"Excellent Care Made the Difference"

I recently gave birth to my first baby at Medway Hospital. I had agreed to be induced as he was 12 days late but had hoped to have a low intervention labour if possible.The midwives on the induction ward communicated helpfully and clearly with me, and advocated for me to progress independently as much as possible as it was my wish to go to the Birth Place. Unfortunately this did not occur and due to various other complications I was transferred to the delivery suite.

Due to staff shortages I was attended to by a community midwife from out of the area, however they and the accompanying student midwife gave my husband and I the highest level of care and consideration and turned what was a distressing experience into something I felt I was involved in and could manage. They listened to and supported my decisions about pain relief, and guided me when I was not sure what decision to make. The subsequent midwife to care for me was just as supportive and efficient and communicated with me very clearly.

In the end I required an emergency C section however I have no negative feelings about my labour and birth, despite staff changeovers and the fact that I had essentially the opposite birth experience to the one I had envisioned. I will be grateful to the maternity staff, from induction to theatre and recovery all the way to the postnatal ward, for the rest of my life.