May 3 2024
Meet the Midwife at Calvary Riverina Hospital
For International Day of the Midwife, we’re taking the opportunity to recognise and celebrate the incredible work of our midwives, and how they are able to support parents before, during, and after the birth of their new babies.
Our people
Why did you want to become a midwife? I always wanted to become a midwife, but I did nursing first. After three years of working as a nurse and consolidating my skills, I weighed up the pros and cons of what I was doing, and midwifery had a lot of pros. It wasn’t long after I made the transition. I’ve been a midwife for about 20 years.
What’s your favourite thing about being a midwife? I think as a midwife we’re in a really unique position to be alongside women and their families during an extremely special time in their lives. It’s not something that someone goes through every day so to be able to support them and make it the best experience it can be is very rewarding.
What’s your favourite memory as a midwife? My favourite memory has to be the very first birth that I was present. My training involved a mixture of community midwifery and hospital-based midwifery, so the first birth I saw was actually a home birth. I got to know the woman during her pregnancy. She had a really beautiful labour and a really beautiful birth. It was the perfect introduction to midwifery.
Why did you want to become a midwife? I have always had an interest in midwifery. When I was a student midwife and saw my first birth at Narrandera Hospital followed by having two of my own babies, I was left in awe of the female body and what it can do.
What’s your favourite part about being a midwife? The relationship you build with women, their partners and their families during such a special time of their lives. Living in a town like Wagga Wagga, you’ll always run into the mums and their babies, and I often get to see the children I helped deliver, which is so special.
What’s your favourite memory from being a midwife? It’s hard to pick just one, but it always comes back to being there for your friends and family during that special time. My best memories aren’t of the perfect scenario but when I’m able to be there for new parents when they need extra support.
Why did you want to become a midwife? I loved being able to support women in their journey to becoming mums.
What’s your favourite part about being a midwife? I feel incredibly privileged to be part of the miracle that is childbirth. No matter how many times you see a baby come into the world, it always feels like a miracle.
What’s your favourite memory from being a midwife? All my best memories, are the ones where I’ve helped someone feel empowered to be the best mum she can be. It is lovely to support a woman during childbirth and in the days that follow teaching them how to care for and feed their newborns.
Why did you want to become a midwife? I decided to train as a midwife to complement my neonatal intensive care experience. When I first began my career in the 90s, I never wanted to be a midwife, but now I can’t imagine doing anything else.
What’s your favourite thing about being a midwife? It’s the privilege to be at the birth of a baby and be involved in a family’s transition to parenthood. It is a special time.
What’s your favourite memory about being a midwife? When I was training in 1996, we delivered undiagnosed twins. The senior midwife said “that’s a huge placenta” but it was the unexpected second twin’s head!
Why did you want to become a midwife? My mum was a midwife and I remember looking at the pictures in her textbooks when I was growing up and feeling inspired. I trained to become a microbiologist but I was quite lonely in the laboratory, so I decided to explore midwifery and never looked back.
What’s your favourite thing about being a midwife? The relationships we form with women and their families during what is one of the most important and memorable moments of their lives. As midwives we’re there during the happy, sad, stressful, relaxing, beautiful and painful moments. How we help in those moments can really impact how someone recalls their child’s birth.
What’s your favourite memory as a midwife? Any water birth. I’ve cried at nearly every one I’ve been present. It’s easy to get caught up in all the things we need to do during what we call a ‘land birth’, but for some reason water birth is different. It’s quiet and calm. My job is to watch and guide a mum to birth her baby. It is incredibly special to be at the birth of another little human.
Why did you want to become a midwife? I fell in love with being around mums and new bubs all the time. Birthing is the most amazing thing you can witness. I just love being a midwife.
What’s your favourite thing about being a midwife? Meeting incredible women, watching them have their babies and their transition into becoming a parent is my favourite part of being a midwife. It’s beautiful to see the emotions that are stirred up during labour and being there to support a mother while they’re giving birth.
Tell us about your experience with the birthing classes. I am normally one of the first faces parents see when they come to Calvary Riverina Hospital on the obstetrics side of things. I book all of the women into the hospital for their birth. If they are first-time parents we also offer them antenatal classes, which I am lucky enough to run. It is a privilege to follow them on their journey, from the first classes to when they give birth and also providing support over the first couple of weeks and months of their baby’s life.
