"My wonderful labour and birth experience"

I just wanted to leave a review following the birth of my beautiful baby boy who we welcomed into the world 12/05/18 with the help of the amazing staff at Huddersfield birth centre and Calerdale labour ward.

The birth was so positive and thats hugely down to the care I received, from the first phone call talking through my contractions to the delivery and after care.

When I rang to advise that I was having regular contractions I was spoke to calmly and encouraged that I was handling everything very well even over the phone.

Once I arrived at the Birth centre (where I was welcomed by the lovely evening staff) my notes were read and I was assessed and told that I was in active labour and all my birth preferences were understood and carried out by the wonderful midwives attending that evening.

I felt calm, reassured and well looked after throughout my entire labour and felt it was a really lovely experience, so much so that I didn't feel the need for any pain relief but instead was helped to keep moving to manage the contractions better. I was coached once the birth started which kept me at ease and my little boy arrived into a calm environment with no trauma (still cocooned in his membrane!).

I had hoped to birth the placenta naturally as well and stay in the birth centre for mine and my husbands first hours of parenthood, however unfortunately I was unable to and needed to be transferred to Calderdale and go to theatre to remove the placenta.

Even though I needed to be transferred - I felt completely informed and at ease and my midwife stayed with me throughout the whole process - in the ambulance and even when I was in theatre having a spinal.

The paramedics who transferred me (in the early hours of the morning) were cheery, relaxed and friendly and got me to Calderdale in no time at all, they were both very professional yet personable.

Once I arrived at Calderdale - the team who assessed me there were again calm and reassuring and I felt like I was in the safest place to receive the care needed at that time and I was in and out of theatre within an hour and holding my baby boy.

We were then transferred to the labour ward, and despite the number of people the nurses and midwives had to attend to - nothing was too much trouble for anyone and I managed to get a good nights rest so that I could wake up refreshed.

Everyone involved in the entire process was amazing and I cannot speak highly enough for the care and services I received by by everyone.

Thank you so much.