Birth Story 02
Our Story
Originally from the US, I am new to the NHS healthcare system and wanted an extra bit of security knowing I would have continuity in postnatal care with certified, experienced midwives.
I wasn’t planning on a home birth, but when Leonie came to the house to assess me I had moved through the first stage of labour much more quickly than anticipated and was fully dilated. Leonie made the call to stay home, and I must say I was relieved. I instinctively knew that things had moved quickly, and I was more comfortable being at home.
Throughout my labour, in the comfort of my own home, I had Leonie’s calm and confident voice informing me of every step, every decision.
After a slow second stage, I was exhausted and was very close to being transferred into hospital. Knowing my wishes to avoid interventions and medicalised pain management, Leonie helped me into a new position using gravity to help things along. In the end, my husband sat on an antique chest at the end of our bed and held my entire body weight in a supported squat. Within minutes our son Charlie was born.
Leonie placed Charlie on my chest but acted swiftly when she realised he needed resuscitation breaths. In less than 2 minutes she had him squawking and back in my arms.
An ambulance transferred me, Charlie, and my husband to Kings, where the (NHS) midwife team met us. It all happened quite quickly from there – Leonie helped admit us and ensure continuity of care with the Kings midwife team.
Without her, I honestly feel I would have had a much different birth experience. I now look back on the birth of my first child feeling so empowered and so capable.
The care I received had a more significant impact on my experience than anything else – more than any of my prenatal appointments, more than any of my other preparations. Her care made my birth experience everything I ever wanted it to be.
It was so helpful meeting Leonie before the birth. Her personable nature and helpful advice made it feel like we settled easily into a sense of familiarity, so that on the day of the birth I felt the real impact continuity of care can have on the birth experience.
I would recommend other women consider the benefits of having a private midwife present at their birth as well as to support antenatal care. I also had 6 weeks of postnatal care after the birth which gave me the confidence I needed as a new mother – I really looked forward to the midwife visits and was so reassured after each one.
I underestimated how much of an impact a private midwife would have on my actual birth experience; if we have more children, I could not imagine doing it without them.