"Pregnancy Care/Birth"

During pregnancy, birth, and post-birth visits, I firmly feel that the MGP program based in the hospital is the best of both worlds - continuous midwife care plus hospital services/facilities. I felt known and closely supported the whole way, which included my midwife taking the time to explore my previous history (on her own I believe, via my file and then relayed to me). In my opinion, this level of continuity would not have been felt had I been seen by a different professional at each appointment via the public system. I also had the added feeling of security that my baby and I had the security of the hospital doctors and facilities close at hand the whole time, which I didn’t feel as much when I went through the Family Birth Centre during my first pregnancy.

Appointments in the O block were always on time and this, the quiet setting, and a very skilled and knowledgeable midwife made me feel as though I was actually getting a private service.

When I started unexpectedly bleeding at 35 weeks, having a known midwife to call, talk me through what to do and follow up with me after, made a stressful situation much easier to manage and made me feel calmer than I would have otherwise.

At the birth, I similarly felt very calm knowing who would be guiding me through the birth and visiting me at home afterwards. By that point, I had developed a very trusting relationship/rapport, and so I felt that I was in safe hands and that I could trust in the advice I was being given during the ups and downs of the labour.

At this stage, I don’t plan to have a third child. If I did though, I would definitely go through the same MGP based in the hospital. I would also specifically ask for my midwife, Carissa, again.

A huge thanks to Carissa...my husband and I can’t fault the service she provided for us, and we really appreciate everything she did for us.