"Putting the power in my hands transformed by experience"

I recently gave birth to my third child at RAH (second child at this hospital) and I was very nervous having had a negative experience being induced at this hospital with my second child.

However I had an amazing experience this time due largely to my amazing midwife Joan - I explained to her about my previous experience and how I was nervous about not being offered pain meds, and she went above and beyond to not only explain absolutely every option available to me but also to encourage me to do what’s right for me. Putting the power in my hands made me feel like the birth experience was mine again, and this completely transformed my experience. I was given the pain medication I requested at the appropriate time (Dr Kerr and the nurses were beyond amazing) and my birth was largely peaceful and amazing (even when the epidural wore off and I was in pain I was listened to and the drs and midwives acted accordingly.)

Unfortunately Joan didn’t deliver my son as she had to swap her shift, but the midwife who took over, Laura, was also amazing and so were the two student midwives who accompanied both midwives (I’ve forgotten their names sorry!).

I cannot stress enough to any midwives who read this, please please listen to women when they are in pain and respond, it makes such a difference, I even feel like my postpartum experience has been so much better because my birth was great. Thank you again to everyone who helped with the delivery of my son, he is my last child so having a positive birth experience honestly means the world to me.