"Midwives worked so hard to get us home for Christmas"

I spent 4 nights in Summerfield ward whilst our daughter was in the neonatal unit. I was in a room with one other mother who was post natal and 2 women who were still pregnant. 

This was a very upsetting time for my husband and I during the time our daughter was being cared for in the neonatal unit (which is at the other end of the maternity hospital from Summerfield ward). I would say that care is needed for mothers who are separated from their babies in the neonatal unit. Often post natal checks were missed because of the amount of time spent out of the ward and in the neonatal unit and on some evenings I came and went from the ward without any communication at all.  Save for the last two days on the ward, i felt very isolated during my time on Summerfield Ward.  

During my time in the hospital,  I spent very little time in Summerfield ward as I was at the neonatal unit sitting with our poorly daughter, returning only to the ward  to express milk for my daughter and to sleep. 

On the 4th night my daughter returned to the ward with me and the midwives did everything they could to expedite my discharge from the hospital. Unfortunately by this stage I had developed an infection and it looked likely that I may not be able to return home for Christmas. The midwives mentioned below worked with the doctors to help get me home with the rest of my family by giving IV antibiotics for 18 hours followed by oral antibiotics for 6 days at home. 

Nicola Forster, Sarah and Hannah all worked so hard to get my daughter and I home for Christmas and we are so grateful for their kindness and compassion during a difficult time when I was separated from my daughter in the unit and also from my children at home. 

There was an individual who was less than helpful during my time on the ward but this has been dealt with on a separate complaint.