"They helped me have a birth I absolutely loved every second of"

I had an absolutely incredible birth experience at the AMU in the QEUH. My pregnancy was completely textbook until my due date when I went for midwife appointment and my blood pressure was high and I was tachycardia. I was brought in for monitoring two days in a row and started on blood pressure medication because of the risks of pre eclampsia. It was a consultant decision that to induce would be safest for me and for the baby. (I wrote another care opinion about this experience!)

I went to the QEUH in the early afternoon to be induced. In the antenatal unit I was made to feel so welcome and at home. I has been really keen for minimal intervention, so was a bit apprehensive about induction, but the midwife looking after me explained everything so thoroughly and so I felt I knew exactly how things would work. She really put me at ease, made me feel safe and had a laugh with me. When she completed the first VE to establish whether balloon or gel would work best, she said I looked favourable and offered a sweep so we could see if that reduced need for induction so I went for it. I felt totally safe  

My water broke 15 mins later and contractions started fast after that. Baby had to be continuously monitored for 30 mins so I struggled to get comfortable on my birth ball, but used hypnobirthing breathing to stay calm. I was keen to be mobile in labour but struggled to get comfy, the midwife (I wish I could remember her name, she was amazing!).

The midwife then showed me to a bath on the antenatal ward. Where I was able to spend time till I was ready for labour ward. This was exactly what I wanted and gave me and me husband some time to see how labour progressed (spoiler: very quickly!). 

After a while in there, things were really building and my husband asked for me to be reviewed. The midwife on the antenatal unit alerted labour ward and midwife Fiona came to review me almost immediately. She was absolutely incredible and made us both feel so safe. She reviewed me in the bath and told me she could feel babies head. I was shocked, she was totally cool in the moment and advised it was time to get down to labour ward.

I wasn’t sure how I would manage to get out of the bath but she, along with student midwife Gillian helped me and somehow they got me on a wheelchair and brought to AMU.

The room in the AMU was absolutely amazing. I had heard that sometimes labour can slow when you get to labour ward due to change in environment, bright lights and clinical sounds, but I felt so safe and relaxed I could just focus on birthing my baby. 

Fiona and Gillian were such a great team, working at such pace to get baby monitored and the pool filled!

I got in the birth pool, and our son was born 18 minutes later! I had some gas and air and used my Wave comb. Fiona and Gillian gave me so much motivation and I asked for some pictures etc to be taken, so the moment my son was born was captured on video. He was 8lbs 14oz - and I didn’t tear at all, just one tiny internal graze. It was honestly the best thing I have ever done, I didn’t believe you could really enjoy giving birth but I totally did.

The low lighting and art on the walls were beautiful and I will never forget the golden hours we spent there with our newborn son. This unit should win awards!

I can’t actually express my gratitude for this team that looked after me and helped make my sons birth the most incredible experience. They helped me to have a birth I absolutely loved every second of and have recovered quickly from!