"High risk first pregnancy"

I transferred my care to UHCW half way through my pregnancy as I had a number of complications and wanted to be cared for in a large hospital with a good range of facilities and experience. The receptionists were extremely efficient at transferring my care and arranging for me to see a consultant who I then saw every other week until I gave birth. The antenatal appointments were always extremely thorough and I always left feeling confident that the hospital understood my needs and were creating an individual plan for me. I was induced at 38 weeks and as soon as I arrived I felt calm and relaxed. The staff we’re kind and explained the process clearly and my bed when ready when I arrived. Ward 24 was clean and relaxing and I immediately felt at ease. When I went into labour and was transferred to the labour ward I had my own midwife who stayed in the room for the whole labour. She was knowledgeable and extremely calm and considerate and made the whole process as smooth as possible. I also met with the main medical team during their ward round who took the time to talk to me and explain the procedures if anything was to go wrong. I felt calm and reassured and in very safe hands. When I delivered my baby the senior midwife was also in the room and ensured my baby was delivered safely. The skills of the midwives enabled me to have a normal delivery with minimal tearing which has enabled me to recovery fully within 2 weeks. After the birth we were given time to bond with the baby, provided with food and I was encouraged to have a bath and relax. There was no pressure to leave the labour ward quickly and we even saw a senior Pediatrician to check our baby before being transferred to the postnatal ward. Ward 25 was also excellent and the small number of beds in each room helped to make me feel much more relaxed. The staff were always on hand to help with feeding and I was very impressed with the full check my baby had before we were discharged. My husband was also allowed to stay overnight which was a great help. UHCW may be a large busy hospital but it never felt chaotic or that there wasn’t time to attend to my needs. I was highly impressed with every member of staff and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this service. I will definitely transfer my care again if I am lucky enough to have a second baby.