Belle, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, is a trained therapy dog that has become what is believed to be the first dog to be allowed into a hospital's maternity ward.
Belle the dog helped her owner, Amee Tomkin, while being in labor at Milton Keynes University Hospital.
Ms. Tomkin has autism and has been suffering from anxiety for a long time.
“I wouldn't leave the house for months, even to go to the shops or doctors,” she said.
Two-year-old Belle didn't leave her side.
She was there with Ms. Tommkin in the ambulance, intensive care, and the maternity ward after her Caesarean delivery.
This idea was suggested by her midwife after seeing how valuable the dog was to her during her pregnancy.
According to Ms. Tomkin, Belle had to pass a risk assessment before being allowed access to the labor ward.
They had to check if Belle could cope with the busy ward and how she would react to her owner being in pain.
“She just passed it all; they were amazed by her,” she added.
The hospital made sure that everything and everyone on the ward was safe.
The hospital's infection control team put extra effort into cleaning the place.
Belle stayed beside Ms. Tomkin when she sensed her owner was in pain.
“She gave me something else to focus on when everything else was happening around me.”
Belle won a national award for her work which made Ms. Tomkin very proud.
“She's such a calm, lovely dog, and she deserves all the recognition,” Tomkin added.
Melissa Davis, the divisional chief midwife at Milton Keynes University Hospital, said, “It was clear the importance of enabling Belle to be with Ms. Tomkin during her time in the maternity unit to provide comfort and support, which we facilitated with a full risk assessment.
“It is a privilege to be able to provide truly individualized care, and we recognize how important this was for Ms. Tomkin—we wish her and her family all the best for the future.”
Dogs are indeed awesome pets.
Sometimes we wonder if we truly deserve them because they are truly the best.
