Introducing Me!

 

I’m Geraldine Watson, and I live in Birchington, on the Kent coast.

I have two children Emily and Lewis, and I was previously co-chair of Doula UK.

When I had my children, things were quite regimented, you pretty much had to stick to the hospital’s own ideas of a routine, and there was very little information available as to what choices mums-to-be had.

My first-born, Emily, obviously disliked the idea of entering her new world, and took her time appearing! During my 16 hours of labour, there were changes of staff and the same person never seemed to appear twice. Eventually, it was decided she needed a bit of help and I was rushed into the delivery suite where a female Doctor – who obviously wishing to be somewhere else – performed a forceps delivery. After a very brief cuddle with my much longed-for baby, they whisked her away to be “cot-nursed” and I didn’t see her again until the next day.

 When Lewis arrived just over two years later, things were a little more relaxed, and although I was induced, I had a fairly short labour with just the help of gas and air. Although the midwife did tell me off for making too much noise!

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