Celebrating my Midwife: International Day of the Midwife

Both of my children were born here, in Cornwall, in a lovely birth center. I absolutely loved the birth center. There was the office where the midwives would sit doing their paper work whilst letting us get on with things during that 'in between' stage. There was a smaller room where you could make hot drinks, bottles, a microwave and the birth partner could even have a break on a huge bean bag if there wasn't much progress (my husband didn't dare!)

Then there was the delivery suite set up with a hospital bed, linen cupboard, the standard cot for your newborn, emergency equipment (also used to place baby on to dry them off first and to administer the vitamin K injection.) There was a lovely big shower with seating, the loo and the other essentials in the on-suite then the birthing pool itself. The pool was huge, clean and heavenly when full! My midwife showed us around and I couldn't stop smiling.

I had several midwives (much like a home birth I suppose there has to be 2 midwives present) my first midwife with Midge, Jo, was wonderful. She was calm, friendly and just what I needed as an 18 year old first time very anxious mother.

The initial midwife I had with my son, Little A, I sadly cannot remember her name. I do remember she was a bit older and very relaxed, doing paper work whilst I laid in the pool sweating it out! She trusted me and she made me laugh. A lot.

Very shaky newborn photo of Baby A

This post is about the midwife who reached Midges birth with literally minutes to spare. Who wiped her hands, rubbed them together and gave me a huge, comforting grin as she looked to Jo mouthing 'Can I do this bit?' And she did. She helped deliver my first born safely and gave her to me all wrapped up and well.

Then 2 years later she was there to tell me to come into the unit. She wasn't on shift at that time and after my examination by the initial midwife (who confirmed I wasn't ready to be admitted yet) we went for lunch and went walking around the park. A few hours later my waters broke, I headed to the unit,my first midwife already there running the pool water. Back on shift my second midwife returned to the unit and there she was from beginning to end. Encouraging, but mostly silent. She helped me deliver my son. My actual hands guided and then full bringing my son to my chest.

Photo of a photo.
Midwife and Aunt with Midge. Not even an hour old!

My midwife is now retired after over 40 years in midwifery. Her name is Fiona. She was and still is a truly wonderful woman who I still go to on behalf of my friends for their questions. She was everything a midwife should be. Calm, trustworthy, encouraging, emotionally caring. Oh yes, one small detail which actually makes all of this even more amazing for me. My midwife was my Aunt. I received the same wonderful care she had given to hundreds of women before me. That's something very special to me.

Have you written a post about a wonderful midwife? Even with the most difficult births many friends have told me they would not have felt so in control, or comforted, or listened to and valued without their one (or several) very wonderful midwives. So if you would like to celebrate your midwife or one you know, please link up below and help celebrate midwives everywhere on International Day of the Midwife.

Cupcake Mumma

4 comments:

  1. What a lovely post! I was also lucky with the midwives that delivered both my children. The first one was lovely and caring. The second one was a little older and perhaps a bit more strict, but that was exactly what I needed and she made me get out of my sitting position in a chair, where I was in agony and barely moving, into the birthing pool, which was amazing!

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  2. Lovely post, and what a great thing to have your Aunt be your midwife, a great memory for you both I am sure xx

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  3. Wow, what a lovely post and how wonderful to have your aunt as your midwife.

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  4. Aww this is such a lovely article - and what precious memories for you x

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