I have always told people that that hardest thing in the world is becoming a parent: I was wrong. The hardest thing in the world is to become a parent, yet be unable to feel the warmth and love of your child, or be able to hold her in your arms on the dark days when parenting can seem all too consuming.
As a midwife, I am in the hugely privileged position of being with a couple as they make their journey to becoming parents and a family; it is a role I do not take lightly, but hold protected in my heart, honoured to be walking the path with them.
This last month, my mothers' heart has felt such pain, and I have been humbled to see the beauty and grace in which my clients birthed their baby and welcomed her into their arms. I left this new family with such a deep sadness; a midwife facilitates birth and helps to bring life into the world, and yet on this occasion that was not within my capacity; their beautiful precious daughter's soul was not to come earthside as she had died a few days earlier. We new this as we waited to meet her.
I was truly blessed to be part of their journey and continue to be so; I send you love and light,
Forever in my heart
Angela
Tuesday, 9 August 2011
Monday, 13 June 2011
Where is the love?.....
Having recently spent some time in various NHS trusts, I am always amazed by several things:
1) The varying ways in which Independent Midwives are treated
2) The amazing work that NHS colleagues do in sometimes really difficult situations
and the saddest part
3) There is no LOVE in most units :-(
Having a baby for most women is a unique, life-changing event; they are facing the biggest challenge they may ever face in becoming a parent. Some women face this with confidence and ease, some in-difference and some complete terror; but all of these women deserve some patience, empathy and LOVE!
I can not begin to imagine how hard it must be to work full-time on a busy labour ward. I feel it is time that midwives are taken care of properly, with respect from management and team members, with love and care. Then they too can pass that on to the women and families that are central to midwifery care!
Angela
1) The varying ways in which Independent Midwives are treated
2) The amazing work that NHS colleagues do in sometimes really difficult situations
and the saddest part
3) There is no LOVE in most units :-(
Having a baby for most women is a unique, life-changing event; they are facing the biggest challenge they may ever face in becoming a parent. Some women face this with confidence and ease, some in-difference and some complete terror; but all of these women deserve some patience, empathy and LOVE!
I can not begin to imagine how hard it must be to work full-time on a busy labour ward. I feel it is time that midwives are taken care of properly, with respect from management and team members, with love and care. Then they too can pass that on to the women and families that are central to midwifery care!
Angela
Friday, 21 January 2011
I am embarrassed to note that it is almost a year since I last blogged - which is terrible!
Over the 12 past months I have had the pleasure and privilege of attending some really lovely home births - land and water - that have, as normal, left me in awe of how amazing birth is and how incredible women are! I read today in The Practising Midwife that only around 1% of births take place in water; that statistic is so shocking and I am saddened that so few women experience the support, warmth and comfort that a water birth can offer.
This week, I attended a lovely home water birth; baby number three for a lovely couple who have had two previous home water births. When I was booked I told this client she would probably give birth on the 19th as it was a full-moon. Not only was I right, but if you saw the moon on Wednesday you could not fail to notice how amazing it was. There was magic in the air that night when we welcomed their daughter into the world.
Angela
Over the 12 past months I have had the pleasure and privilege of attending some really lovely home births - land and water - that have, as normal, left me in awe of how amazing birth is and how incredible women are! I read today in The Practising Midwife that only around 1% of births take place in water; that statistic is so shocking and I am saddened that so few women experience the support, warmth and comfort that a water birth can offer.
This week, I attended a lovely home water birth; baby number three for a lovely couple who have had two previous home water births. When I was booked I told this client she would probably give birth on the 19th as it was a full-moon. Not only was I right, but if you saw the moon on Wednesday you could not fail to notice how amazing it was. There was magic in the air that night when we welcomed their daughter into the world.
Angela
Saturday, 27 February 2010
BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS!
