B.A.C to Normality Midwifery Services

About Us

 
Text Box: Amanda (Manda) Garside RM I have come to Midwifery quite late in life, my initial interests began with the birth of my first daughter. Emily was born in Germany in 1997 by emergency caesarean section for what I had thought at the time was fetal distress, in fact what was written in my notes was ‘failure to progress’. My second daughter Lucy, was a planned VBAC – Vaginal Birth after Caesarean Section. I had hoped to plan a home water birth but found to my dismay that this was not option for me as I was deemed ‘high risk’. I was given no other choices but told that I would be supported and have a good experience within the hospital system – I believed them. My story can be found here: http://vbac.co.uk/stories/story.php?s=amanda During my pregnancy with Lucy I had this mad plan to train to become a Midwife. My background of a Soldier and a Betting Shop Manager were probably not the ideal caring professions, but I had recently began training as a Home Care Assistant and found I really enjoyed ‘caring’ for people. ‘Why not nursing’? I enjoyed immensely my placements with in the nursing environment during training, but felt most comfortable with women at their special time. I began with the Open University to gain the necessary entry qualifications, my first course began 11 days after Lucy was born!! I completed 90 OU points and was able to apply to universities who ran the BSc (Hons) Midwifery degree course. I was accepted and began training in October 2005. I had a serious road traffic accident which meant I had to have a lot of time off to recover, so I was deferred on completing my second year of training. I began my third year studies ten months later, but I had been able to make up all the time I had lost due to the accident and from previous sickness. During my deferment, I returned to caring for people in their own homes but missed being around women during their pregnancies, labour and after. I was approached by Tina, a woman wishing to plan a home water birth after one caesarean who needed support – I jumped at the chance of working purely as birth support. Tina had NHS midwifery care in place but wanted to make sure she knew the person supporting her and that person knew her birth choices and could advocate for her if needed. From this I met Melanie who I was also able to support in purely a ‘Doula’ stance and not midwifery. Melanie was planning a home birth after four caesareans. So now I am qualified, why Independent Midwifery? My passion had always been with ‘normality’ and giving women the choices they are entitled to. Having been through the NHS system myself as a VBAC I am all too aware of the labelling of women and being grouped into a particular type of care that they may not choose if they had all the information. My own personal experiences fires me to help other women plan VBAC within an environment conducive to their plans. I support all aspects of normality and really enjoy facilitating a good birth and experience. I have experience with water birth, VBAC, HBAC, Breech and all aspects of homebirth. Claire Jarrett RM In the year 2000, I had my first child and I became obsessed with childbirth, this fascination became a quest for pursuing normality. Although technically I was not high risk, I endured a ‘delivery’ on a consultant led unit. I went on to have my other two children in hospital settings and then set about my journey of being a midwife, someone who was truly ‘with woman’. I completed an Access to Midwifery course at my local college in 2004 and then began my degree in Midwifery Practice later the same year, I became ‘fully qualified’ and registered with the NMC in 2007. Following this I worked within the NHS until 2009 in a variety of units. Many things have guided my path to independent practice including, my strong beliefs in informed choice, having true 1 to 1 care and giving individualised care. Normality remains my passion and there is nothing more special than knowing you can achieve bringing another life in to the world in calm, relaxed home environment. Please do call us for a chat