Tag: midwife
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Navigating The Australian Maternity System 1995
Arriving in Oz I joined an agency needing a salary as soon as possible. First shift, 6.45am on the postnatal floor of a large public tertiary hospital, an old building, no AC, stinking hot 35-degree day, working under the whir of multiple fans, white dress and tights clinging, sweat trickling down my back.
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A Community Midwifery Service QLD 1997 – 1999
An accurate quote ❤️ Midwifery is both joyful and painful. We see the best and worst day of people’s lives in our everyday experience. We are incredibly lucky to be part of women’s lives when things are bright and jubilant, but also when they are darkest and most difficult. It allows us to see the…
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Another Day At The Office
Recently had the delightful task in the postnatal ward of weighing the newborn babies going home Wheeling them to the scales one at a time in fish bowl hospital cots Quickly, gently, wrangling them out of clothes and nappy Talking to them , shushing them, apologising for ma cold hands Placing them atop the scales…
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My Birth Stories
“Women who’ve had positive birth experiences should talk about them more, explain their step by step journey to having that positive birth, getting away from the idea that good births just come about by luck” Rhea Dempsey Both my births were rare in today’s world. Spontaneous labours, no vaginal examinations, no drugs, no one touching…
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Chapter 16. Complications
Usually pregnancy is a joyful time but for some women things go wrong and hospital admission is needed. Separated from family, friends and support network, stuck in hospital, often miles from home, joy is replaced by anxiety and fear For some women …..
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Chapter 10. Hands Off The Baby
My casual midwifery job began on the postnatal/antenatal ward of a tertiary hospital. “Ah you’re a midwife , must be lovely cuddling babies all day!” That old chestnut. To set the record straight, newborn babies should always be with the women who birth them, in their arms, on their skin, not in the arms of…
The Midwife/Nurse Hobbyfarmer 