"They all genuinely made this experience less scary for me"

I fell pregnant with my little boy in September, I remember feeling absolutely petrified and worried about what was to come. 

I kept this to myself and my partner for a while, not knowing or understanding why I felt this way until I did decide to speak to my midwife at my 28 week appointment, then finding out this wasn’t a normal way to feel. 

After being reviewed by the mental health team I was diagnosed with tokophobia, this being something I have never heard of before I was beyond embarrassed and felt silly for how I felt. 

I was then transferred care over to the western trust and put in contact with the perinatal mental health team, I had a lovely midwife Amy, & a lovely Keyworker Lucy. They both made me feel like I wasn’t alone & supported throughout the rest of my pregnancy. I personally feel that the support from them genuinely made the rest of my pregnancy & birth experience less daunting and somewhat more of a positive experience.

I got an amazing amount of support; and talked through absolutely everything that could and would happen in a birth experience. 

I was supported by every health care professional about my decision to have an elective c section. 

My Keyworker & midwife both prepared me for the section, and I feel like everything they did in preparation for the section helped me for the real thing.

It helped me to know what to expect, & what was coming so there would not be any shock or anything unknown for me.

On the day of my section, I had an amazing midwife talk me through everything on the FAU. 

The whole surgery team were absolutely amazing in keeping me calm, and to help me enjoy the experience of the birth of my baby, even if it meant blasting Taylor Swift in theatre! 

On the postnatal ward, again absolutely amazing experience and support, as a first time mum I felt that they really did help with a lot of things!

All the midwives were amazing, but I specifically remember a young midwife called Rhiannon, she really helped a lot with my son, and was checking in on me to see how I was doing & I just felt as though her support was amazing & I can't thank her enough! Especially in the first couple days; it’s people like her you remember! 

My overall experience both before having my baby & after was absolutely amazing thanks to the care I got from the perinatal mental health team & the midwives in Altnegelvin Hospital.

They all genuinely made this experience less scary for me and for that I cannot give my thanks enough!