"Excellent Maternity Care with my Twins"

I was recently transferred to St Johns Hospital from Fife due to there not being sufficient neonatal beds for my twin boys, should they have needed them after birth.

Staff who were going to be involved in my caesarean section or care of our boys in the neonatal unit post birth came to introduce themselves promptly after we arrived on the labour ward and answered any questions we had. All were superb and really put our minds at rest. The anaesthetist that day was Angus, which I remember due to it being one of our sons names! And later in the early hours of the next morning when we had our caesarean section, the anaesthetist was Scott. Both were very professional, friendly and easy to talk to!

The midwife looking after me that night, Claire, was brilliant, and when I pressed the call buzzer to tell her my waters had broken that evening, I have described to friends and family how I was made to feel like I was telling a close friend, and she was so enthusiastic and excited for me. I remember this memory well and it still makes me smile! Her positivity helped me feel excited and removed my fears I had about soon having my boys earlier than planned.

In the operating theatre the atmosphere was very upbeat and again, I was made to feel I was among friends, which was really lovely. As someone who was a worrier throughout my twin pregnancy It’s quite amazing how calm, excited and ready for the operation I felt. This I feel is very much due to the team who was looking after me that night. They all seemed happy, relaxed and excited for me, despite it being in the early hours of the morning.

On the maternity ward, again I have nothing but high praise for all the staff that I met. A staff member Fiona who took the boys for their hearing and jaundice checks was superb and I quickly felt I had known her for a long time despite only meeting in the ward. She was so warm and friendly and I could tell she enjoyed her work.

I had a difficult day on my third day due to being unable to go home as I had hoped, there was also loud construction work going on in a neighbouring ward, which I understood couldn’t be helped, but I still found tough. Ward staff comforted me and were so understanding. Staff allowed me to move in to a side room so I could try to rest. I really appreciated this and it was a turning point for my mood which I was beginning to worry was dropping. The Midwives I had on nightshifts were also excellent, 2 in particular I remember are Bethany and a midwife with blonde hair who I unfortunately can’t remember her name! They were both really friendly and knowledgable when answering any questions I had. I really appreciated when Bethany sat with me helping to give my babies their formula top up feeds at times throughout the night. She chatted with me in the early hour feeds and really comforted and reassured me when I needed it. I know they must have been very busy but they always made me feel there was time to help me if I needed it, which I really appreciated. They also helped by taking my twins away for a few hours at times to let me rest during the night, which I didn’t do after the birth of my first son but I felt comfortable doing so this time as I trusted them all.

Although initially apprehensive about coming through to a hospital and area I was unfamiliar with, we now proudly refer to our twins as our ‘wee West Lothian boys’! I’m so happy that we gave birth to them with such a fantastic team of people around us to welcome them in their early days, and I can’t thank you all enough for our hugely positive experience.