You are unique, fantastic, a perfect human being; as are your baby, your pregnancy and your birth; they matter so much. I became an Independent midwife to ensure I could continue to support women through this amazing journey in the best way possible. Please take time to consider your choices in who attends you during this time. It is one of the most important times of your life.
As an Independent Midwife I work intensively during your pregnancy to maximize the chances of your wishes coming true. I am available for you between visits to answer any questions and help allay your anxieties. I offer you massage, let you borrow books and DVDs, however most importantly I get to know you, your family and your unique qualities and needs. You will have the opportunity to discuss the things that trouble you and cause you anxiety and together we can formulate a birth plan.
A lot of people carry fear about birth, both men and women alike. Each of you will have a lot of preconceived ideas about birth long before you have your first baby. How you feel about the forth coming birth will depend on what you have watched on “You tube” or TV documentaries. May be reading birth guides listening to Women’s hour discussions or simply seeing babies being born in a Soap Opera these will have influenced your levels of anxiety.
Gaining control in a fearful situation means trusting those around you. The feeling that you have choices and that you hope you will be supported with your choices is at the heart of trust and once you feel you can trust your care givers then your fear will subside. Having a midwife that you get to know and trust who’s going to attend you during one of the most intimate acts of your life will help you build confidence about birth. I will get out of bed in the middle of the night to come to your birth whenever it happens and it won’t depend on if I am on duty or not as I am on call for you 24/7! I’ll hold your hand, or sit quietly offering words of encouragement to you and your partner because I will already know you. I will have taken your resting vital signs on many previous occasions and know your full medical history I will be familiar with your baby’s position and gestation. I am with you throughout you need not fear that my shift will end and someone else will take over.
If the birth journey encounters an obstruction I will arrange for your transfer to hospital and accompany you to the hospital I do not hand you over to the Hospital staff and then leave you. I will work hard in hospital to be your “gate-keeper” to help protect your choices. In the case of a hospital transfer you will always know it was necessary due to my years of home birth experience.
Following the arrival of the baby I am on hand to help you welcome and feed your baby helping you to assimilate the birth outcome. I spend an intense amount of time visiting you at home in the early days and in this way breast feeding will have the best chance of success and you as a new Mum will be nurtured in the way you deserve.
I have been so privileged to have been invited on the birth journey of so many women and seen them transition into amazing new Mums!
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