"Highly recommend the Birth Centre"

My second son was born in the Birth Centre at the Whittington Hospital.

The birth was quick and straightforward and I can't recommend the facilities and the midwives enough.

I was lucky that the birth was straightforward, but I am also glad that the facilities existed for me to have a natural birth [as I was nervous that I would need pain relief].

The rooms are wonderful - spacious with en-suites and a birthing pool.

The midwives were confident and friendly and made me and my partner feel very relaxed.

I only wish I would have been able to stay overnight in the rooms - as it was, it was a busy night and I was transferred up to Cellier Ward at 4am as the room was needed.

On a more prosaic note, I managed to flood the birthing suite when taking a shower shortly after the birth of my son.

The shower was very powerful, with a touch sensitive control system that seemed not very 'sensitive' and as the wet room is accessible with very little fall to the drain there is nothing to stop the water from venturing out into the room.

I wish I had been warned of this before taking the shower!

It provided a sort of tragi-comic moment after the birth anyway [as I'd also forgotten to take a towel into the shower].

All in all a very good experience, and Cellier Ward seems improved since the birth of my first son, although always very busy and very loud.

There was definitely more support this time around - last time I don't remember anyone even asking how breastfeeding was going let alone giving advice.

Also, with my first son breakfast was served down the hall and new mothers had to go collect it themselves - this was tricky for me as I'd had a foreceps birth with an episiotomy and a full spinal block making mobility tricky for the first few days.

Also the idea of leaving my son while fetching my breakfast seemed crazy.

Glad to see this is improved now.

Also it seems that partners can now stay with the mums on Cellier Ward - this is great.

A big thanks to the midwives in the Birth Centre and the staff in Cellier Ward - you all work very hard and are much appreciated although most of us don't say so at the time! I'd specifically like to thank my midwife in the Birth Centre.