"My antenatal experience"

I have been receiving care at King Edward Memorial Hospital through my second pregnancy.

I am a special case with mental health issues and a recent gastric sleeve surgery and a past miscarriage that ended with multiple surgeries and blood transfusions.

My first pregnancy was over 10 years ago and handled through another public hospital and wasn't a pleasant experience.

Needless to say, I am very nervous and out of touch with pregnancy and anxious about how this experience would be.

Then came COVID 19, which meant I had to attend appointments alone and leaving my partner out of the loop with this experience.

Since my first appointment, the care and thoughtfulness I have experienced has been beyond amazing.

In a time where I was feeling a bit bitter and alone, I have met so many friendly staff who not only encourage me, but listen and treat me with compassion and respect. Every new face I thought would be daunting but it has reassured me that there are so many people who are in the perfect job. The focus isn’t just on delivering a baby, but supporting myself and my family through this exciting new chapter.

We have had a few complications along the way which have meant stays in hospital and visits to the assessment unit. I walk in the hospital frightened and thinking the worst. As soon as you enter the doors, the fear disappears as so many people step in to check on my health, my baby and to make sure when I go home, I know at any second I can come back no matter how small the issue may be.

I am a bit emotional writing this because I feel these doctors and nurses give so much of themselves to strangers when they are needed the most.

I see staff being abused as they follow the protocol for COVID 19 and all I have is gratitude that they are doing their best to protect families from this epidemic. They stand in the cold and the rain to screen everyone to make sure we all stay safe.

I have made it to 36 weeks gestation with I believe, the help of people who go above and beyond their job description every day to make sure patients are not only physically well, but feel safe and comfortable with their care.

Am I scared to give birth? Of course I am. But I know I will be supported and monitored throughout this whole process and believe I have the best people by my side to guide my partner and I through this experience with the end result - a healthy baby and a healthy mother.

I don't have enough words to say how much I appreciate every single person I have met and have taken part in my care.

I believe the staff at Eddies are amazing people doing amazing things and I hope they know that what they do every day makes a difference to so many people.