"Theatres and Neonatal team"

Due to pregnancy problems, I was advised to have an elective c section earlier than term. I was happy with this decision and from the get go had full trust in the medical staff, this never wavered. Everything was prepared for the event of me having a big bleed, but the c section was managed so well I lost very minimal, which shocked everyone in theatre.

The only negatives about the experience were the anaesthetic phone call the week prior. The anaesthetist seemed very rushed and most of their sentences started with general anaesthetic, which terrified me. 

The other negative was the day of, we had been told we were first on the list, which medical staff had stated had to be the case due to me being high risk. The medical staff believed this to have been organised and we were under the impression that was the case (knowing if there were people missed from previous days we would be pushed after them).

When we arrived, triage came in and said I would be in theatres in the afternoon, I believe one of the cases was from the day before, so fully understood the delay. It was then 1 hour later and theatre staff came in and said we are taking you to theatre right now, as I was now first. We saw another couple on the way out of triage and their faces were scowling at us as they had been told they were first. This put a negative on our birth experience because I felt responsible for their disappointment when it was scheduling that caused it. 

The theatre case went well, we expected our preterm baby to end up in neonatal, but never expected baby needing so much support, almost a week stay. I cannot say anything negative about neonatal staff. Everyone explained things to me and my husband so well, they were so welcoming and supportive. Even in the middle of the night, whilst caring for many unwell babies, they made me feel so at ease, like a normal outside friendly environment, which really helped with the whole situation. The expressing room, family room and development cards (like 'I am tube free') were amazing additions. Please keep funding for neonatal high, NHS Grampian, because they are an amazing team. 

My baby is doing so well now, and this would not have been possible without the amazing support and healthcare from the neonatal unit.