"A lovely birth experience"

I have just given birth to my second baby at Inverurie maternity unit. My midwife was very supportive of my choice to have a vbac and I felt that my reasons for wanting this were listened to. The birthing suite itself is a nice big space and the projector lights create a relaxing environment, it is unfortunate that the pools are not in use though. I had originally planned to have a home birth due to the pool problem but due to short staff I went into the unit. I think having the pool would of really helped during labour but the walk in shower room was the next best thing and I spent a lot of time in there.

I met a student midwife, a few times throughout my pregnancy and having a familiar face there to deliver my baby was really lovely and shows the importance of continuity in care. All of the midwives present throughout my labour and birth were fantastic, they couldn’t have done anything more for us. They kept their distance to allow myself and my partner to share the experience but stepped in with encouragement when I needed it. 

I was transferred to Aberdeen to have stitches in theatre and was surprised at how much I was separated from my baby there. It worried me that those crucial hours to initiate breastfeeding were slipping away but in the following days the midwives that visited us at home really helped with the latch and showed me different positioning and i’m pleased to say we’re on a roll now with breastfeeding! 

I can’t thank you all enough and i feel so lucky to have had such a lovely birth experience this time. Special thanks to both students who are going to make wonderful midwives!