"Pregnancy, Birth and Newborn"

We cannot ever hope to express our gratitude for the excellent care we received at the Maternity Unit and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Victoria Hospital Kirkcaldy, but this hopefully will let people know how lucky we are to have such an exceptional maternity and special care unit in Fife.

I had pains at 5 weeks and as I had a previous miscarriage we were concerned and so we contacted the early pregnancy unit who made us an appointment. The Sonographer detected that there was more than one and so she found a consultant (Dr Tideman) who informed us we were actually expecting triplets. We were shocked, but the staff were brilliant and Dr Tideman made the time there and then to go through the risks and complication of a triplet pregnancy and answered all our questions and gave us all our options. He made us an appointment for the next week for another scan and also to speak to us again to give us a chance to ask any further questions. At this second scan unfortunately there were only 2 heartbeats. The staff were all very caring and spent time firstly checking that there was definitely no third heartbeat and then checking how we both were emotionally.

We now had a twin pregnancy and were booked back in for another scan at 9 weeks and again at 12 weeks. Everything was perfect and it was confirmed that there were 2 separate placentas and sacks which is the least risky twin pregnancy which allowed us to relax.

The next appointment we had was at 20 weeks and here they were able to advise us of the sex of the babies (boy and a girl). Everything was going well and when we met with Dr Russell she explained about our birth options and answered our questions. We then had further scans at 28, 32 and 36 weeks and it was confirmed that both babies were head down and we had our induction booked for 37+4 weeks.

At 37+3 we went in to be prepared for the induction the next day. They checked the babies positions (both head down) and the heartbeats were monitored and the midwife watched the traces while chatting to us and explaining what was happening especially as twin two (girl) was hard to get a consistent trace off due to her position. Afterwards she checked to see how dilated I was and to put in a pessary if needed, but luckily I was already 3cm dilated, so to help things get started she gave me a “big sweep” and said I could go home, but to come straight back if I started getting any twinges (my first daughter came very quickly). The staff were all so patient and caring and took the time to make sure they got the information needed which made us feel that our babies were in good hands.

The next day we were taken to the labour ward and our midwife Yvonne introduced herself monitored the babies heartbeats which were fine and examined me and found I was 5cm dilated. Afterwards Dr Tideman and his team came into the room to meet us and everyone was introduced to us with an explanation as to their role and my waters for twin one (boy) were broken. I decided against an epidural (which Dr Tideman had recommended) as I was concerned about being able to push effectively. Our decision was fully respected which made me feel that I had some control over the situation. It must be hard for doctors when patients go against their advice, but it is testament to them that they listen and respect the wishes even when it goes against their better judgement.

I started getting stronger contractions and Yvonne was with us the whole time offering encouragement and chatting in between which helped keep me relaxed and built trust which I relied on later. I did try gas and air, but after a minute (the clock on the wall in front of the bed was great for timing when a contraction should end) I decided I didn't like it as it made me feel light-headed.

At about 2pm I felt the need to push and so Yvonne examined me and confirmed that it was time and so she informed the team. At which point they came in and I was allowed to push at 2: 10pm and at 2: 19pm our son was born. He was immediately handed to my Husband for skin to skin and they started checking twin two who was at this point still head down. We waited to see if my contractions would start again on their own which they did although it was decided to also give me some syntocinon to help. At some point our daughter flipped round and went breach due to the extra space she now had. Dr Tideman told me I could start pushing again to move her down which I did with everyone encouraging me. Once she had moved down she was in a position to allow her waters to be broken which Dr Hogarth did. At this point there was a rush of liquid which contained blood. I couldn't see this, my Husband did, but thought it was from our sons placenta and normal as he remembered there being quite a lot of blood after our daughter was born. We now know this was not normal, but due to the staff all staying calm we did not panic. At this point more staff came into the room. Dr Tideman advised us that we needed to get her out quickly and told me to push. I was pushing with the encouragement off all the staff, but she was not moving as she should have been, so Dr Tideman tried to help her by trying to get a hold of her feet to pull her. I found this very uncomfortable and Dr Tideman kept checking that I wanted him to continue in case the pain was too much, which I told him he could and felt reassured that I could stop him if needed. I remember the anaesthetist Ana talking to me about anaesthetising me and having a contraction and pushing again and squashing her hand (sorry again, but thank you). However although Dr Tideman could find one foot he couldn't get a hold of the other to pull her and so he made the decision to take me to theatre to try and pull her out there and failing that do a caesarian section. Despite the emergency situation everyone stayed calm which I appreciated and helped me stay calm. I was wheeled out to the operating theatre. Everyone was very efficient with a gentleman asking me about reactions to previous anaestetic on the way. When we arrived at the theatre they asked if I could move which I said I could and everyone helped me onto the table. They gave me some oxygen and at this point I started to hyperventilate as I was worried about our daughter. Yvonne calmed me down which I think was only possible due to the trust she had built with me. I was then told I was being put to sleep.

