"First baby"

I came in at 3pm for an induction the next day. Turns out, Shantelle and Lauren put me on a machine and I was already contracting! Shantelle took over my main care for the evening and she did a great job of exposing everything to me and making me feel calm. Lauren also came back the next morning and she was terrific.

When labour really kicked in for me, I’d tried to tell myself that I would not be rude to the people providing such good services to me. At that time, Louise and Karena were taking care of me. Louise was really great, did an excellent job and listened and sympathised when I was uncomfortable! Karena really was a star though. She put up with the most from me because she had to touch my stomach when it’s contracting! (Which is fair, I know this is necessary to check the baby is coping okay) But she really took the worst of my labour pains and gave me someone to vent on, and also guided me really well to calm down when I felt like it was impossible. The doctor who helped me did the most professional job, Rick, and by the time he got to me, I was mostly done anyway due to the midwives who had helped me through the night. That morning my baby was born, and honestly I’ve been just blown away by the sheer understanding and beautiful souls of every single medical professional at Wonthaggi Hospital I've come across, and no matter how nervous you are about your first, second or third baby, I promise from the experience of freaking out on every contraction that these people will keep you and your baby safe, and you will be so well looked after. 

Since the birth, Jess has helped me learn to latch and basically do all things Mum, and god I don’t think I’d be surviving without knowing she was there for me as well as a great full team of dedicated carers. 

Thank you so much Wonthaggi Hospital Maternity Ward, you guys are the absolute bomb!