"The entire experience was brilliant and I feel so lucky"

There are a few people I want to thank.

Mr Gallagher. He had such an amazing and reassuring approach. I wanted a c section due to being more comfortable with this route and a medical history which meant vaginally delivering would be hard for me. He listened to everything and then asked me, how would you like to deliver your baby. I felt so listened to and I was so nervous I'd have to fight for a c section. He was so straight forward about what it involved and it was such a stress free experience. He in a later appointment said, you know your baby best when talking about reduced movement. I can't tell you how lovely that was to hear as a nervous first time mum. It really made me feel confident in my judgement and helped me so much. 

Then the c section itself was such a positive experience. I am afraid I don't know the names of everyone involved, they did introduce themselves but I was a bit overwhelmed so don't remember. But the lady running the show with the colourful head covering was an angel. She had such a brilliant presence. The exact right balance of professional, chatty, funny and supportive.

I would like her at all my medical appointments from now on.

The surgeon who popped his head over the curtain to tell my how cute my baby was.

The Anaesthesiologist who kept chatting to my partner and keeping things casual and fun.

And then everyone who realised I was getting overwhelmed and took my baby temporarily off my chest so I could breath and gave him to my partner so I knew everything was ok. I was concerned they might tell me I needed to stay doing skin to skin but honestly that little break was a Lifesaver and I was so ready to hold my baby again afterwards. 

Finally a big thank you to Rachel the midwife who put me at my ease, helped me with the decision about breastfeeding, advocated for more pain relief, and just was a wonderful person to have by my side during everything. 

I think having the c section was the best day of my life and that was 100% down to the staff at the Royal Surrey throughout the whole experience. I met so many amazing midwives, nurses, consultants, doctors.

Oh and the consultant who moved my c section forward a day. 100% the right decision, she gave me the choice of what to do and again listened, explained everything and was such a reassuring presence. I felt so confident bringing the date forward a day was the best decision and seeing her on the day was so reassuring. I don't know how I could thank everyone enough.

The entire experience was brilliant and I feel so incredibly lucky.