"Maternity Services in Moray"

My little boy has just turned 6 weeks old and I would like to extend my thanks to the wonderful team of midwives we encountered.  My community  midwife was Lorraine from the Buckie, Keith and Cullen Team  and it was like a reunion with an old friend as she had cared for me 4 years prior with pregnancy one.  The obvious big change from last pregnancy was the loss of obstetric backup based in Dr Grays Hospital.  I was lucky enough to have had a straight forward pregnancy last time was happy to book with Ward 3 on the basis of the positive experience I had encountered there before.  Lorraine organised all the routine scans and conducted her routine antenatal care in her usual friendly and reassuring manner sometimes with a student midwife or return to practice midwife present benefiting from her knowledge and experience. 

The scanning midwives were skilled and patient as my little boy was a bit camera shy on both occasions but they took the time needed to get the information required allowing me to drink more water and move around rather than reschedule appointment when I had already swapped shifts at my work to be there.

Then came corona virus and all the necessary changes to service provision that came with it.  My last antenatal apppointments were over the phone until I was over my dates.  I was anxious to do anything to avoid having to go down to Aberdeen for an induction and especially with the new and necessary restrictions in visiting.  Aberdeen was also a good 60 miles away for me, I had a 4 yr old at home and it was spring time - one of the busiest times in the year for my farmer husband.  Also, with the country in lockdown this added extra pressure of whether I would have childcare for our 4 yr old or whether I would have to go through the labour on my own. 

Lorraine saw me at around midday and performed a sweep to try and encourage labour to start and organised post dates scan and induction in case it was required.  Fortunately, she worked her magic and I went into ward 3 later that night.  The timing was perfect as my 4 yr old was in bed oblivious and our farm worker slept in the spare room at home to be there for him if required.  In ward 3 I was met by Midwife Rebecca.  I was disappointed in myself that I wasn't as far through the first stage as I thought (or hoped) but Rebecca was quick to remind me that this baby was coming and would be born tonight and that she anticipated that labour would progress quickly from here.  She was right (I should have asked her for the lottery numbers when I was in) and was helping me through to the delivery suite about an hour later.  She was kind, supportive and kept me going with some added humour and was in control when I was at the stage where I no longer knew what to do with myself and no doubt talking rubbish on the entonox.  She called for another midwife when delivery was imminent and Midwife Fiona appeared.  She was brilliant too.  A calm and reassuring presence who encouraged me over the finish line.  She took the baby and did his initial checks while Rebecca was left with a bit of stitching up to do. She did this quickly and skillfully and everything healed with no problems.  They also made the best coffee and toast!  Husband was back home for a sleep and then able to wake our firstborn to the news he had a wee brother.

The next morning midwife Deborah came on shift and did all the usual post natal checks for both me and my baby efficiently even while getting used to the new PPE guidance giving us the green light for discharge home.  Follow up with Lorraine and her colleague Kirsty for a weekend visit ensured that initial breast feeding hurdles were overcame.

We are grateful to all these amazing ladies for their expert care which we were lucky to have locally. They provide an excellent service in challenging times in a challenging location and are to be applauded!