"Birth Centre and Community Midwifery"

I live on a small island in the Hebrides so need to travel away from home to give birth in a birthing unit or hospital. I chose to go to the Lothian Birth Centre at the Royal Infirmary as a few friends had positive experiences there. We rented a cottage outside Haddington, so from 38 weeks my care was relocated from my local health board to East Lothian Community Midwifery. I cannot speak highly enough of the brilliant care I recieved by the Community Midwives before arriving and during my stay (before and after the birth of my first baby). In particular I would like to thank Carrie, she made what could have been a very daunting experience (being away from home and meeting a completely new medical team before the arrival of my baby) so safe and seamless - she equipped me with the confidence I needed to make my own decisions throughout my birth and the care we received in the difficult first two weeks of having a newborn was absolutely amazing.

I would also like to thank the team at the Lothian Birth Centre for giving me the birth experience I wanted, empowering me to be involved in the process at all times and being so kind and supportive in the arrival of my first baby. The two midwifes who helped me throughout labour stayed an hour beyond the end of their shift to see my little boys arrival and help me through to the end.