"I felt so safe, calm, and supported throughout"

From the start of my pregnancy, I was supported by my named midwife, Elspeth, who was consistently excellent throughout. She was warm, professional, and particularly good at listening and responding to both my and my partner’s questions. Her presence was always reassuring.

I also had brilliant appointments with Tammy and Robyn during my pregnancy. I really appreciated Tammy’s honesty and directness when answering some of the trickier questions we had, and Robin had a wonderful combination of kindness, honesty, and a great sense of humour. I saw her a few times, including when I had to go in for sweeps, and she was also there when I first arrived at the unit in early labour.

When I went into labour, I arrived at Perth Midwifery Unit in the early hours of Wednesday in mid October. I was there for a long time, and the standard of care remained consistently exceptional. I felt so safe, calm, and supported throughout. I was able to labour in the birth pool for most of the time, which was exactly what I’d hoped for, and the atmosphere was peaceful and comforting, even as things became more complicated.

Moira was one of the midwives who was with me for most of that day, and she was just fantastic. She gave off this quiet aura of calm and wisdom that made me feel incredibly safe and held.

When her shift ended, Dharma took over, and I was beginning to struggle at that point. I was exhausted, unable to keep any food or fluid down, and really low on energy. She managed to gently and patiently bring me back into a more positive headspace, without ever being forceful. Just her presence was enough, and I remember how she calmly and compassionately made the call that I needed to be transferred.  The way she handled that moment was truly admirable. She gave me the information I needed without making me feel scared or overwhelmed. It was clear this was serious, but I never felt panicked. I just felt like, 'okay, this is what needs to happen now,' and that was down to how well she communicated and supported me. 

Next morning, I was transferred to Ninewells for an unplanned/emergency caesarean section. A midwife from Perth came with me in the ambulance, and then I was looked after by Marie, who stayed with me through the section and afterwards, helping with breastfeeding, supporting me emotionally, and making sure I was never alone.

That continuity of care meant the world to me and my partner. Marie was incredible - she somehow managed to be incredibly gentle, soft, and therapeutic in her presence, while also exuding total competence and experience. I felt very protected and seen by her. She helped me reframe my experience so I didn’t feel like I had “failed” by needing a caesarean, and her reassurance that I had made the right decision stayed with me. I’m so grateful that even though I had to leave the Perth unit, I still felt wrapped in their care through her.

At Ninewells, the care continued to be absolutely outstanding. I want to especially mention the student midwife, Hannah - she was just amazing. I’d agreed to having a student midwife involved, but at one point I actually forgot she was a student! She was so calm, capable, and professional that I genuinely assumed she was part of the senior team. She made a lasting impression and brought so much to an already positive experience.

I ended up staying a couple of days at Ninewells, and every member of staff I encountered was kind, respectful, and professional. I wish I could remember more names, but a few stand out:

Cameron, a male midwife working night shifts, was just lovely - cheerful, kind, and very attentive.

Caitlin, a doctor who came to redo my cannula, was brilliant - totally professional and a funny, happy surprise, as we had actually known each other at university years ago!

Chloe, who handled my discharge, was also excellent - calm, efficient, and kind.

And of course, all of the porters, healthcare assistants, and other team members I came into contact with were fantastic. I didn’t have a single negative experience.

Although all of this happened back in October 2024, I’ve found myself reflecting on it more and more recently, and I realised how important it was to share just how grateful I am. The fact that I still think so often and so warmly about the care I received speaks volumes about the compassion and professionalism of the teams that looked after me.

It really stayed with me, and I won’t forget it.