"The level of care we received could not have been any better"

Last week my wife gave birth to our daughter! And i just want to write to you detailing our experience!

We had planned a homebirth so will start with that! Firstly the Homebirth team are unbelievable it is run like a swiss watch so efficient, organised and professional. Michaela was with us from the start and a massive help she is amazing! She always turned up when she said she would and any questions we had she was there and a massive support to us. Someone who is so friendly and very good at her job. She is still there for us just now and so supportive as are the rest of the team.

Due to some differences in the baby's size spotted by Michaela on a routine home visit we were sent for a growth scan which we were worried about. We were told that the fluid around the baby wasn't where it should be and we were to head home until we were contacted by a consultant. We received a phone call that night asking to come in where a lovely consultant explained what was happening and put us at ease. The maternity unit was apparently really busy that night but you would never have known that. The ward was so quiet and everything so organised with staff there if we needed.

We were then put into a private room where my wife was induced, this is where we were introduced to Amanda who was in charge and Rachel our midwife. I am someone who is really squeamish and don't cope well in those situations and i was really worried, as was my wife. Rachel could not have been a better midwife. She took time to calm us in particular me! Me and my wife had a million questions and Rachel was so calm and knowledgeable. Rachel was with us the whole night from around 10pm to 07:30am in the morning and she made the whole experience amazing for us. Chatting to us through the whole night even having some banter. She never left us without explaining where she was going and left us assured at all times.

By 07:30 the baby still wasn't here and Rachel had finished her shift. She handed over to two new midwives Gill and Tara (student midwife). When she was handing over she explained everything to them and even told them that i am squeamish which was amazing and showed how attentive she is. 

Tara and Gill just like Rachel were just as amazing. They came into the situation calm and reassuring, not long after my wife began to push and it was getting to the end point. All of the midwives were calm in the situation and had everything under control, a special mention to Tara she was so involved. You would think that she had been a midwife for 30 years rather than just the 3 she has spent as a student. 

After baby was here Tara spent time with us doing checks on the baby and even got my wife breakfast and me a coffee. She took time to show me the checks she was doing she also showed me how to change a nappy which i hadn't done for a while. Again someone who is so calm, caring and professional. She is a credit to the NHS and please refer to this when it comes to Tara applying for a midwife job after her training. 

After Baby was born Tara and Gill took us to the unit after birth where again we got our own private room. My son was now with us. He has autism and the staff were unbelievably kind towards him. Tara and Gill both making him feel involved and taking time to talk to him as we walked to the new room. Every single member of staff who came into the room addressed my son by his name and took time to acknowledge him. One of the staff (cant remember name) worked in the unit after you gave birth even turned the beeping noise down on one of the machines as he is sensitive to noise with autism.

The level of service and care we received that day could not have been any better! Me, my wife, son and now daughter will never forget how your staff made us feel. Also want to note that the hospital was amazing it felt like a hotel. My son was born in Edinburgh in 2015 and the difference in that experience to the one we just received is night and day.

Thank you!