"Great Experience"

I had no first child at Hillingdon in June and having read some not soconplimentary reviews I really wanted to share how I felt about the care and treatment that I received at such a bewildering time!

My experience started on a hospital tour when I asked a quick question about my waters having possibly broken - I was advised by the midwife showing us around the hospital to pop up to the ward and check.

I was seen quite quickly and checked and confined that my waters had broken!

Myself and my partner stayed overnight in the Katherine Ward (Antenatal) the night before I was to be placed on a drip to start my contractions (as my waters had broken the night before). The midwife on duty and support staff were extremely lovely and helpful and kept us informed of what was going on and as comfortable as we could be.

The next day I was taken down to the Labour Ward where I saw 4 Midwives through the course of the day and into the early hours of the morning, when I had my baby. Each Midwife I saw was very attentive and caring.

I also saw the same two Doctors; first when they were finishing their rounds in the morning and then again when they started their shifts that evening. i felt that they were also very caring - one of them broke my waters fully (up to that point only my fore water's had ruptured - which is why I hadn't been able to dialate/contractions start properly).

This all resulted in an emergency c section which was far from ideal for me; however everyone who was apart of this procedure was lovely and the experience was as good as it could be.

After having my baby, I stayed on the Alexandra Ward - due to some complications our baby was in the neo natal Ward and therefore not with me. A lovely Midwife put me in a private room because it wasn't fair that I was on a Ward without my baby!

I was breastfeeding so had to visit my baby on the neo natal Ward to do this and the support given from the nurses in charge was amazing they gave 1:1 support and helped me until we were able to successfully feed. It was tough as we had been apart for 7 hours! When our baby was discharged from the neo natal Ward and returned to our room in the early hours of the morning, the Midwives on duty were so lovely and helpful telling me to buzz them for help with breastfeeding.

The next day we again had amazing Midwives on duty who just gave us the best care and support!

The only part that I could possibly criticise is the short period of time after having a c section that you are discharged but I do understand that this is relating to the budget pressures on the NHS.

In all I could not fault the care that myself and my baby received!