"Experience of care with MGP4 at KEMH"

This is baby #2 for me, my eldest is now 13 and I chose to go private with her. I did not enjoy the experience so this time decided on going with the midwife program.

I am very happy I made this decision. The care I received was so personal and detailed. I felt empowered to make informed decisions along the way. I had each appointment with Lolita and Carissa from MGP4. They made me feel safe and were always approachable (very different to my previous experience). I could call and message with questions and was never made to feel like I should just know the answer. They were always professional and knowledgeable. KEMH is a very busy hospital and during the pandemic, the arrival of Covid to WA, it was clear to me that staffing was proving difficult.

I was in the labour ward 24hrs before giving birth. I saw many midwives, they were all so busy but each one of them was kind, patient and hard working. Despite many of them being, as I understand it, exhausted and doing extra shifts they were still friendly and did not drop their standard of care. When it was time for me to give birth, there was no one available from my midwife group. Steph who had been working all day, I believe on very little sleep, decided to stay and deliver my baby. Eva who was on that night was also there and stayed on. Both women were amazing. They communicated with us right the way through, they knew what to ask, how to instruct me to move, what was coming next and when it was time to push they gave the best advice. They were gentle but assertive, I was blown away by how they both worked together in what seemed to me to be effortlessly. I felt like I had known them both for ages. We chatted and laughed about things as they happened (I had an effective epidural which also helped!). They were efficient and listened to me. They made my partner and I feel so relaxed. I never thought I would have enjoyed giving birth but I did thanks to them.

The follow-up care was also brilliant. I saw Lolita and Carissa the days that followed. Both of them giving advice and checking in. Lolita helped me with feeding and always reassured me that we (bub and I) were both doing well. She always checked in to see if I had questions and then brainstormed solutions with me so I felt very much part of the process and empowered to make decisions. They were not in a hurry to discharge us and were thorough with each process. When it was time to say goodbye I felt quite sad as they had been such a special part of bringing our beautiful baby girl into the world.  I highly recommend the midwife group program and would definitely choose this option of care again.