Once I was asleep, Dr Tideman managed work out that she had her foot caught, untangled it and pulled her out by her feet thereby avoiding a caesarian. However she came out not breathing and with no heartbeat (apgar score 0 at birth and at 5 minutes). The staff all worked tirelessly on our daughter and after 8 and a half minutes managed to get her breathing. The people who all played a part in this even included a paediatrician Dr Poswinska who happened to be passing and stayed to help. We will never be able to thank the staff enough for all their care and hard work to save our daughter we will be eternally grateful to them all.

Dr Hogarth stitched me up ( I had a 2nd degree tear) and all the midwives who have checked have told me he did an excellent job. Dr Tideman went back to explain to my Husband what had happened. When he arrived back at the room my husband was very upset and worried and Dr Tideman kindly gave him a cuddle which he really appreciated and helped to calm him.

When I woke up my Husband explained what had happened and that our Daughter was in intensive care, but that the staff had said we could go and see her when I felt ready. Yvonne asked how I was and helped me breastfeed our son. Everyone was so kind and happy to give us any information they could.

Dr Tideman came in later with Dr Hogarth and asked how I was and if I was ready for him to go over what happened or if I needed more time, I said I was fine and he went over the events with us. It turned out that our daughters placenta was unusual in that it branched before entering the sac and so when the waters were broken the blood vessels supplying our daughter tore causing the bleeding. It was unpredictable and rare and caused by the triplet who didn't survive as scar tissue was visible on the placenta.

Our Daughter meanwhile had been transferred to intensive care and the decision had been made to medically induce hypothermia to try and halt any damage caused by the blood loss and oxygen deprivation. We were told that we could visit as soon as I was up to it. My husband wanted to wait until we could go together. They explained that she would be hooked up to machines including a ventilator and she had been given morphine to make her more comfortable and so she would be unresponsive, They gave me some toast and tea and wheeled me and our son along to intensive care.

We got to see our daughter for the 1st time we felt so happy and amazed at the care she was receiving. The nurses (Amy, Lyn, Liz, Caroline, Katy and many others) were always happy to answer questions even from our 7 year old, we also felt welcome and felt our daughter was being cared for by people who actually cared about her. I was never concerned to leave her. The staff were also great at giving us updates and any plans for the day ahead.

After 3 days she was due to start the warming process, she was a little monkey as they were reducing her morphine and kept trying to pull out her lines and breathing tube. When we returned in the morning she had no breathing tube which meant we got to see her face clearly for the first time. We also got to give her a cuddle for the first time which the staff help us with as there were so many wires. They had decided to try her with some milk and so they helped me to express and fed with a syringe 1st into her iv and then orally and then I got to breastfeed her.

Next she was moved down 2 rooms and we were able to pick her up for cuddles when we wanted. She had her MRI which Amy escorted her for with myself, my husband and my son. Amy was lovely and chatted throughout. We were lucky in that the Consultants who review the MRI scan for the babies was there that day and much to everyone's surprise they could find no ill effects from her ordeal. This result we feel is solely down to the amazing care she received.

Our little girl was discharged from NICU and we all went upstairs to the maternity ward. The staff on the maternity ward are also all wonderful from the midwives, students, health visitors (Claire) and even the canteen staff (Laura). They were all interested in how she was doing and really supportive.

All the people involved in her care visited us on the ward (Dr Tideman, Dr Russell, Dr Hogarth, Yvonne, Ana to name a few) and it made us feel that they all really cared about our well being. We will never be able to thank these amazing people enough for the exceptional work they did that day.

Our daughter and son are thriving she is now smiling and making eye contact (before her brother) and he is better at trying to stand up and sleeping. It is lovely to see their different personalities and it has only been possible due to the staff in the maternity and NICU departments in Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy. Thank you again.