Hannah Board
November 2023
Hannah
Board
,
Midwife
Homebirth Team
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Bedford
United Kingdom

 

 

 

Due to my previous experiences, Hannah knew my fear and nervousness about attending the hospital. On her day off she came with me to an appointment within the hospital when my partner was unable to attend.
I cannot thank or praise Hannah enough for her care throughout my pregnancy. After severe previous trauma, Hannah was quick to recognise that I needed additional help from within the maternity department. Ensured I had contact with all the correct professionals for a partnership approach to my care, with Ocean team and Lorraine, the consultant midwife and the Gestational Diabetes team, (Namely Jaz and Lilianna) She supported my general health and ensured my ongoing mental well-being putting in additional measures to increase the chances of a healing non-traumatic birth. Due to my previous experiences, Hannah knew my fear and nervousness about attending the hospital. On her day off she came with me to an appointment within the hospital when my partner was unable to attend. This appointment was needed for my care but she knew my fear of attending and so came with me rather than me not attending. My daughter was overdue, and during this time Hannah was on Leave, she checked in with me throughout her leave reassuring me that people were available in the homebirth team should I go into labour. When I still hadn't gone into labour by the end of her family holiday, but before the end of her leave, Hannah agreed to take on additional shifts on call to give me reassurance that she would be available. And then when my daughter still didn't arrive, she knew that due to hospital policy, she couldn't be my midwife during a C-section. However, she sought permission to be my birthing partner during a planned C-section booked for her day off. Thankfully this didn't happen and I went into labour at home before my section date. I gave birth to my daughter with Hannah and her colleague Liz's support at home at the end of October. Hannah and Liz supported me through my labour ensuring my and my daughter’s health and giving me the birth I so desperately needed to heal from my previous trauma. Hannah’s care did not end at my birth, my daughter had health challenges after birth, but Hannah was quick to recognise issues and do relevant referrals leading to a tongue-tied diagnosis, and my daughter was given the correct support from dieticians for potential allergies. Without Hannah's support, I am certain my mental health would have suffered significantly. Hannah and the Blossom team are an absolute credit to Bedford Hospital, going over and above for their patients. She has absolutely been a key individual in reshaping my thoughts about the healthcare system at Bedford Hospital allowing me to regain faith and feel safe at the hands of caregivers again.