"My labour and birth and subsequent stay for my newborn"

I felt completely supported by the midwives in MGP5. I could not have navigated this extremely intense time nearly so well and as intended without their guidance, support, advice, and incredible care. I truly can't imagine going through this incredibly challenging transition and experience without this style of one to one, continuous care. I was able to develop a trusting relationship with

From day 1 after we were picked up by MGP5 following amniocentesis, I learned so much and gained so much confidence in learning more about how I wanted the labour and birth of my child to happen. I felt supported and equipped with a depth of information and factors to consider about the whole process of pregnancy, labour and birth. From scheduling appointments to lengthy chats and knowledge sharing. The MGP5 team was generous and kind throughout.

Cut to 41 weeks gestation, we were hoping for no induction, but given the gestation we went in for a well-being check to ensure baby was ok. At that point we learned that baby was not surrounded by much fluid (anhydramnios) and that induction was highly recommended. I was able to call and talk to one of the midwives in the Practice about what this meant and how it could impact my plans for a minimal intervention vaginal birth.

The induction went ahead and while the lead up to active labour wasn't spent at home as I would have liked, we had a very informative and relaxing time with the midwife in the Labour and Birth Suite. At the end of her shift, she passed us on to the next midwife on call who saw us through the majority of active labour and the birth of baby.

I had an extended pushing phase and because of the CTG readings, I felt doctors kept interrupting the process trying to intervene in unnecessary and not asked for ways. The midwife was able to navigate their insistences outside the door while also expertly talking me through the difficult parts of working with baby to get them in to position and in to the world. From managing expectations about the CTG to firmly backing my and my baby's ability to handle the birth as we had planned, the midwife was a focused and necessary part of the team in ensuring that we had a non-traumatic, intervention-free birth as hoped. I truly believe that by having continuity of care with the MGP5 team, they were able to practically and knowledgeably ensure that their patient was handled within the system based on their understanding of my needs, capacity, and consent. I believe the experience would not have been nearly as calm and enjoyable without these incredible midwives.

After the birth, another midwife from the MGP5 team took over our care. She was as helpful and necessary as all of the other midwives in the team. Having a calm, reassuring and trusted support person through all of the check ups and sutures was highly valued. We felt completely cared for and cocooned as we got to spend our first hours with baby. Towards the end as we were about to be discharged, baby's oxygen levels were low. I am thankful the midwife caught this as baby was transferred to the Special Care Nursery for oxygen and to check infection. During this time, the midwives came to visit us in the nursery to check on both me and baby. It felt amazing knowing that even though he was being continuously looked after and I was able to visit with him, we had our original care team providing emotional and well-being support also.

After three days in the nursery, he was discharged and the next day we had our first midwife visit at home. Everything seemed great except baby's temperature. We ended up having to head back in to hospital for another round of monitoring and checking blood culture infections etc. During this time, the hospital found a space where I could stay (2 West parentcraft room) and be near baby in order to establish feeding. It was an incredible resource and so amazing to have had the opportunity to stay there and be near my baby while we awaited test results. I cant imagine how we would have fared without this option. Again, my midwives visited us there and kept checking in on how things were going. Finally, we were discharged again, fully one week after baby was born.

Since then, the midwives have visited our home multiple times to ensure we are both ok and feeling ready to get in to the swing of things. My main midwife even wrote out a feeding regimen that she texted to us in the evening for our second night when we were feeling overwhelmed and unable to get the timing of feeding and pumping right.

I am unable to express how crucial this type of care is for parents. I believe that MGP5 is the reason why we are happy, healthy, and home together. Every step of every wonderful and trialling experience they have been there to guide, support and care for us and our own particular journey. The trust and dedication that these professionals provide to their patients is astounding and I wish that more people could experience how incredibly well they do their jobs. I could not have done this huge thing without my midwife and her incredible colleagues. I will forever be grateful for this experience because of them. Thank you MGP5 with all my heart and conviction.