"Giving birth"

I have had a great experience of the Borders Midwife and Health Visitor team. It was found out that my baby was breech at 41 weeks by one of the midwifes which was quickly followed up by a hospital scan. My husband and I were given the information and space to come to a decision about how I was to give birth, which included an ECV and then a c section.

From the midwife who held my hand during the ECV to the anaesthetist, nurses and surgeons who delivered my baby, everyone was professional and caring. The midwifes in ward 16 were great after giving birth as they were on support to help me with my baby and to also encourage me to increasingly become independent with my baby.

It made all the difference staying in Ward 16 for two nights as I felt more prepared to go home and look after my baby than if I left immediately. The community midwife team really helped me with getting my head around breastfeeding and my health visitor (Rhona) has been brilliant in answering all our questions and keeping us informed of what we need to be thinking about as first time parents. 

The only improvement I would make is that the information about physiotherapy, which had information on how to get in and out of bed in hospital, came after I left the hospital by email - that could come a bit sooner!

And next time round I would request a 37 week scan, especially if I was overdue with no symptoms indicating labour, but it was really difficult for a midwife to tell what was a head and what was a bum! 

Just a really great experience all round!