My evening on the maternity front line
Our Chair, Sarah Betteley, recently joined staff in our Maternity department at Queen’s Hospital to get an insight into how our teams work together. Sarah shadowed Kathryn Tompsett, our Clinical Group Director for Women’s and Children’s Health and a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist. This was her experience.
The evening started in the main office to get a feel for how the teams worked behind the scenes.
The whiteboard in the office is the central hub of information, constantly changing as new patients arrive and labours progress at different speeds.
We have only two theatres, so the team often has to re-prioritise high-risk births in real-time.
It was amazing to see how calm, professional and relaxed the staff were in such a high-pressure environment while everything around them changed so quickly.
I watched several caesarean sections in the theatres. What struck me was how many staff are involved in a safe delivery, it was like an army both in the number of people and how well drilled they were in their roles.
When a mother and baby needed extra support, the Neonatal team glided into theatre without a hint of panic. They took over care for the newborn with total expert focus, while the surgical team continued their work. It was an absolute masterclass in teamwork.
It was really interesting to learn about things that need to be done to trigger some natural responses from the babies. Going through the birth canal during a natural birth starts the baby’s breathing.
But with a c-section, the registrar gently squeezed and handled the baby instead to trigger this. It was such an eye-opener!
I visited the Snowdrop Suite, where I met a couple who had tragically lost their baby at 20 weeks.
In what must be one of the most devastating moments any family can face, I saw first hand how calm, compassionate and professional the team were. They had the perfect balance of being really kind, thoughtful, sensitive and informative.
Shortly after, I was in a delivery room for a natural birth. The team has to switch between these emotional extremes instantly. I was extremely impressed how they provided compassionate care in both cases.
What surprised me most was the atmosphere. Despite the high stakes and the constant state of uncertainty on timings, the team remained utterly calm.
I met one patient who had been induced and was hoping for a natural birth. She and her wife were so full of infectious excitement that it warmed my heart.
Even in a high-pressure clinical setting, the staff made sure that couple felt heard and involved. I’m incredibly proud of the professionalism I saw.
Seeing the team work so smoothly together, despite the physical pressures on the unit, was an absolute privilege.
I left at 12.30 am with a massive amount of respect for the "A-game" our maternity staff bring to every single shift.
We have only two theatres, so the team often has to re-prioritise high-risk births in real-time.
It was amazing to see how calm, professional and relaxed the staff were in such a high-pressure environment while everything around them changed so quickly.
I watched several caesarean sections in the theatres. What struck me was how many staff are involved in a safe delivery, it was like an army both in the number of people and how well drilled they were in their roles.
When a mother and baby needed extra support, the Neonatal team glided into theatre without a hint of panic. They took over care for the newborn with total expert focus, while the surgical team continued their work. It was an absolute masterclass in teamwork.
It was really interesting to learn about things that need to be done to trigger some natural responses from the babies. Going through the birth canal during a natural birth starts the baby’s breathing.
But with a c-section, the registrar gently squeezed and handled the baby instead to trigger this. It was such an eye-opener!
I visited the Snowdrop Suite, where I met a couple who had tragically lost their baby at 20 weeks.
In what must be one of the most devastating moments any family can face, I saw first hand how calm, compassionate and professional the team were. They had the perfect balance of being really kind, thoughtful, sensitive and informative.
Shortly after, I was in a delivery room for a natural birth. The team has to switch between these emotional extremes instantly. I was extremely impressed how they provided compassionate care in both cases.
What surprised me most was the atmosphere. Despite the high stakes and the constant state of uncertainty on timings, the team remained utterly calm.
I met one patient who had been induced and was hoping for a natural birth. She and her wife were so full of infectious excitement that it warmed my heart.
Even in a high-pressure clinical setting, the staff made sure that couple felt heard and involved. I’m incredibly proud of the professionalism I saw.
Seeing the team work so smoothly together, despite the physical pressures on the unit, was an absolute privilege.
I left at 12.30 am with a massive amount of respect for the "A-game" our maternity staff bring to every single shift.