"Positive Birthing"

Following the care we received recently from Wheatbelt Midwifery Group Practice (WMGP) at the Northam Regional Hospital (NRH) and it being ICM International Day of the Midwife "Follow the Data Invest in Midwives", we'd like to share our story of a beautiful positive Birth.

We worked with the same Northam Midwife who provided consistent care throughout our pregnancy and delivery. We also had touch points with our local GP. The consistency of the same midwife meant that she knew us, our ethos & values and honored our preferences for welcoming our baby recently.

The WMGP model of care gave us confidence in our decision to birth in our local town in stead of going down to Perth, our midwife advocated for me during admission, and supported our preferences for a positive empowered beautiful and calm water birth.

The WMGP also offered Hypnobirthing Positive Birth Program, together with the WMGP care approach we got exactly what we wanted, logistically close to home, we got to stay in our own town in a safe beautiful care system, and we could achieve our preference of a low key, calm, gentle, safe, empowered and relaxed birthing experience. Thank you WACHS for offering this model.

Being able to birth in my own town reduced stress on our family and supported a positive start to our parenting journey.

Hypnobirthing and WMGP has set the foundation for us to enjoy parenting and a positive outlook on the care models, and this model also reduced the resource drain on the WACHS as we were in and out of Hospital to birth in just 4 or 5 hours.

Improvements:

We would like to see a dedicated space for the WMGP in the NRH. Currently the WMGP office is co-located in the same waiting room as pathology! Which means that pregnant women are sitting in the same waiting room as, I believe, sick people getting blood tests. I feel this is not ideal. Please improve this one logistic.

Also, I believe more midwives are needed in Northam! I feel advancement to be a tertiary hospital, and options for elective cesareans is needed also!

Thank you!