"Amazing from the get go."

I was admitted to the Joan booker maternity ward after a routine check with the midwife who said that I had the start of pre-eclampsia. A decision was made for me to be induced as I was was already 39 weeks. From the get go I was looked after at such a high standard of care. I was personally escorted to the Joan booker ward where I was cared for by a lovely midwife. She had an outstanding level of care for all of her patients on the ward and made me in particular feel comfortable and at ease as I was unsure of what lies ahead. My waters broke on Tuesday and the midwife personally took me to the labour ward where I met my two midwives in charge of looking after me for the following 12 hours. These two ladies made me feel at ease, answered all of my questions and took away all of the worries that I had about the process that lies ahead. They stayed with me during their entire shift. They also looked after my mum and my husband who were my birthing partners. They also made sure that my mother-in-law and my dad who were waiting in the waiting room of the labour ward overnight were supplied with tea, coffee and biscuits and kept them updated of any information on my progress. I went a long time with no pain relief but after being examined I wasn't labouring as quickly as they would've liked me to so the decision was made by a doctor for me to go on the hormone drip and an epidural was advised. Now an epidural was never on my birth plan so I was nervous and almost felt like I'd failed in giving birth to my son because I thought I was taking the easy way out. They sat me down held my hand and told that this wasn't the case and she'd seen how hard I'd worked in the hours previous and said now it's time to take a little rest with an epidural and get my son out safely. It wasn't like having two midwives or two doctors in the room who were just doing a job, it was like having two friends in there. They told me that I have nothing to be disappointed about and I have not failed at all. Unfortunately my son didn't make his appearance during their 12 hour shift so they handed my care over to another student nurse who were again outstanding ladies who helped me in the last two hours of labour. I ended up having to go to theatre and have my baby delivered by ventouse and obviously myself and my family were very nervous about this as it wasn't part of the plan but they made everything seem okay and helped me to understand what the next part of the procedure would be and promised that they would stay next to me in theatre to hold my hand. On Wednesday, 21 May at 9:59 am I gave birth to my beautiful son Noah Holley. I cannot express how amazing the care I received was. If it wasn't for my midwives it would never of done it and for them I am eternally grateful. Please pass on my thanks to them.