_ Jason and I chose Independent Midwives because we wanted to
have a home birth that was not pressured by time targets or threatened by
unnecessary intervention.
We wanted the birth to be as gentle and easy a transition for baby Blakeny as possible and to unfold at its own pace, without the pressures of augmentation "to keep the contractions regular" - which can then lead to domino to other interventions. Hospital in case of emergency was obviously always there as an option.
We chose a water-birth because we felt this was a more natural transition - more gentle without bright lights and loud noises. In a water birth everything is gentle on the senses. Tracy and Glenis supported a water birth and guided me through the whole 19hrs of labour. They were also in sympathy with the Hypnobirthing mindset that I had learned before the birth and used their more positive terminology and guided my breath to "breath the baby out."
Glenis is a qualified Homeopath and acupuncturist so she gave me remedies throughout, and held pressure points to help.
I felt confident and calm through the labour as the guidance was so clear. When in labour one is very vulnerable and good advice is everything. I felt as though I was in highly competent, experienced hands.
Throughout the labour baby had a "happy heartbeat" and when he was born he was very calm and there was no separation. We waited to cut the cord when it had stopped pulsating and for the placenta to be expelled in its own time. The birth was peaceful and there was a sense of magic as he lay on my lap in the water and took his first 2 breaths. He was alert and didn't cry. He suckled immediately which was an indication that he was not traumatised and even now, at 2 months, he cries rarely.
I hear other accounts of births where the parent’s intentions were not met and it makes me realise the privilege of having Independent midwives.
To have had home visits rather than weekly appointments at hospital was so much easier and the post natal support was invaluable. I had SO many questions! That close contact was so important.
The choice to have Independent midwives could not have been a better one and was worth every extra penny. Reduced trauma to mother and child is priceless.
We would recommend Independent midwives to EVERYONE!
Thank you Tracy and Glenis!
(SR - London)
September 2011
We wanted the birth to be as gentle and easy a transition for baby Blakeny as possible and to unfold at its own pace, without the pressures of augmentation "to keep the contractions regular" - which can then lead to domino to other interventions. Hospital in case of emergency was obviously always there as an option.
We chose a water-birth because we felt this was a more natural transition - more gentle without bright lights and loud noises. In a water birth everything is gentle on the senses. Tracy and Glenis supported a water birth and guided me through the whole 19hrs of labour. They were also in sympathy with the Hypnobirthing mindset that I had learned before the birth and used their more positive terminology and guided my breath to "breath the baby out."
Glenis is a qualified Homeopath and acupuncturist so she gave me remedies throughout, and held pressure points to help.
I felt confident and calm through the labour as the guidance was so clear. When in labour one is very vulnerable and good advice is everything. I felt as though I was in highly competent, experienced hands.
Throughout the labour baby had a "happy heartbeat" and when he was born he was very calm and there was no separation. We waited to cut the cord when it had stopped pulsating and for the placenta to be expelled in its own time. The birth was peaceful and there was a sense of magic as he lay on my lap in the water and took his first 2 breaths. He was alert and didn't cry. He suckled immediately which was an indication that he was not traumatised and even now, at 2 months, he cries rarely.
I hear other accounts of births where the parent’s intentions were not met and it makes me realise the privilege of having Independent midwives.
To have had home visits rather than weekly appointments at hospital was so much easier and the post natal support was invaluable. I had SO many questions! That close contact was so important.
The choice to have Independent midwives could not have been a better one and was worth every extra penny. Reduced trauma to mother and child is priceless.
We would recommend Independent midwives to EVERYONE!
Thank you Tracy and Glenis!
(SR - London)
September 2011
