"Maternity Care *****"

It's been 8 Months since I gave birth to my beautiful baby boy in Antrim.

The care I received both pre and post delivery was exceptional and I will be eternally grateful. Being a first time Mum and Nurse - I still had no idea how things would go or what to expect. 

Big thank yous to:

Eimear and the girls who looked after me in C1 during my admissions with Hyperemesis, being sick and worried the scans were reassuring, the girls were busy but they were brilliant, we had good laughs too. 

Midwifery team and staff at the Joint Clinic on a Tues morning - they were all brilliant and reassuring, friendly faces early on a Tues morning before work, special mention to Geraldine who is retired but who was still working away at the time - she was a midwife 37 years ago when I was born in the Mid :) Big thanks to Dr Briggs and Dr Hamill, who looked after me throughout. They make quite the duo. 

Deirdre, Dawn and Jenny who looked after me in Faetal Assessment pre and post delivery, with my BP and infusions. They were busy, phone constantly ringing, but they made time for us, they were friendly and chatty. 

Staff in the induction bay, they were extremely busy but looked after the ladies and their partners very well, explaining what was happening as things progressed. 

Sr Maeve and her team in delivery, Maeve kept an eye on my BP most of the day and got me into a suite as soon as a room became available. She also provided baby with cuddles post delivery. Ataga who was my midwife during the night, she was brilliant, she managed my sickness, she was reassuring and friendly, made herself aware of my pain relief preferences, and was brilliant with my husband. And to Megan my midwife who was with me when my baby was born, she was also friendly and reassuring, and kept me going during labour. With me during the most special moment of my life. I'd to spend the night and next day in delivery suite as I was receiving blood, special mention to Esther who was also lovely. 

My birth could not have went any better - he is healthy and perfect. Post delivery I had a very traumatic time needing to go to theatre and have a GA, receive blood transfusions and other complications, special mention to Dr Niamh (locum) who was amazing during what turned into a worrying time, she put me at ease, and came to see me later that evening to explain everything to me, things escalated quickly and I am very thankful to the whole team that afternoon. 

And lastly but by no means least, on the Ward, Barbara who looked after us at night, she was warm, friendly, buzzing around the place very busy but tended to all our needs and looked after my baby for me at night with all that had went on, and to Bethany who looked after us for the 4 days we were in, she was also lovely, had a great personality and couldn't have done enough for us either. 

My only regret is that I didn't ask for a briefing as I still have some blanks post delivery. 

All those mentioned and all those I have forgotten they are a credit to their profession and to the trust, keep doing what you do.