"Excellent experience!"

I recently had a baby at MKUH and would just like to extend a massive thank you to all of the maternity staff that I came into contact with during my time in hospital.

I went into labour at 36+5 days and was then in labour for 31 hours, during which time I was taken care of by a number of different midwives and doctors, all of whom were amazing and extremely thorough.

I was provided with any pain relief that i requested and my baby and I were constantly monitored during my time in labour, and any questions I had were answered and everything was explained to me throughout the labour, which with this being my first baby was extremely helpful.

Unfortunately, after 31 hours in labour I did not progress past 9cm dilated. As such a doctor attended the room and i was told that a C section would be the safest thing for my baby and me.

When I immediately agreed to this, it was like the maternity staff on the labour ward kicked into overdrive. Despite the fact that it was 0100 hours by this point, midwives and doctors appeared from everywhere and within 20 minutes I was in theatre.

I cannot heap enough praise on all of the theatre staff, nurses and doctors. Every step of the process was explained to my partner and I, and this continued throughout the C section. The attitude of the theatre staff meant that although I was clearly nervous beforehand about having a C section, when laying on the table I felt completely at ease and I was having conversations with the theatre staff during the operation. My partner was also relaxed by the demeanour of the professionals in the room at the time.

After my baby was delivered I then spent 3 days in hospital on the maternity ward due to the fact that he was so early and we both required antibiotics due to the length of my labour.

Whilst on maternity ward, although obviously I was eager to get home, looking back now I am so pleased at how thorough and regular the checks were on my baby boy. The staff were also very helpful and would offer plenty of advice and tips where needed, which was invaluable to a first time mum like me.

The only thing that I would say that may be an area for an improvement would be the support that is provided for mums immediately after a c section during the current climate at least. Although in normal circumstances my partner would have been able to stay with me, due to covid this was not the case, so she had to leave almost as soon as we were moved into the maternity ward. This meant that I was still unable to move from the chest down due to the spinal, and everything, including baby had to be left within reach of me so that I could get to him.

Although I called on midwives/nurses/HCAs on a couple of occasions, they are so constantly rushed off their feet that often it was easier to try and manage despite for the most part being unable to move.

Overall I was so pleased with my experience at MKUH and I have all of the maternity staff to thank for the safe arrival of my beautiful baby boy!