"Positive birth at Albany Health Campus"

I gave birth to my second child at Albany Health Campus in November 2020, and my first child in November 2018. I am writing in particular to thank the midwives during my second and most recent birth experience who were truly amazing and enabled me to have the birth experience I desired.

From start to finish including midwifery shared care with Pioneer Health, the care I received during pregnancy, birth and post partum was excellent. My Obstetrician, Carly is just fantastic and my husband and I can’t fault the thorough care I received from her in both pregnancies and births. The midwife Mel at Pioneer was also fantastic during my booking in appointment which occurred outside of the hospital due to the Covid-19 situation at the time.

During my first birth I required more intervention including an epidural, had a long labour, was less able to be active in the birth, experienced a tear and had a harder recovery. However with the team I had supporting me at the time I still regard it as a positive but different birth experience. Although this time I had a goal to be more active during my second birth and recover better, however did not specify a set birth plan. In the lead up to my second birth I also attended a brief workshop run by a private Doula Nadia to keep an open mind about more natural birth techniques and enable my goals. One of my antenatal appointments was with the midwife Tanya and I am thankful to her easy going nature and encouragement on my breastfeeding journey with my first child, which I continued throughout the entire pregnancy and for a month after the birth. Another midwife Catherine was also very supportive and kind during my appointments. The ward clerk Jo as well as hotel services staff were all friendly, kind and accomodating during my visits and admission.

My waters broke a week early on a Friday lunchtime and on having a checkup a few hours later, my husband and I met the wonderful midwife Katrina. I then laboured at home overnight which was my preference, and when things hadn’t got moving fast enough, came back in the next morning for the syntocinon drip and antibiotics which started late Saturday morning. I was lucky enough to be allocated the midwife Charesna for the morning and was pleased to see Katrina’s familiar face arrive for the afternoon. Both midwives worked beautifully separately and together, complementing each other’s care and ensuring I remained very relaxed, in control, informed, rested and well cared for. They both had very calm and gentle natures and hands-off approach and I think positively whenever I reflect on the birth. Katrina was with me and my husband for delivery and reassured me I could give birth without requiring an epidural. I used the shower for a long period with my husband’s support and assistance and only required the use of gas and air, no other pain relief. The advice I was given regarding positioning helped my baby come out quickly after it felt like labour had slowed. The midwives also commended my husband on his role as an active birth partner and I was pleased he was respected and included in all of mine and later, baby’s care. They supported and encouraged him in catching our baby, cutting the cord and learning the gender which I was glad he had the opportunity to do.

I came out of the birth feeling so absolutely empowered and proud of myself, that with support I birthed my baby naturally and ‘by myself’.  I was able to get up and shower myself while my husband tended to our baby, with Katrina overseeing us and available if I needed it. I also achieved my goal of a better recovery as I sustained no tearing during this birth, only bruising. Carly and Katrina commented on how well I looked and how well I’d done in the birth.

Given it was late afternoon, I stayed the night for observation with my baby. I was able to have my first child brought in to visit me that evening which meant a lot to have my family together. Jane looked after me that night and was another gentle and reassuring familiar face who I had met during an antenatal appointment. The continuity of care was a coincidence both with Jane and Katrina, but something I felt contributed to a positive birth outcome and think should be considered for Albany Health Campus (like KEMH do with allocating a midwife to each pregnant woman).

I was given space to recover and establish a strong breastfeeding relationship with my newborn and was able to go home the next morning and received excellent follow up care in-home from midwives Chris and Suzanne, and Child Health Nurse Catherine.