"My birth experience"

I had my second baby at Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley. After an awful, traumatic emergency section birth with my first during lockdown, I cannot emphasise the exceptional care I received from all the staff at the RAH. I had planned a VBAC and Dr Thomson, my consultant, was very supportive throughout. I ended up with pneumonia when pregnant and again was hugely supported again by Dr Thomson and all of the staff in triage and ward 31 of the maternity unit. 

Stephanie and the neonatal team began to undertake special services with me to help with my mental state and fear around birth. Stephanie was incredible in getting me to a place where I was not scared of the hospital. She helped me propose 3 birth plans and orientated me around all the areas of the hospital that my birth could happen. I wanted a VBAC pool birth in the CMU. We had a meeting altogether with the midwife from CMU, Stephanie, Dr Thomson, my doula and husband around 6 weeks before baby was due. Baby was breech and I was so upset. They were all incredible. Dr Thomson supported everything I wanted to try and so did Steph. The moxibustion worked in turning her so that was amazing news for me as I was even going to the extent of wanting try a vaginal breech delivery if she hadn’t turned. 

In the end my waters started leaking 8 days before my baby came into the world. Dr Thomson and Steph kept a really close eye on me and did blood tests to check for infection. My waters fully went and I had not gone into natural labour almost 56 hours thereafter and again they were so supportive of my wishes not to rush an induction. The induction had gone so horribly wrong with my first. Anyway Steph calmly talked to me and I agreed to come in as the risks were outweighing what I was trying to achieve. At this stage my doula went against my wishes and was quite aggressive and not so nice to me so I actually ended up not having them at the birth.

I arrived to a beautiful room on labour ward with lights and a lovely bath. Both midwifes who looked after me were amazing, Lorrayne and Joan. Dr Thomson even cycled up on his day off to sit with us for about an hour whilst I was in labour. That meant so much to me that he came. I laboured for 18 hours on the syntocin on gas and air and finally some

Remifentinol (excuse spelling of incorrect). It was sore but I was so determined to have my VBAC.

Dr. Murphy came in to say I was 4cm and there was nothing more I could do as I had tried my hardest but they could see baby’s head and she was stuck. The drip was on the highest level and the risk of uterine rupture was too high. I emotionally asked her to call Dr Thomson (again he was off and picked up), he said I had done everything and yes we had to go for the section now. I was so overwhelmed and gutted and contracting like mad but everything went to plan. The General anaesthetic was agreed upon this time after the trauma of the spinal and being awake with my first.

The theatre staff and anaesthetic team were incredible. Once I was out I felt nothing and woke up in recovery to my beautiful baby nuzzling into me and starting to feed. I couldn’t believe it. She had no hat on as I had asked and they waited to weigh her in front of me when I was awake. They even brought my placenta to show me as I wanted to see it. A couple of hours later Steph arrived on her day off with gifts and hugs. I was overwhelmed with emotion she had done that. She said I did it and should be proud. Dr Thomson said the same when I saw him in the ward the next day or so. Dr Murphy came to tell me baby was deeply stuck in my pelvis and we had done the right thing and that she loved the story that was played during the section. I had recorded a story for the worst

Case for my baby to hear my voice when she came into the world.

I cannot thank the staff enough. Dr Thomson is phenomenal - undoubtedly the best and most genuine and kind obstetrician you could ever meet. Steph is a guardian angel. I have no idea where I would be now without her support. She held me more than she will ever know. Also a massive thank you to Nikki, the fantastic physio who continues to help me. The triage staff are unreal. I was in and out so often and you were all

Wonderful. Also the neonatal staff and paediatricians who kept an eye on my baby for the 1st few days of her life.

I had a 7 nights stay on ward 31 and it was what we both needed. I cannot thank you all enough. My care has been exceptional and you are all just such lovely people. I’m just now missing you all so much as I now can enjoy my little baby girl feeling a lot better about this birth than my first.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.