"Pregnancy & labour"

When the day came to do my 8weeks booking in check, I couldn't of been more nervous. My sister-in-law had told me what to expect. However I then met Stephanie, and what a relief, she explained all about the blue team and the best start programme,

 how it had all changed, and she was going to be the ONE midwife I would see through the whole pregnancy. I instantly became relaxed, Stephanie was so nice and was so open to what my needs and wants were, even if didn't know at the time.  The whole pregnancy I had questions that she answered with no problem.  I then discovered I had gestational diabetes, which threw a spanner in the works, but, Stephanie being Stephanie fought hard for us as we wanted as natural a birth as possible, in the CMU.  Fast forward to the end of January and  we had a big baby, with a tiring mum. So in the end we opted to be induced, I thought it would be plain sailing, it wasn't.

My partner and I were in the hospital for three and a half days before we were taken to the labour suite. We both understood that there is a priority list, but it felt that we were being forgotten about. I kicked up, and asked for a section on the third day, to then be put off as 'baby and mum are doing fine'.

We were taken to the labour ward early hours of Saturday, I was hooked up to the drip and laboured for about 14hours and then I was told I was going for an emergency section, we weren't sure why, and still to this day don't, our daughter arrived shortly after that. We spent 5days in hospital, as there was a slight infection marker that was high. It's all a bit of a blur, but all the midwifes were fantastic with us, putting my partner at ease as it all happened to fast.

All in all I can't fault Stephanie, our midwife from the start (and someone I would hope to have as my midwife again). All the lovely midwife's we met between arriving and leaving including, Kelly, Lauren, Claire and all the midwifes up in the wards. The CMU and the best start programme is something to be envious of, it gives continuity, which builds trust, and trust keeps people relaxed, and focused on the then and now, rather than trying to remember what was said last time, I can't fault it, and I hope that it stays with a possibility to be taken up by different health boards across Scotland.