My Midwifery Journey

The first birth I ever saw was attended by a midwife—a rare occurrence in the U.S. where midwives only attend 9.1% of all births nationally. I was a student nurse in New York City at the time, doing my first clinical shift on my obstetrics rotation, and I was completely unprepared for what happened over the next several hours as I was drawn into the woman’s birth. The sheer amount of effort required by labour, the woman’s doubt along the way, the midwife’s gentle encouragement and unswerving confidence in the process, and the woman’s strength and determination made a lasting impression on me that night. When the baby was finally born, I burst into tears (along with the new mother and father), as it was absolutely the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.

From that point on I became obsessed with midwifery. I sought out midwife-attended births for the rest of my obstetrics rotation, I began to read voraciously on the subject, and I spoke with midwives and obstetric nurses about their jobs. I quickly began to question the routine and often unnecessary interventions imposed on birth, becoming well-versed in the politics of American midwifery along the way. When I graduated in 2003 with my nursing degree, I took a job on a labour ward to gain more experience and discovered that not only did I love it, but I had a real talent for it. Over the next three years I continued to work as an obstetric nurse while attending midwifery school part-time.

Upon graduating with my Masters in Midwifery in 2007, I worked as a midwife at a high-volume public hospital in Brooklyn for the next 5 years, serving some of the most vulnerable women in New York City. The work was complicated and exhausting, but also deeply fulfilling. In this challenging environment, I learned how to provide culturally sensitive care and create safe-spaces for women, honing my skills as an educator and advocate, and empowering women and birthing people to make informed decisions about their bodies and health.

In 2011 I gave birth to my first son on the futon in our living room, supported by my partner, doula and two incredible independent midwives (IMs), and the experience changed me forever (birth has a way of doing that to you). I had always been interested in home birth, but after experiencing it first-hand, it became a deep-seated passion for me. I joined an independent home birth practice shortly after returning from my maternity leave in 2012 and began to learn new skills from observing undisturbed, physiologic birth in the home setting, as well as experiencing the joys of continuity and forming lasting relationships with the families I was caring for. My own experiences with breastfeeding also prompted me to further my education in that area as well, and I spent the next two years qualifying as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) in order to expand my ability to provide high-quality infant feeding and lactation support.

In 2013 we made the decision to move to the UK to be closer to my husband’s family. I knew that I would have to re-train all over again in order to practice as a midwife here, due to technical differences in midwifery education between the two countries. It wasn’t ideal, but re-qualifying a second time seemed like a small price to pay in order to continue in the profession that I loved. I was also excited about studying British midwifery, training within the NHS and being part of a healthcare system where midwifery care is the norm rather than the exception. Fast forward six years later—3 years working part-time as an IBCLC while caring for my growing family (we had another amazing home birth in 2014) and then 3 more years of University—and I finally re-qualified as a midwife in the UK in February 2020.

I now live in West London with my partner, two rambunctious sons, a small but growing hat collection, and a purple orchid which I am just about managing to keep alive. My independent midwifery practice is busy and thriving. In addition to midwifery, I have worked as an Editorial Board member for The Student Midwife Journal, written a book and had several articles published in midwifery journals. In my free time I enjoy playing traditional Irish fiddle at local sessions, knitting and running around Richmond Park.

My Philosophy Of Care

I am a proud feminist and a strong woman. If I had to describe myself in three words, they would be compassionate, dedicated and loving.

Midwifery is my calling. I love attending births and helping people find their own inner strength. I don’t believe that midwives deliver babies. I believe that midwives help people birth their own babies into this world.

I view pregnancy and birth as a normal, healthy life event, something that your body is uniquely and perfectly designed for, and something which you are expert at. I have always thought that education unlocks the key to trust. I think that the more women and birthing people know about their miraculous bodies, the more they’ll trust those very same bodies. I believe people should have access to everything from birth control to birth choices, and should have full bodily autonomy. I believe that families should be given as much information as possible about their medical care and health options so that they can make informed decisions.

I am committed to providing culturally sensitive care and doing the life-long work of questioning my own unconscious biases and assumptions. I strive to make my care inclusive and safe for women and birthing people of all backgrounds, ethnicities, religions, genders and sexual orientations. Your pronouns, beliefs, history and culture matter to me, and I hope that you will be willing to share them with me.

I don’t really think there’s a right way of doing anything, or a wrong way of doing anything. There’s only the best way for each and every person, and the responsibility of every person and family to find their own best way. I support birthing people who ask for epidurals or who choose to give birth by cesarean every bit as much as I support home birth and natural childbirth. I will always work hard to educate, encourage and support, but never judge.

I think it’s okay to be loud and outspoken on issues you feel passionately about, so long as you’re also able to listen, let others talk, and sit in silence with someone while they labour.

I believe that birth is a miracle, each and every time.

I believe patience is not just a noun but a way of life.