"Birth of my first baby"

After a failed ECV in CAH, I was booked for an elective c-section in DHH. . Myself and my fiancé arrived for 7:30am, we got to the ward and settled in. We weren’t sure what time the section would take place at - a member of staff came around 11:20 to scan me to ensure my baby was still breech then take me down to theatre. I started to get anxious about the unknown of how my life is about to change forever and for the best!

We got to theatre and was greeted by Neil, he was amazing unknowingly to him he calmed me down about the  spinal block and ensured everything I was feeling was completely normal. He even joked about us naming our baby Neil if it’s a boy (again calming me down and making me feel at ease).

I had a bit of an emotional moment when one of the nurses asked was any of the two woollen hats provided okay for my baby, I explained to her before I got teary that my mother had knitted hats for tiny life for so many years and now she doesn’t knit due to her dementia and her being in a nursing home at the age of 60. It was a heartwarming moment seeing the hats in action. 

Neil again calmed me down as my fiancé wasn’t in the room yet. 

Our beautiful baby boy was born at 11:57, the surgical team was amazing and so far my section wound looks amazing (I was quite nervous about the look of it). 

When I arrived to the ward with my son, I was greeted by Ellie who was so kind and caring. Geraldine was on that night I believe and she was amazing help, trying to get him to latch and really encouraged me and helped me with establishing breastfeeding, she took the baby that night to help me sleep. Ellie helped me the following day as I struggled moving and in general taking care of myself, she made me realise that everything I was feeling i.e pain and thoughts of the section was valid and reassured me it’s normal. She told me she experienced a section as well. Suzanne also was a huge help that day as well.

Friday night I struggled as I ended up being sick, Claire was there on hand and took the baby for the night for me to try and get some sleep an especially was I was vomiting. Saturday was my best day in terms of movement etc and we managed to get home on Sunday. 

The only thing I would say that took me by surprise was on the Friday night after change over in shift before I started to become sick - I needed to go to the loo, I asked for assistance from the nurses as I still couldn’t get out of bed, walk or use the loo without assistance. The Midwife arrived and didn't really seem interested in helping at all, once they got me to the toilet door they explained that I was 24 hours post surgery and I should be able to move and go to the toilet by myself. I explained I wasn’t sure why I was in so much pain, I had tried to move during the day but I was in so much pain. They explained the medication I was on, I had to stop them as they mentioned a medication that I wasn’t getting, I told them I was allergic to ibuprofen therefore allergic to anti-inflammatories. They then just agreed and let me attempt to sit down at the loo without helping.

I got back to the bed and my fiancé had to lift my legs while I attempted to pull myself onto the bed. It made me feel that the Midwife didn’t look over my notes during handover, and just assumed the medication I was on. They also made me feel like a bad mum as I had only been able to give my son 4ml of colostrum (even though I had previously expressed 20ml and he had taken the 16ml) and because he couldn’t latch on correctly.

I’m so lucky and grateful to have been under the care of Neil, Ellie, Geraldine, Suzanne and Claire. These 5 people made my stay and the birth of my Son a great experience. I’m so grateful I met these people