"Community midwife in Cumbernauld"

I submitted this previously but I'm not sure it went through. So trying again. It's also given me a little opportunity to add to it and reflect even more. 

I am now 29 weeks pregnant, but I found out around 2-3 weeks. Being my first pregnancy, at the age of 33, you might expect I had a good idea from idea from others what pregnancy entailed but I did not. I didn't even quite know how to feel about it all. One of the first things I became nervous of was meeting my midwife for my first appointment. Would I like them? Would they listen to me? Would they be judgemental? Would I feel part of the process or would I feel that the process was being done 'to' me, as opposed to 'with' me? Will they explain things? 

I needn't have worried.

I met with Samantha for my first appointment and was immediately put at ease. I had a number of worries and concerns, both medical and personal, and she listened with interest, compassion and empathy. Her supportive personality and manner immediately put me at ease, and I left feeling extremely grateful she would be with me through this journey. Unfortunately for me (but fortunately for all those who had chosen Wishaw for their birth) Samantha has moved on to the Best Start programme and while I wish her all the very best, I will miss her dearly. 

I didn't realise what I needed from a midwife in those earlier stages, but it turns out that it is everything that is Sam: organised, caring, professional but personable, a good listener, good at explaining everything (ensuring proper informed consent all the way through), strong attention to detail, and attentive. Despite the pressures of the NHS, I was never made to feel like another 'client'/'case'. She spoke with confidence and passion about her work and about her care for the women in her case load, and while I struggled in the earlier stages, all of this was made better and easier each and every time I saw Sam. A good example of this is when it became clear I was suffering from hyperemisis gravidarum (HG). Having had a negative interaction with a GP who was incorrectly citing research regarding the risks of anti-sickness medication, Sam immediately sought me the help I would need. As I left my appointment, I was greeted by another GP at Kennilworth, Dr MacPherson, who immediately and without question prescribed me what I needed (and what continues to help me now). As a university lecturer, with a PhD and who conducts research, it was clear that Sam had also done her research and was up to date on the issues surrounding HG and this was very reassuring in terms of care. Furthermore, in discussions regarding breast feeding she was neither pushy nor judgemental, something I highlighted I would not have appreciated anyway. I often went in armed with lots of research and information, just in case, but with Sam, I never needed to refer to anything like that. She already knew it all. 

Filled with trepidation now at meeting whoever will have taken on my case, I can only hope that Sam is reflective of the wider midwifery service in Cumbernauld. 

*Update: While there appeared to be some issues with the transfer of Sam's caseload, and I appeared for an appointment in my maternity app that no one else seems to have noticed, Sam - even though she had technically left the service - still sorted this out for me. I am extremely grateful and appreciative. A complete credit to the profession! 

I hope this can be passed to those at the Cumbernauld/North Lanarkshire service. In times of increasing job precarity, lack of resources and funding, staffing issues etc, I believe it is important to continue to highlight the wonderful service that some/many of our NHS workers provide despite the challenging environment.