Gabby Carl Tom Team Tri Hard
Gabrielle's page
Fundraising for Maternity In Safe Hands
Story
Right lovelies this is where you donate money in exchange for my long suffering toe nails.....
So as many of you are aware I'm a Consultant Obstetrician at Kingston hospital. I spent many of my training years here and had my beautiful daughter Esme in room 24 on the General Delivery Suite.
I specialise in high risk obstetrics in particular women with diabetes, but also have a keen interested in hypertension/inflammatory bowel disease/twins/those who have had a previous caesarean etc etc.
These women quite often need medical intervention in labour, monitoring and frequent medical reviews. This is not their fault, but a simple fact. Sadly when you look at obstetric led units many look like a hospitals - Bright lights, antiseptic smelling, equipment all over the place and a rather firm uncomfortable chair for the birth partner & don't get me started on the beds and stirrups!
This is a stark contrast to the "low risk" midwifery led unit just down the corridor. Beautifully decorated, stocked with beanbags, pillows a plenty, mood lighting and generally a much more homely feel.
So what difference does this make?
When you're pregnant you change. Your life becomes more about protecting the wee person inside of you over anything and everything. It's hardly surprising that those who develop risk factors can become highly anxious and scared. The environment we put them in currently does not help this. It certainly doesn't scream "relax" it screams "you're so high risk look at this room this is how worried we are about you". Your stress hormone inhibits the hormone that causes contractions and a cascade of events is set in motion with increasing intervention....
Thus I propose, and there is plenty of evidence to support this, women labour better in an environment that is conducive to birth. Women want to be comfortable, they want privacy, to be able to control lighting, temperature, have their partner with them also comfortable and able to support them (rather than contorted in an NHS plastic chair).
So.... I am raising money for Kingston maternity unit to improve the birth environment for those that have to deliver on labour ward.
Improving maternal experience, promoting normality and improving outcomes for mother, baby and the entire family.
I will be suffering for the cause. You can follow my journey/black toe nails on Twitter @gabbybambi. #matexp #roomwithaview
So as many of you are aware I'm a Consultant Obstetrician at Kingston hospital. I spent many of my training years here and had my beautiful daughter Esme in room 24 on the General Delivery Suite.
I specialise in high risk obstetrics in particular women with diabetes, but also have a keen interested in hypertension/inflammatory bowel disease/twins/those who have had a previous caesarean etc etc.
These women quite often need medical intervention in labour, monitoring and frequent medical reviews. This is not their fault, but a simple fact. Sadly when you look at obstetric led units many look like a hospitals - Bright lights, antiseptic smelling, equipment all over the place and a rather firm uncomfortable chair for the birth partner & don't get me started on the beds and stirrups!
This is a stark contrast to the "low risk" midwifery led unit just down the corridor. Beautifully decorated, stocked with beanbags, pillows a plenty, mood lighting and generally a much more homely feel.
So what difference does this make?
When you're pregnant you change. Your life becomes more about protecting the wee person inside of you over anything and everything. It's hardly surprising that those who develop risk factors can become highly anxious and scared. The environment we put them in currently does not help this. It certainly doesn't scream "relax" it screams "you're so high risk look at this room this is how worried we are about you". Your stress hormone inhibits the hormone that causes contractions and a cascade of events is set in motion with increasing intervention....
Thus I propose, and there is plenty of evidence to support this, women labour better in an environment that is conducive to birth. Women want to be comfortable, they want privacy, to be able to control lighting, temperature, have their partner with them also comfortable and able to support them (rather than contorted in an NHS plastic chair).
So.... I am raising money for Kingston maternity unit to improve the birth environment for those that have to deliver on labour ward.
Improving maternal experience, promoting normality and improving outcomes for mother, baby and the entire family.
I will be suffering for the cause. You can follow my journey/black toe nails on Twitter @gabbybambi. #matexp #roomwithaview