I just accosted a pregnant women in Waterstones - I know I shouldn't but I couldn't help it! The books available were a disappointing array of main stream 'nice' books, not one evidence based or challenging. So here is my list of the TOP 5 books for pregnancy and beyond:
Expecting (Anna Mcgrail and Daphne Metland)
The New Pregnancy and Childbirth (Sheila Kitzinger)
Ina May's Guide to Childbirth (Ina May Gaskin)
Stand and deliver (and other brillinant ways of giving birth) (Emma Mahony)
What mothers do (espcially when it looks like nothing) (Naomi Stadlen)
Wouldn't it be a move forward if these were found in all major bookshops!
enjoy
angela x
Expecting (Anna Mcgrail and Daphne Metland)
The New Pregnancy and Childbirth (Sheila Kitzinger)
Ina May's Guide to Childbirth (Ina May Gaskin)
Stand and deliver (and other brillinant ways of giving birth) (Emma Mahony)
What mothers do (espcially when it looks like nothing) (Naomi Stadlen)
Wouldn't it be a move forward if these were found in all major bookshops!
enjoy
angela x
Wednesday, 24 February 2010
Wednesday, 11 November 2009
Is having a home birth selfish?
This was a question posted on the popular 'Mumsnet' website and caused a lot of response. I have thought about this question a lot (insomnia gives you time to think!), and I guess my response to that would be that there are many decisions we have to make as parents that are life changing, for example:
All of the decisions we make as parents are difficult ones: all we can hope to do is make the best decision, based on the information and evidence we have, at that time. Choosing to give birth at home does involve risks, but so does choosing to give birth in hospital and contrary to popular belief; hospital does not guarantee a safe outcome.
Planning a home birth based on the evidence available, is shown to be a safe, normal choice and is nothing new; Women have birthed, and will continue to birth in the place that feels right for them. The question of being selfish is therefore an unnecessary and judgemental one to pose. We are all individuals who have to make choices - as with the examples above they may not be the same choices that other parents may make, but they are no less valuable or 'right'. Birth and parenting is not 'black & white' but is made up of many shades, and every day brings new challenges and choices. I know I don't always get it right, but when it comes to important, life influencing decisions, I try to make the best decision I can at that time!
Selfishness aside, having a baby is a unique, life-changing experience; for some women they will need all the interventions that high-tech birth can offer, for some women they will choose to give birth in their local hospital, and for some women they will choose to give birth in the comfort of their own home. All choices should be respected, all women should receive the best care they can, and all women should feel supported in the decision they have made, rather than bullied, coerced or belittled into doing something that is not right for them.
- is it selfish to vaccinate / not-vaccinate?
- is it selfish to place a child in full-time nursery care / be a full-time parent?
- is it selfish to home-educate / use state schooling?
- is it selfish to have one child / have 4+ children?
All of the decisions we make as parents are difficult ones: all we can hope to do is make the best decision, based on the information and evidence we have, at that time. Choosing to give birth at home does involve risks, but so does choosing to give birth in hospital and contrary to popular belief; hospital does not guarantee a safe outcome.
Planning a home birth based on the evidence available, is shown to be a safe, normal choice and is nothing new; Women have birthed, and will continue to birth in the place that feels right for them. The question of being selfish is therefore an unnecessary and judgemental one to pose. We are all individuals who have to make choices - as with the examples above they may not be the same choices that other parents may make, but they are no less valuable or 'right'. Birth and parenting is not 'black & white' but is made up of many shades, and every day brings new challenges and choices. I know I don't always get it right, but when it comes to important, life influencing decisions, I try to make the best decision I can at that time!
Selfishness aside, having a baby is a unique, life-changing experience; for some women they will need all the interventions that high-tech birth can offer, for some women they will choose to give birth in their local hospital, and for some women they will choose to give birth in the comfort of their own home. All choices should be respected, all women should receive the best care they can, and all women should feel supported in the decision they have made, rather than bullied, coerced or belittled into doing something that is not right for them.
Wednesday, 21 October 2009
HBAC (Home Birth After Cesarean)
Looking at my friend and fellow IM website today, found this link - sums it up for me too! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MU5HIbjir8I enjoy. angela x
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