Midwives in the NHS have voted to take strike action this months after struggling for years to cope with a deep and enduring shortage of midwives and having their 1% pay rise demand rejected.
Change is the one constant in this universe and as signs of autumn are all around us we see evidence of this. As a midwife supporting a small caseload of pregnant women I am privileged to support them during a period of profound change in their lives.
So you are pregnant, you want the very best birth for you and your baby and want to get your hands on as much information as possible! Here’s where we come in! I want to point out 6 reasons why having your own midwife is going to help give you the best chance possible at the most positive birth experience.
In this beautiful picture you can see that each grain of sand is unique and beautiful and I want you to reflect on just how amazing it looks!
I like many enjoyed the BBC drama series “Call the Midwife” that featured a group of Midwives in the 1950’s who worked in the Docklands region of London. It led me to reflect on the changes that I have seen during my career as a Midwife.
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.
You are probably aware that having a baby is going to change your life, and may I add, for the better! However, along with this change comes a multitude of emotions and it is good to have a support network around you to help you get through those early weeks as a new mother.
The midwife will help the woman gain tools to help her work through her birth, relying entirely on her own natural hormone release and in labour the same familiar midwife will help comfort and support the woman, protecting her from situations that can inhibit the release of these hormones.
At times you will have a pregnancy journey that is veering away from the straight forward route and when this happens you can feel that you have very little choice but to go along with the medical interventions even though they were not part of your birth plan. This can lead to feelings of powerlessness and a perception that you are not being heard!
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.