"Amazing maternity care & home birth"

I found out I was pregnant just at the start of the first lockdown in March 2020, I was a tad worried about my care etc due to the restrictions that were being implemented but I really didn’t need to be. This was my second baby, during my first pregnancy I had no continuity of care as my named midwife was unavailable after my booking appointment and I met several different midwives at my various appointments. 

This time around I had my booking appointment over the phone and then every other appointment face to face with my named midwife Liz. I felt very comfortable with Liz and felt she provided excellent care and always mad me laugh. She also had a student midwife Chisanga, who was brilliant, very friendly and warm, I believe she will make an excellent midwife. I am very grateful especially under the circumstances of Covid that I got all my appointments face to face. Thank you to the Liz for this. 

During my pregnancy I completed a hypnobirthing course after which I decided on a home birth, I informed my community midwife who then put it in motion.

When I went into labour everything went pretty fast, I called the maternity co-ordinator to request a midwife be sent out as I thought I was in established labour. Geraldine (midwife) arrived pretty quickly probably within 30mins. She was amazing, she got set up and helped me with my breathing and advised me I was doing great. She asked me if I wanted to be examined to see how far on I was, I was happy to consent. As things were moving pretty fast my husband was busy trying to set up the pool etc and Geraldine was trying to help me with my pain by rubbing my back and helping me with different positions to help with the surges. I got into the pool and she advised me to trust my body etc. She was very encouraging and I felt completely safe, when she was checking the baby’s heart rate etc it so discreet I barely noticed. She was due to finish her shift not long after she arrived and thankfully the baby made an appearance before she finished! Another two midwives arrived to take over (Louise and Katie).

As I wanted a natural delivery I choose to have a physiological 3rd stage, however my placenta appeared to be taking its time to detach and come away, I asked for the injection, however the midwives reassured me that anything up to an hour was normal and if I wanted I could wait a wee bit longer before getting the injection, they also suggested I sit on the toilet as that sometimes helps and it did! I am so happy that they really thought about what I wanted and helped me achieve it. They could have easily just given me the injection but helped me achieve my dream delivery with no intervention. I really really appreciate that, as I know that if I had the injection I would no doubt have regretted it. 

I would just like to thank everyone involved in my care from start to finish, the community midwife team are amazing. I got my dream intervention free home water birth.