"A perfect birth at Perth"

After my water breaking the night before but no contractions happening, I attended an appointment at PRI with Emma the midwife. She was so knowledgeable and attentive and we left the appointment feeling ready for labour knowing everything was well and some great advice to follow.

My contractions started soon after and I then had a precipitous labour - 2.5 hours from the first noticeable contraction to my baby being born. We are based in Crieff so we’re so grateful that PRI was so close and if it had had to go to Dundee my baby would have been born in the car for sure.

When we arrived at PRI, the pool was ready. I felt this was really organised of the midwives part resulting that I then went on to have a magical water birth, where I will never forget seeing my baby’s face appear in the water. I am so grateful for this!

Emma, Marie and the team kept me calm and the labour (although very intense and quick) went so smoothly and was a day I will never forget. My husband and I were given hours of uninterrupted bonding skin to skin time and our baby was kept with us, they held off taking her for tests/weighing etc. this really helped with the start of my feeding journey and when I needed help with it, Marie was really helpful - gentle and patient, I felt comfortable.

The stitches after were minimal but again the team were reassuring and took their time. They must have done an amazing job because 5 days later I feel almost recovered and have had no pain.

I was welcomed to stay overnight which I appreciated with having a 2 year old back at home! I was really well supported and the midwives looked after us both so well.

I returned home ready to face being a mum of 2 and knowing that I had had a safe, memorable and special birth. Follow up appointments with Elspeth have been great continuity on the care we all received at PRI. Thank you!