Welcome to The Compassionate Midwife Blog

As this is my first blog post, it seems fitting to introduce myself. After all, if you are here to consider whether I am the right midwife for you, it's only right you should know a bit about me. I grew up in Cornwall, in a beautiful little fishing village called Mevagissey. After a childhood of playing with dolls, then babysitting for local babies and toddlers, I began my first nanny job supporting a farming family with 3 children under 3 for a year, before leaving Cornwall to move to London as a live-in nanny. I was responsible for the day to day caring for the children, from newborn up to teenagers. I look back with such fond memories of my time as a nanny and each of the families I supported which shaped me into the parent I became as well as giving me valuable skills of working within a family network.

I have three amazing children who are now nearly grown up! Birth for me was not something I feared but something I prepared for and looked forward to. I was introduced to the use of hypnotherapy for childbirth by a friend and realised that some of the strategies I had used in my births were aligned with the philosophy of hypnobirthing. Having seen first-hand the benefits of the method I trained as a hypnobirthing practitioner and began offering antenatal education classes to couples in my local area as well as training as a Doula. 

I was thrilled to discover that I needed to expand my knowledge and understanding of pregnancy and birth to truly support others! Recognizing my true calling as a midwife, and with an enthusiastic push from a dear friend, I eagerly embarked on the journey to turn that dream into reality. The year my youngest child started school, I dived into studying for my midwifery degree. At 40, I proudly graduated and landed my first midwifery position in the very NHS Trust where I trained. Just a year later, I was out and about, practicing as a community midwife. I was incredibly fortunate to be part of the rollout of a continuity of care team, and it was within this innovative model of care that I witnessed firsthand the amazing benefits of continuity of care during pregnancy and birth. 

As your midwife, get ready for midwifery care that's tailored to your needs and preferences! I'll provide you with the most current, evidence-based information to guide you in making informed decisions. I am here to advocate for and support you throughout your pregnancy, birth, and into the postnatal period. I'm passionate about ensuring that the person at the heart of birth feels truly heard. I fully acknowledge the vital role of maternal intuition in birth and am a strong advocate for maternal choice. 

With an Independent Midwife (IM) like me, you get the luxury of unhurried appointments in the comfort of your home, scheduled at a time that's convenient for both of us. If your children are home, they are more than welcome to join us, and I’ve found that having them see the midwife during the pregnancy and participate in the appointments can really help with the settling-in period for the older sibling. 

I recommend you initially book with your local hospital to receive your NHS screening tests and your dating scan. I can then take over your care from the 16-week appointment. If you need to see a consultant, I can accompany you as your advocate if you wish. 

If you choose a home birth, we’ll create a birth plan together, and you’ll have the chance to meet the second midwife who will join me at the birth. This second midwife is required by insurance, and her fee is covered by your initial payment. We’ll both be on call for you from 37 weeks until you go into labour. After the birth, I’ll increase my visits to daily for the first 5 days, then 1-2 visits over the following weeks until you’re discharged from my care when your baby is between 4-6 weeks old.

I am proudly registered with the NMC (The Nursing and Midwifery Council) and am a dedicated member of IMUK (Independent Midwife UK) and Zest. Zest has expertly sourced the necessary insurance, enabling me to provide exceptional care during your birth. I maintain current certifications in emergency skills and neonatal resuscitation. Based in South Norfolk, I extend my compassionate services throughout Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire. To learn more about my what I can offer as The Compassionate Midwife, please reach out to me at thecompassionatemidwife@gmail.com