"The care from the team was next level"

I found out I was pregnant very unexpectedly early January 2024. From day 1 the care I received was on another level. I ended up under a specialist team due to a history of sexual trauma. This was the blossom team at the Princess Royal, from my first appointment with them they were so attentive and caring. They knew from my first appointment the trauma I'd been through but never brought it up and made me feel so at ease. Laura from the blossom team was my midwife and she was amazing during pregnancy and after birth! She answered every question no matter how silly I thought it was, she would also pop up to see me in the ward when I was admitted. All the staff in the blossom team were incredible but Laura especially was!

I ended up in and out of the PRM due to reduced movements etc and the staff on the wards were so nice and kind every time, I was never made to feel like a burden or that I was going to often etc. They reassured me every time and took every concern so serious.

I had my little girl early September 2024, I went in for an induction but once I arrived the midwife examined me and said there was no need to be induced as I was already 2cm dilated. I was kept in and taken to the labour ward the next morning. I had Rhona as my main midwife and she was so lovely, friendly, very smiley and happy and created such a warm and comforting environment. She broke my waters and reassured me many times that it wasn't painful as I was scared it would hurt. She was right it didn't hurt at all! The rest of the day I gradually went into labour and the main thing I remember about that day is how relaxed I felt, we laughed so much and nothing was to much for Rhona, she was so relatable and just so normal it was like having another friend there. Rhona was only a few years qualified but it felt like she'd been in the job 20 years! My labour was just so lovely, Rhona didn't deliver my little girl because she'd finished up but she came the next day to check in on me and baby and I really appreciated that! 

The team that delivered my baby were also just as incredible, I had 2 midwifes one I'm sure was called Ann, both were so lovely and couldn't have done anything more to support me. I had a lovely doctor who did have to cut me to safely deliver baby and she reassured me when I was scared and explained every detail and calmed me down. Baby arrived safe and sound and pretty quickly afterwards I felt funny, they listened and quickly passed baby to my birthing partner and told me we had to go to theatre to stop the bleeding as I didn't stop when I should have. It was fast but everything was explained, we went to theatre and all the staff were really lovely! The anesthetist that day were men however they came before baby was born and introduced themselves and that really helped me when it came to them all running into the room and being taken to theatre. My trauma and ptsd didn't come into it at all everything was so professional and caring. They put me to sleep and did what they had to and not long later I was back with my little girl. 

This was 10pm-12pm this all happened so the next morning different doctors, consultants and midwifes came to see me in HDU to make sure I was OK and to debrief me on what happened. I remember Laura my midwife saying to me it sounded really traumatic but it really wasn't at all, I still say labour was one of the best experiences of my life, it was a really lovely experience. The debrief afterwards by the multiple doctors really impressed me that they took the time to make sure I was OK and that I understood everything that happened and allowed me an opportunity to ask any questions I had.

The staff in HDU and the ward were so lovely aswell. Nothing was too much for them, they helped me with baby when needed and one really lovely midwife on the ward I wish I remembered her name but she was young, run of her feet busy caring for so many mums and babies and still found lots of time for me and baby. She even helped me to breastfeed, something I didn't want to do prior to baby being born but wanted to give a go when baby arrived, she was patient and showed me what to do and I'm so grateful for that. I didn't breastfeed more than a few days for different reasons but she helped me give my daughter a few days of colostrum and I'm grateful she got to have that. Laura my midwife also sat with me and helped me with trying to breastfeed aswell!

I've had so many bad experiences with the nhs alot of which because of my trauma and the effects that has had on me. However, my pregnancy and labour experiences really has restored my faith in the nhs and has reduced many of my anxieties even now 4 months on, I honestly believe it's healed parts of me. I cannot thank everyone enough for everything they did for me and my little girl. The care from the PRM and the blossom team really was next level!