What’s your favourite memory as a midwife? It’s tough to name just one but it has to be one of my recent births, which was a beautiful experience. The birth was gorgeous, uncomplicated and straightforward, and the mother had complete control over the birth.
Why did you want to become a midwife? I’ve wanted to be a midwife since the age of 11 when I helped my dog deliver her puppies. My mum and I had the vet on the phone talking us through the delivery. One of the puppies actually became stuck so I helped deliver the breached puppy to save it and the puppy after that one as well. Afterwards, I felt so happy about what I had achieved that I said to Mum I wanted to deliver real babies when I was older.
What’s your favourite thing about being a midwife? I love everything about being a midwife, especially the moment when a baby is first born. You get to see the how the parents’ faces instantly fill with love and excitement.
What’s your favourite memory as a midwife? Many years ago, I was looking after a couple who were having their first baby. I made such a strong connection with them. Once the mum had given birth, everyone was crying, including myself. It was an amazing feeling. I discovered afterwards that the father of the baby was the son of one of my colleagues, which was really nice. It’s been seven years and I’m still in touch with them all.
Why did you want to become a midwife? I always wanted to become a midwife, but I studied nursing first. Once I found my feet, I thought it was the right decision to make the transition. I love caring and supporting women through their entire pregnancy journeys.
What’s your favourite thing about being a midwife? I think my favourite part is when the parents find out the gender of their babies. It makes me well up, especially if they’re finding out at the time of the birth. It’s a really beautiful to be a part of that moment.
What’s your favourite memory as a midwife? I’ve only been in midwifery for a year, but I would say my favourite part of the job is the amount of support I’ve had from senior staff. They’re always eager to hear how many babies I’ve helped deliver and I can tell they’re happy to have me as part of the team. It is a really nice feeling at Calvary Riverina.
Why did you want to become a midwife? Growing up I never wanted to be a midwife because I didn’t know what the role involved. However, after completing my nursing training, my matron at the time encouraged me to try midwifery. I started the training and I fell in love with it.
What’s your favourite thing about being a midwife? It would have to be the satisfaction I get from supporting a mother start their breastfeeding journey. It is incredibly rewarding.
What’s your favourite memory about being a midwife? The first time I managed an obstetric emergency I discovered a cord presentation. It was the first time I was able to put the theory I had learned in class into practice.
Why did you want to become a midwife? I was only 16 when I did my first placement here at Calvary Riverina Hospital as part of a high school careers program. I was already an Assistant in Medicine, but maternity was love at first sight.
The feeling of being part of a couples’ journey into parenthood, watching new life come into the world and supporting new parents and their bubs is an honour. I was lucky to find my passion in life so young and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
What’s your favourite thing about being a midwife? I love being able to build a special bond with the parents and be present for such a huge time of change in their lives. I love all aspects of midwifery, from antenatal and the birthing process to postnatal. It really just fills my cup. How lucky am I to do something I love every day.
What’s your favourite memory about being a midwife? I have so many special memories and faces that are forever in my heart. I love when couples come back to Calvary Riverina to birth again, and being able to support them once more. I also really cherish being there for many of my friends, family and colleagues during their births.
Every birth is special and emotional but to be with, witness, and support something you love is a true blessing.
Why did you want to become a midwife? When I first started nursing I found a passion for women and their children, and families in general. It became obvious to me early in my career that becoming a midwife really interested me and I started my training soon after.
How long have you been a midwife for? Since 1986, so a long, long time.
What’s your favourite thing about being a midwife? The opportunity to be there for women and their families, and helping them get started in their new roles as parents.
What’s your favourite memory from being a midwife? Watching the women and their families welcome new babies into their lives. I also value the moments when a mum or bub has had a tough time and I’m there to help and guide them through the challenges. When we get them over the line it is really beautiful.
Why did you want to become a midwife? I originally wanted to be a midwife with the Royal Flying Doctor Service with my strong interest in remote area nursing.
What’s your favourite part about being a midwife? Witnessing a baby placed on their mother’s chest for immediate skin-to-skin contact and them falling in love with one another. That immediate love you see between a mum and baby is priceless.
What’s your favourite memory about being a midwife? For me, it’s all about when I get to follow women through their antenatal, birth, and postnatal journey. I love developing a bond with women and their families, and I feel fortunate to play a role in their experiences of welcoming a new babies into their life.
If you'd like to join the team at Calvary, please follow the link here.
