UHDB welcomes over 8,000 babies since the first lockdown
Since the first lockdown began just over a year ago, we've helped welcome 8,496 babies into the world!
Parents from across Derbyshire and Staffordshire have come forward to share their experiences and stories.
Carl Bull
My son Hudson-Heath Was born 22nd of August 2020. His birth wasn’t straight forward and we were in and out of hospital for 4 days before finally being induced. He was born with an infection meaning he had a week in hospital with restricted 1 hour visiting hours.
I was working on the hyper acute Stroke pathway project and ED Covid response at the time so was working solidly and was able to focus on something other than worrying, also luckily for me my office was next to their ward.
Whilst I still wasn’t able to visit them until visiting hours it was comforting to be so close, and knowing that my family were being cared for by the best of best helped immeasurably.
I’d like to thank the midwifery team who delivered my son and took care of my partner with absolute professionalism and care. Thanks also to the ward team on 314 responsible for their care, and the teams which support them, not forgetting the lab and pharmacy teams who work their unseen magic behind the scenes.
Becky Hulse 
I had my little boy on the 26th December 2020, I can't thank Royal Derby Hospital midwifery staff enough. They were absolutely fantastic and so accommodating since I have anxiety. I wasn't in labour long but the midwife I had was amazing. She kept bringing me cups of tea and lots of water. She spoke to me through the whole of the birth and I felt a real sense of normality. The masks took away a little bit of reality but you soon forgot.
Lucy Hall
Baby Ronnie born on 20th May 2020. It was a weird experience, especially my older boys meeting their brother on Facetime. The Midwives and Healthcare assistants were fantastic and helped me feel at ease. I had a planned c section and my husband left after about an hour. It was nice to have the bonding time with Ronnie, but it was strange having no visitors.
Kayleigh Fox
After sadly losing my little boy Freddie Taylor stillborn on Friday 31st May 2019, my little rainbow baby Brodie Taylor, was born at 37 weeks at Royal Derby Hospital on Thursday 4th June 2020! I went in to get induced but I was already 2cm dilated so the midwife broke my waters at 12:30pm and at 6:12pm he was in my arms weighing 7lb! I cannot thank the staff enough, I was so scared as it was only a year before I lost my boy stillborn and with Covid-19 I was panicking! But the staff were amazing from arriving to leaving. A special mention to my midwife Alice, she was unbelievable and made me real so at ease!
Xanthe Edwards
My little boy Freddie was born in July at Queens Hospital Burton. He didn’t want to be born as was perfectly comfy so I was induced. Apart from the delay in my husband being able to join me it really felt completely normal. I was supported throughout by the fabulous team, I really couldn’t have wished for a better experience. I was so anxious about what giving birth in a pandemic would be like but it was just amazing. Thank you so much to the maternity team at Burton from me and my family.
Guidance on Maternity Care throughout the pandemic can be found here >
- Data taken from 23/03/2020 - 23/03/2021
- This includes births across all UHDB sites and homebirths