"Darent Valley maternity services"

I had my baby at Darent Valley Hospital in October. My community Midwife (Trish, who I saw at Temple Hill surgery) had been amazing leading upto the birth and just under 2 weeks before I had my baby, picked up raised blood pressure. I attended hospital the same day and got the all clear to go home. 3 days later, my waters broke. We attended the birth centre (where I had planned to give birth after attending the hypnobirthing course that the midwives run at the hospital for £50 - which was amazing!) but my blood pressure was very high at that point. I was monitored through the night and an induction was planned for the following morning- but by 6am I was well on my way. All the midwives and staff on the ward were amazing and supportive and the changeover in staff was seamless (every Midwife had read my notes and been given a proper handover). By 10.30 the next day I was ready, transferred to delivery suite. The Midwife who delivered my baby had seen I had been practicing hypnobirthing and was so accommodating and even though the pool was not available for a water birth, she did everything she could to support the active birth I wanted (she even turned the bed into a birthing chair when my legs gave way). 

The aftercare back on the ward was amazing again - we had lots of support and it was clear all of the staff working in maternity services just love babies. I cannot recommend Darent Valley enough and the hypnobirthing course they provide! Especially thanks to staff I can remember - Hannah, Claire and Shelley (who delivered him). Thank you, thank you, thank you!