"A midwife that changed my experience for the better"

After a traumatic emergency caesarean section, I had a very strenuous and difficult, painful recovery. That was when I met Rachael in the post natal ward. I woke up in tears shouting for help, unaware of how to move with the pain. Rachael recognised how distressed I was and knew exactly how to reassure me, exactly how to make me feel better and she looked out for me the entirety of my weeks stay in the post natal ward.

Every day I looked forward to seeing Rachael because I knew in those small interactions she could give me, she would give me 100%. The support, the knowledge, the empathy, the willingness to do her absolute best, was unmatched. This meant everything to me and my partner considering how busy the ward was and how difficult it was to spread time equally between patients evidently was. Rachael really went above and beyond for me and my son as she did for every other patient around her.

My partner was unbelievably appreciative of her and the steps she took to make him feel comfortable as a first time dad as well as me and our son. Rachael despite how busy she was and how stressful the ward was, never failed to care for every single need I had. Whether it was helping me get changed, helping me get to the toilet, or helping me with my baby boy which I could not care for the way I wanted due to the section, she did it all.

I will forever be grateful for Rachael and the care she provided for us, I won’t ever forget it. She is an absolute credit to the service, an a credit to the Altnagelvin Maternity Services. She is everything a midwife should be and just an amazing person. I hope to see her again with my next baby in the near future.