"Everything! I gave birth at Samuel ..."

What I liked

Everything! I gave birth at Samuel Johnson and stayed there for 4 nights. I received fantastic care during my birth and had a lovely water birth with virtually no intervention and no pain relief other than a TENS machine which for me was a bit of a shock as I am not exactly the brave type. I loved the fresh, healthy food cooked on site whilst I stayed and the lovely on suite room that I stayed in. I stayed until I was comfortable enough caring for my baby to leave. I have now breast fed my baby for a year (including food after 6 months)! and feel that without the valuable support that I received I would have given up which would have been a great shame. I was shown how to bath my baby loads of times, quite often was on my own with three midwives looking after me and was made to feel important and cared for. In the end I didn't want to go home!!! I feel that giving birth at Samuel Johnson gave my baby and I the best possible start to our relationship and I wouldn't have changed any thing about the experience at all.

What could be improved

Advertisement of the facilities! If another Mum hadn't have told me about Samuel Johnson, I wouldn't have even known that it was there!

Anything else?

The care receicved at Samuel Johnson was similar to that you would expect to receive at a private clinic and I would urge anyone having a 'normal' low risk pregnancy, even if you live close to your local hospital to at least visit and have a look around the facilities. I only live 5 mins from Good Hope and 20-25 from Lichfield and so was unsure wether it would be the right option for me. Once I visited, I never looked back and would recommend it to anyone who is able to attend!