New mum Rachel praises ‘brilliant’ midwives

Dundee dentist and first time mother reassures others on hospital births

Rachel Brown did not expect to give birth during a health crisis on the scale of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Dundee dentist was planning a more “naturalistic” birth for her first child at the Dundee Midwifery Unit (DWU) but events dictated otherwise.

Rachel has spoken about her experiences at Ninewells to put expectant parents’ minds at ease if faced with being at hospital during an international health crisis.

A scan the week before Zack was born revealed an ectopic heartbeat, and Rachel was told she would need to be induced and the birth would take place at the labour suite in Ninewells.

Little Zack was ultimately born without a hitch but Rachel admits she found the idea of having to give birth at the labour suite, instead of the DWU, a bit unnerving.

Chief among her fears was that her husband Darren would not be allowed to be present for the birth.

She said: “I was a bit daunted when I was told I would have to give birth in the labour suite. I had heard that the dad wouldn’t be allowed to be there at the birth.

“It’s not what I had researched and planned for.

“But all the staff were really supportive and Darren was able to be there at the end.

“And you would have thought with everything going on they would have wanted us to go home as soon as possible, but they were really brilliant.”

One of the midwives apologised for “not being able to seem as close” to Rachel as normal because she was wearing a face mask.

Other than that, Rachel said there was little sign of the pandemic having an effect on the birth.

The new family are now home in Burnside of Duntrune, on the outskirts of Dundee, after the April 19 birth.

Rachel added: “Even after coming home, there has obviously been less contact with the staff, but they have still called every day to make sure everything is all right.

“They have bent over backwards to help.

“I hope that people know that they don’t have to be worried about going into the hospital to give birth during this time.”

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They have bent over backwards to help. RACHEL BROWN