"Birth at Ulster Hospital & Following Visits"

I was admitted for induction at the end of July 2024 and the care I received from the midwives was lovely, very friendly and attentive even though they were short staffed. I can’t remember all their names but I do recall Lisa and Vince’s care in particular. 

I gave birth on a Monday after having my waters broken and again I do not recall everyone’s name who helped me and my baby but Laura and Faith (student nurse) who delivered with the help of the consultant and the sister (I believe it was Catherine) and the anaesthetist Aoife were really very supportive. It was not an easy birth at all and my bp dropped significantly after I delivered but they were very quick to spot this and the emergency team were there within seconds to help. After this difficult birth when leaving the labour ward, Laura was very kind telling me I couldn’t have done anymore to get baby out which was reassuring and empathetic as I was still reeling from the last 30 mins of labour and what had happened. Her exact words have still not left me more than 6 months following the birth. 

Both Laura and Lisa visited baby and I on the maternity ward after we’d left the labour ward to check in and see if we were ok - I’ll never forget that, I was really touched by this. 

After 2 nights of being in maternity ward (offered an extra night for breastfeeding support) I was very ready to go home and was in a lot of pain that morning. I was also quite low and hormonal and wanted my husband but it was too early for him to be on the ward.  Danielle, one of the midwives was so lovely to me and the simple act of giving me a hug made me feel so much better - truly, she was like an angel in that moment. 

Unfortunately, we had to return to the Ulster 11 days later as baby had choked while asleep in my arms and had gone purple for around 10 seconds. The paramedics were amazing at my house and on the journey and took us to the children’s bit of ED.

The doctor that saw my baby that night I am sorry to say was horrible to me, basically saying I had caused this to happen by over-feeding my baby. After a traumatic birth and our difficult breastfeeding journey up to that point, having a medical professional blame a first time and vulnerable mother in this way further added to my trauma. I was left under the impression they seemed in a bad mood and keen to get all the children from this unit assigned to other wards before it closed.

The consultant who saw us the next day was much kinder in their approach but ultimately the doctors’ opinion for root cause was completely rejected by the infant feeding team a few days later when they assessed her tongue tie (which was significant) and my feeding logs.

I was poorly advised by those doctors to ebf baby despite my concerns on this and this led to my baby that following week to become somewhat dehydrated passing urate crystals. Unfortunately, this really impacted our overall breastfeeding journey which I feel would have been far more positive had we received better informed advice from the doctors at that particular hospital admission. However, the ladies from the infant feeding team were extremely kind to my husband and I, giving my baby truly excellent care at this appointment. 

Between the choking episode and the tongue tie appointment, baby was referred to the rapid response paeds unit and the staff were all amazing in their assessment and care of baby. 

A few months later we had to return to children’s bit of ED due to baby experiencing extreme bowel pain. I believe the name of the doctor who saw us was Emma (but I could be wrong) but she was just amazing at helping baby with the issue and listened to my husband and I with such empathy and care. She even called me the next day to check in with baby which was very kind and reassuring. 

Bar the one doctor who saw us for the choking episode, all the other staff we have encountered at the Ulster Hospital have been wonderful.