"Maternity Services"

Anything else?

I recently had my daughter at Queens Hospital (20th March 2013).

From the antenatal care through to delivery and postnatal care, the service was absolutely fantastic.

I had consultant led care, I requested a c section because my Mother had a stroke when she was in labour with me. Therefore I was afraid that this may happen to me.

My consultant took in board my concerns and fears, reassured me and supported me in my decision for an elective c section. I was given counselling due to my fears.

On the day of my operation I was greeted by a wonderful midwife who looked after me pre operatively, peri operatively and post operatively. Everything was explained to me thoroughly I knew exactly what was going to happen to me.

Because I was allergic to morphine I was given options for my spinal block by the anaesthetist a week before my operation.

On the day I was looked after by three anaesthetists, who made me completely relaxed, the theatre staff were excellent in making me feel at ease.

During the operation the Consultant and the Registrar explained everything that was happening and my wishes for the drapes to be lowered so that I could see my daughter being pulled from me was granted.

After the operation I was looked after and monitored very well by the recovery staff before being transferred to Coral ward.

I spent two nights on Coral ward, where I was given tremendous support, the midwifes and midwifery support workers were excellent, nothing was too much trouble. Each midwife would intriduce themselves when starting a shift and explain exactly what they wwre going to do to me and my baby. I was also given tremendous support to breastfeed my baby from the midwifes and the specialist breast feeding midwife from Redbridge.

The day before our discharge the paediatrician checked my daughter over and explained every test she was doing. My daughters hearing was tested as well.

On the day of discharge my midwife spent time in discharging me explaining about midwife visits at home especially as I was an out of area patient and would need follow up locally in Southend. She assured me that all the papers had been faxed to the community team at Southend and have me contact numbers in case they didn't get in touch.

I cannot praise the maternity service at this hospital enoug, it has had a lot of bad press but I can honestly say that I am eternally grateful to them forcthexsafe arrival of my beautiful daughter.