Happy Christmas x

With their little ones keen to join the festivities, in the past few days we’ve supported four families as they welcomed their little ones in to the world and had the privileged of witness two births at #home. We will share their birth announcements, with permission, soon.

In the meantime we can tide you over with our “traditional” team photo from our annual Christmas meal. Many of you may notice a few familiar Surrey Hills faces!

Sadly we’ve goodbye to the lovely Jodie as she embarks on the next stage of her career at St Thomas’s. The Tommy’s mums and babies are lucky to have such a capable and caring midwife joining their unit and she will be greatly missed by the team and her case-loading families alike.

A surprise gift

‪Our week got off to a brilliant start with this gorgeous little boy arriving earthside in the early hours of the morning while his big brother slept soundly in the next room. Such a privilege to see the wonder on big brothers face when he came in to his parents room on waking discovered the special gift thy had been “delivered” in the night! #NotSanta #homebirthjusthappened #continuity

#FridayFeedback

Sharing this lovely feedback (with permission) that was sent to Amy Stubbs, Head of Midwifery at the Royal Surrey Hospital.

“Dear Amy 

We just wanted to write to you to let you know what a brilliant experience we have had with the homebirth team lately. 

Our son [redacted] was born on 13 October and our daughter was born three years ago also under the care of the team. 

I know that funding must be difficult and there must be pressure to cut cost but I wanted to write to you to say how much we valued this service and how important it is. I honestly believe that women who use the homebirth team have such a positive experience that it must help with mental health going forwards. 

The midwives in the team are without exception kind, knowledgeable and sensible. I was so impressed with how each of them seems to love their job and be so interested and up to date with current research.

They are so kind, and non judgemental and reassuring. They also seem to never miss a beat in terms of arrangements, which is particularly impressive as their plans must change all the time. They are all so efficient and organised. 

Having them come to our house and get to know us made a huge difference. [redacted] actually came too quickly for the midwives to arrive but I am so pleased we had planned a home birth and they were so good with all the follow up. 

Kirsty was my named midwife and she is absolutely superb. She is so kind, so efficient, so sensible and knowledgeable and very caring. All the midwives were brilliant though. 

I can’t thank them, or royal surrey, enough for this service. If we can ever assist the team with anything we’d be delighted to do so. 

With thanks 

[redacted]”