05/07/2023
Sharing this with permission - we are so proud to be Continuity Midwives and receive feedback like this šš
So I just want to start off by saying a huge thank you to charlotte my amazing midwife. From the first time I met her I instantly felt safe, comfortable and completely at ease. I said to her from the beginning I wanted a home birth, instead or raising her eyebrows or saying āare you sureā like most people, she clapped and said oh my goodness thatās amazing. For me, I couldnāt have wished for a better response. To be supported and praised for my birthing preferences was all I could have ever asked. I hear horror stories of unsupportive and coercive midwives, reeling off risk factors and reasons why itās not such a good idea but Charlotte knew all the reasons I wanted one and agreed with everything I was saying. She knows physiological birth, she supports and and praises it. I had done so so much research, to the point it was slightly obsessive, I knew my facts and I had the studies to back it up, but Charlotte knew this too. She has made a point to know exactly what a birthing woman needs outside of the ānormā and how important it is for women to feel safe and at home in order for their oxytocin to flow etc etc, I could go on.
Although I didnāt get the birth I wanted (even though we had planned exactly what date he should be coming out, the date she was on shift!!!) there was no home birth team on. Birth resulted in an emergency c-section and I was completely disheartened. Charlotte came to see me after a few days and it felt like I was crying to a friend Iād known for years, I mourned the birth I wanted and she understood and comforted me every step of the way.
The main reason Charlotte really stood out to me was because I never had to convince her of anything. Person centred care was just a given to her, you want this- fine, let me explain the risks but everything is your choice as itās your body. Even when baby was over his due date and she looked at me as if to say do I even bother asking if you want me to book an induction, because she knew my birth plan and she knew that wasnāt what I wanted!! (She did ask and explained the risks but only as formality to explain safety for baby and myself etc).
Had I had another midwife I donāt feel I would have been half as supported, respected or cared for in the same way (nothing against anyone else but Charlotte just has a way about her). At the end of the day Iām a first time mum, relatively young and quite stubborn, but none of this mattered because she listened to me and she cared. I assumed people would think I was mad wanting my first baby as a home birth, no pain relief, doing hypnobirthing etc etc but not an ounce of judgement, just support.
Iām still part of a home birth group on Facebook and the horror stories I constantly hear about midwives pressuring and scaremongering and I thank god I didnāt have to grow a child and fight for how I wanted to birth them because I had such an amazing and beautiful midwife.
Thank you so much Charlotte.
I also wanted to mention the beautiful and caring midwives who came to see me after I had my baby, I was an emotional wreck and I genuinely couldnāt have gotten through that first week without them. So sorry that I canāt remember everyoneās names but everyone who came to see me including the students were absolutely fantastic and so supportive, itās such a lonely and emotional time. I answered the door in tears basically pleading for help āare you the midwivesā inconsolably sobbing as my baby wouldnāt stop crying and wouldnāt latch. Within 5 minutes I was laughing and smiling and baby was latched.
During my birth I also had an incredible student midwife Liz, she is going to make a wonderful midwife. So caring, kind and compassionate!!
Sorry for the ramble but I really think you lovely people donāt get praised enough. People are so quick to complain but rarely give praise where needed, especially in such tough circumstances that is the NHS currently.
Keep doing an amazing job all of you!!
L
