"They are pure gems"

I had a planned home birth. This is my 4th pregnancy and all my babies were born in midwife lead units and were as low key as giving birth can be with just gas and air. At my first booking appointment at Skene medical centre I spoke to Anna my midwife and told her I wished to give birth at home. From day one Anna was so supportive and lovely. Life wasnt always straightforward for me at the time but Anna was the support I needed during the whole of my pregnancy only sad thing was she was on holiday when I went into labour and therefore wasn't able to be at my sons birth. The care I got during my pregnancy was second to none and Anna is an outstanding kind midwife.

So 1 week overdue I went into labour at 5am in the morning. I phoned the on call team at Peterhead and by 5: 50 am I had midwife 1 with me. Wendy the midwife was lovely. I had planned for a water birth but hubby wasn't very organised and we didn't have the right bit for our tap. So my two oldest boys filled the pool with any buckets they could find. Was slightly "carry on home birthing" but gave them something to do. Sadly my labour was progressing quickly and the pool was not used. At 6: 40am midwife 2 and a student arrived all the way from Keith! ! I live an hour away from them. Again lovely ladies who were so supportive. By 7: 30am my son made his arrival very quickly, with some gas and air. Within a short space of time I was snuggled up in my own bed with my little baby boy and my husband and three older children around me. Slightly shell shocked as a very quick labour but delighted. I was blessed with three wonderful kind lovely midwives with me, just me! ! ! ! Amazing care and service. I have worked for the NHS for many years and a lot of the time the service gets a very hard time but I can't fault the care in pregnancy and during labour. These ladies work long stressful shifts and deserve to know that they are pure gems.