"Birth and care at AMH"

After dreaming of a water birth at Doctor Grays hospital in Elgin using all the hypnobirthing techniques I’d practised during pregnancy, I found myself in Aberdeen about to sign the bit of paper agreeing to an emergency c-section. A far cry from what I imagined. 

The care and support I received at AMH was second to none. From the quick triage consultations while I was in crippling pain from contractions, to the beautiful set up in the Labour suite where the 2 young midwives played my own music, decorated the room with battery operated candles, switched on the fairy lights and dimmed the main lights to make the room feel as much like the HB atmosphere I’d hoped for. Then there was the immediate aftercare from the section where I was supported, bathed from head to toe and reassured everything would be okay with my new daughter who was taken away due to a temperature which indicated she might have an infection. 

I was kept in for 5 days post-birth due to this infection and stayed in the Ashgrove Ward and this is where the care was like nothing I’d imagined. The care was there at your bedside  literally at the push of a button. I was devastated that my baby girl’s first 5 days of life had to be spent in hospital, but the staff and midwives bent over backwards to help me care for my baby but also to settle my overriding anxiety that overtook me in those days. I was constantly on edge but the reassurance that everything was ok was a saving grace and I have to be thankful that I was being cared for 24/7 in what I’m sure if I was at home would have been equally as challenging. 

Special thank you to Jo who organised for me to have my own room and popped in when she could. 

To Anna - apparently a new midwife on the ward - and who was like my guardian angel. She was truly wonderful and every time she came into the room, I felt more relaxed and at ease with everything. Her knowledge was incredible but her compassion was what i appreciated the most. Thank you Anna for being like a friend in those todays when I needed it the most. 

To Orla, for the overnight care in the last couple of nights and who made sure I was nailing feeding. She took time to chat to me about how I was feeding and shared such an insightful video of breastfeeding women around the world, it’s been such a valuable video for be to refer back to. 

Then to everyone else, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You made sure I was comfortable and informed and I will always be forever grateful to you all, my angels.