelling in my feet and legs, along with persistent headaches. My feet were so swollen it hurt to walk. I called the office, and they had me come in. My blood pressure was extremely high--clearly in the hypertension zone. When Dr. Salsbury saw me, she didn't ask how I or the baby were doing. She simply asked, "What brings you in today?" I explained my symptoms, and she brushed them off. She said she wouldn't give me a diuretic like Lasix because it would be "overkill." Instead, she told me the swelling was normal and that my husband should massage my feet. She told me unless I had blurry vision, I had nothing to worry about.
That advice almost cost me my life.
A few days later, I went to the ER because the headaches persisted and something didn't feel right. There, I was diagnosed with postpartum preeclampsia. My heart was enlarged. I had fluid in my lungs. My face, legs, and feet were severely swollen. I had dangerously high blood pressure and was at risk of seizures. I was hospitalized for four days. The same Lasix that Dr. Salsbury said was "overkill" was exactly what the hospital used to get the excess fluid out of my system.
The fact that she dismissed my symptoms and sent me home, despite having clear signs of a serious postpartum condition, is beyond upsetting. I could have had a seizure or stroke. I could have died. Her carelessness and lack of concern put my life in danger.
As a Black woman, I can't help but wonder if my pain and concerns were dismissed because of my race. I didn't feel heard. I didn't feel respected. I didn't feel safe. That is not how any patient should feel--especially not during pregnancy or postpartum.
To be fair, the front desk staff and office nurses were kind and professional. I had no issues with them. But I cannot recommend Dr. Helen Salsbury or her daughter Anne to any woman--especially women of color. I'm sharing my story in hopes that it helps someone else avoid going through what I did. read more
