Shannon Sherriff
September 2021
Shannon
Sherriff
Maternity
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
Leicester
,
Leicetershire
United Kingdom
At a moment where I was probably very physically and emotionally vulnerable, Shanon allowed me to felt the opposite just by taking the time to be patient, informative and nonjudgmental.
I went into labour three weeks early after my membranes ruptured in the MAU. When I was transferred to the delivery unit a little while later, I was looked after briefly by a midwife prior to a shift change where I met Shannon who was to be the midwife with me for the duration of my labour. Shannon was wearing a badge which identified her as new to UHL, from the moment she introduced herself, my husband and I felt at ease and comfortable. Caring natures are assumed to be a given in midwifery staff and Shannon was no exception, but what has stayed with me is how every action she took was “checked” with us and she seemed to go out of her way to seek our consent for all intervention. Don’t get me wrong, I felt comfortable in Shannon’s ability to step in if things went wrong, I was just struck by the way she gently ensured that I felt in control, empowered, and in charge of what was happening around me. I honestly felt that this was “my” birth.
At a moment where I was probably very physically and emotionally vulnerable, Shanon allowed me to felt the opposite just by taking the time to be patient, informative and nonjudgmental. My labour seemed to be progressing slowly when Shannon left me for a short and deserved lunch break, as soon as she did things moved on and by the time she had returned I had given birth with expert coaching from other staff. Although people may assume that the actual birthing is the climax, for us the care that we received before that moment led us perfectly to that point.
Post-birth, Shannon again explained every action, intervention and answered all of our questions; again the focus was on seeking my informed consent. Shannon even went out of her way later to seek us out and thank us for letting us allow her to care for us! The honour was all ours Shannon and Thank you. You made The difference to our experience.
At a moment where I was probably very physically and emotionally vulnerable, Shanon allowed me to felt the opposite just by taking the time to be patient, informative and nonjudgmental. My labour seemed to be progressing slowly when Shannon left me for a short and deserved lunch break, as soon as she did things moved on and by the time she had returned I had given birth with expert coaching from other staff. Although people may assume that the actual birthing is the climax, for us the care that we received before that moment led us perfectly to that point.
Post-birth, Shannon again explained every action, intervention and answered all of our questions; again the focus was on seeking my informed consent. Shannon even went out of her way later to seek us out and thank us for letting us allow her to care for us! The honour was all ours Shannon and Thank you. You made The difference to our experience.