"She was my second voice, and sometimes my only voice!"

I first found out about family nurse partnership at my 12 week scan. When I heard about this I was questionable as not knowing who or what this programme was. I got to meet Ciara when I was 16weeks pregnant an from there I knew we was going to be in good hands. Ciara called out every two weeks, spoke us through every appointment, scan and new tips and tricks on how to be the best parents we could be. For those that don’t know what happens throughout the 2 an a bit years of family nurse partnership. You get assigned one health visitor that comes to see you throughout your pregnancy and the first two years of your babies life! They come every two weeks maybe every week, go through all the safety sleeping, feeding a baby, bathing a baby, they prepare you for parenthood! An once baby is here they come check on mum and do babies checks.

I didn’t have the easiest of pregnancy but knowing that Ciara was either out that week or even just a phone call away to put my mind at ease made it a lot more easier, from her explaining what was said at each appointment that wasn’t in medical sentences to reassuring me that everything was going to be just fine.

When I had my son, he didn’t have the easiest start to life, from being 4lb 12oz an staying in nicu for the first 24hrs of his life an being a first time mum and experiencing all of this, I then started experiencing postpartum anxiety, at first I thought I was okay and would be able to cope. But the reassurance of having family nurse partnership work aside me, I had mentioned this to Ciara on one of the visits an Ciara had pointed me in all right directions, took stress of me that I didn’t need, she really was a second mum..

As my son started to grow an supposed to be hitting milestones myself an my partner knew he wasn’t hitting these milestones as of age, we brought our concerns to Ciara an once again she referred my son to all the correct people an got my son the help that was needed.. Without having this support I truly think my son wouldn’t have got the support, appointment and admissions that was needed without Ciara at family nurse partnership being my second voice and sometimes my only voice! As you can already imagine I grew a close bond with Ciara, she was just like a friend coming for a chat. When your child hits two years old family nurse partnership then swap you over to community health visitors, prepare you for what happens with them. A year after leaving family nurse partnership you get invited to a family fun day, where you, your partner and child graduate.

I will be forever thankful to family nurse partnership, and forever thankful Ciara done her job, was amazing, never judged, guided me an advised me.