"Birth at PCMU"

When I found out I was pregnant with our second baby I knew straight away I wanted to give birth in Peterhead this time, as with my daughter, I was induced in Aberdeen. As some minor complications arose, the staff I seen was pushing for induction and recommending I gave birth in Aberdeen. I spoke through these concerns with Ruth who showed true compassion, really listened to what I was saying and consoled me when I was upset at the thought of not being able to give birth in Peterhead. I also spoke things through with my midwife, Katey, and she relieved the pressure I felt and assured me it was my decision as to where I gave birth. As my due date approached, I refused induction and had my mind set on Peterhead. When I thought my waters were trickling, Peterhead took me in to do an amni-check and Kelly confirmed it was my waters. Kelly told me exactly what the next stages were and what to look out for and told me to phone if I needed anything.

Within 4 hours, I felt I was in active labour and my husband and I headed for Peterhead. When we arrived, I was so relieved to see Denise and knew I would be looked after. When we arrived, Denise and my lovely continuity student, Kayleigh, took me to their triage room to check I was in active labour. However, when we tried to do a cervical exam, I was in too much pain and couldn’t even lie on the bed. Denise didn’t force me at all and reassured me that I knew what was happening within my body and they took me straight to the sunrise suite, where the pool was ready and waiting for me. I got straight into the pool, and all my fears were gone and my pain reduced significantly without additional pain relief.

Within 2 hours, our beautiful son was born, shocking everyone with how fast he arrived. After exiting the pool once my son was born, there was no pressure to get my son's weight, we were truly able to soak in the golden hour with skin to skin and those first few hours felt quiet. No rushing, no taking my son away, just all the positivity from our amazing midwives, Denise and Kayleigh, who also couldn’t do enough to help.

They also allowed us some privacy to FaceTime my dad, so he could see his first-born grandson. Denise and Kayleigh didn’t just look after me and my son, they also looked after my husband who (very happily) enjoyed a coffee while I was in the pool and chatted with him and always kept him involved and informed with what was happening. There was no pressure to leave the sunrise suite and move to the postnatal ward either.

After the midwives changed shift, Stacey was caring for us. Stacey went above and beyond to help when my son was being sick, needed changed and offering pain relief. Stacey sat with us for around an hour looking after my son while I was going to the bathroom, helping feed him when he wasn’t keen and just chatted about general things and made me feel normal. Stacey didn’t make me feel like I wasn’t able or like she was taking over, she simply was there to help and put me at ease and support me.

Again, the midwives changed shift the next morning and I was delighted to see Josie again. I seen Josie a few times in Peterhead for various things but didn’t think she would remember me as the midwives see so many people on a daily basis, but Josie did remember us and she even remembered our son's name I told her weeks/months prior. We weren’t made to feel like a number. As we left the hospital to go home and start as a family of 4, all the staff were there to wave us goodbye. When our home visits started, we were seen by Denise and Katey and again there was no pressure to feel like we all had to be up and dressed, we could be in our pyjamas with no judgement. The staff in Peterhead are second to none, and if we decide to have baby number 3 I will absolutely be back.