"The SCBU and its staff were excellent, ..."

What I liked

The SCBU and its staff were excellent, as was most of my care on labour ward.

What could be improved

Information regarding the medical condition of myself and my daughter.

Anything else?

I went into premature labour at 36 weeks which began with my waters breaking. My baby was born 24 hours later at Pilgrim Hospital and was very small, 4lb 4oz. The care I received during labour was very good and my husband was looked after too. Shortly afterwards she was taken away from me by someone I didn't know but as I was still recovering from the delivery and still in the process of being stitched up I couldn't stop them. She was taken to SCBU where the staff looked after her very well for the next week and my husband and I were given a room so we could stay with her. I can't fault the care on SCBU, however at a time when my husband and I were bewildered and concerned for our first born child we received very little advice as to what was really wrong with her.

It is only now I think of all the questions I should have asked but didn't. Why was she premature, why was she so tiny, why was she ill, was it my fault, will it happen again? I have lots of questions but no answers.

I think it would be a good idea to have someone, not necessarily a nurse or midwife, on the wards for people to go to to ask these questions. The doctors are always in a rush and the nurses & midwives do a great job but are always very very busy so I never wanted to interrupt them to ask questions. If it were to happen to me again I would make a point of talking to the staff to get a clearer idea of what was happening because otherwise I don't think they'd tell me the full story.