Welcome to the Royal Untied Hospital Birth Reflections Page. Birth reflections has two main aims; to help women and their partners explore their birth experience, giving them the opportunity to gain answers to questions, and for Maternity Services to identify areas where we can improve our care provision. It is a listening and information-giving service - an opportunity to meet with a midwife and
discuss your birth experience. Following the birth of your baby, you may have developed questions or thoughts surrounding your pregnancy, birth or postnatal period that you would like to explore with a midwife. We know that birth experiences can be very emotive and stay with women for the rest of their lives. Here at the RUH, we want you to have not only a good physical recovery but also a sound emotional recovery following the birth of your baby. Sometimes the reality of a birth experience is far removed from expectations that have developed in pregnancy. We have found that talking it all through with a professional can help you start to feel better. Our experience shows that clarification of issues can help dissolve fears, aid emotional recovery following birth and build confidence in planning for future pregnancies. Some women know they have completed their family but would still like to understand their experience more fully. In addition, through listening to families who have received care from us we are able to use their feedback, both positive and negative, to help us to provide the best service possible. There is no time frame in which you must access the service. The important factor is having a desire to discuss a previous experience. 19 years is the longest time between birth and referral so far! Anyone who has had their baby at the RUH in Bath or at one of the associated Birth Centre’s (Trowbridge, Chippenham, Paulton or Frome) may book a Birth Reflections appointment. Women who have delivered elsewhere but are currently booked to deliver with us are also eligible to be seen. During your Birth Reflections session, we look through your maternity notes together answering questions and exploring your recollections and feelings. Each session takes around an hour. If you feel you would benefit from an appointment with us you can book an appointment by emailing RUH-tr.BirthReflections@nhs.net We would love to hear from you. Please note, as this is a public page, any derogatory comments will be deleted, and we ask you to refrain from discussing your birth stories here publically. Birth reflections is a service to empower women and families in our care.
