"They made me feel so supported and looked after"

I have just had a beautiful baby girl within the past 2 weeks under the care of Stobhill community midwife’s & the princess royal at GRI. 

I wanted to write something about my amazing experience with the staff and the level of care I received. I have given cards to staff but feel if I can do more by sharing here I will. 

Throughout my pregnancy and postpartum the community midwife’s have been amazing, my midwife Audrey has been a friendly face throughout I felt I could tell her anything. I felt so informed about my birth choices options, put at ease for sweeps for example and bloods.

Postpartum when she showed up at the door it was lovely, the advice and support she gave me regarding feeding, looking after myself and the reassurance baby girl was doing well made the world of difference. When my hormones hit I was a mess and a very special midwife assistant spoke me through my feeding plan and choices and while I cried and put me at ease she wrote down my plan we had spoke through and now it’s in action. I only wish I could remember her name. 

Student working with Audrey was professional and easy to talk to felt comfortable during all shadowing experiences. 

On the ward during my labour my amazing midwife’s were Debbie and Carla, within GRI. They made me feel so supported and looked after, I was shocked at the rapport we built in that room during my birth it helped put me at ease. I wanted a water birth but when it came down to it the heat wasn’t for me after talking through the pain options compatible with the bath I felt informed to change my mind and go to Labour ward. Carla supported my decision and spoke me through the pain relief I requested the benefits and risks. 

I had two students, one of which Victoria who is qualify this year she had only 2 births left to get her number. She was so professional both her and her best friend who was my student before. I actually forgot they were students so many times. At first I hadn’t wanted to have students because I didn’t want to feel like my birth was a teaching experience for someone else at any point. But I didn’t I was so happy for them to talk me through things, aid with examinations or watch for example and was asked continually before they became involved in parts of care. Student Victoria working end of July hope she does well, she will make an amazing midwife. 

When I went to theatre the anaesthetic team had an amazing worker called Rosie she was our DJ, photographer, hand holder and she made the theatre such a bright, positive and happy experience I had an amazing forceps delivery and she was a massive part of that. I know she had a job in there but I honestly couldn’t tell you want it was because she was seamless her ability to build rapport, create a positive environment and do her job all at once I won’t ever forget her. 

Our daughter’s middle name is rose after her gran and great gran  we took it as a sign Rosie was there for us. 

To the midwife who took my daughter overnight I was exhausted having sent my husband home she took her for an hour or so and that sleep was amazing I only wish I knew her name. 

A midwife assistant took a baby class in the room opened all the curtains and all the women learned together I loved this compared to the individual baby talk I had on day one. 

I was looked after by Chantelle midwife after baby girls arrival she was amazing, all my questions were answered I felt reassured. I was too overwhelmed and wanted help with feeding and she supported my decision to stay a second night. on the first day I was alone all morning I wish I had asked my husband to be there but I thought just let him rest. I had the hearing test, the physio, the support worker baby talk, the doctor check and it just felt like a lot I couldn’t take all the information in.

Of course they gave me leaflets and I took notes on my phone but I didn’t feel prepared for all the people I would see on the first day and I haven’t even had any visitors yet. I fed that back to Chantelle and I said I would have found it helpful to have known what day one on the Labour ward can look like ( a day in the life on the Labour ward) and provided with info on this before Labour or even a sheet to say on day one you may see this person that person. Chantelle took all my feedback on board and I felt listened to, I wanted to improve the experience for the next person going in. 

I hope these words find the women who helped me bring my girl into the world I won’t ever forget you and will see you hopefully for baby number two 

I would happily be contacted if I could do anything else