"Completely changed my labour experience"

Jackie is the person every maternity unit in the country needs. Jackie puts her team and patients before everything else and makes care totally personal to the families in her teams care.

I first met Jackie at a birth conversations clinic at Forth Valley. She took so much time to get to know me, go through my previous birth trauma and talk though my option for my next birth. She showed me round and supported me to make decisions that were right for me and my family. Running these clinics makes a huge difference to people who have had previously traumatic experiences or have difficult decisions to make.

This was just the introduction to the amazing work Jackie is doing leading her team of midwives. From the moment I stepped through the doors of FV in labour, Jackie was in the background making sure everything was going smoothly and I was getting the best care. You can see how hard she works with her team and how much they respect her, but she also respects them. They do regular training and have staff capable of biomechanics and essential oils to support labour which I have never heard of anywhere else. It is so nice to know there are more options than medical intervention.

Throughout my time at FV, although Jackie was not my midwife she checked in regularly, supported when needed and was the cheerleader I needed for a long difficult labour. Although things didn't go to plan I was always given good explanations, options and time to make the correct decisions for me. The entire team was fantastic and I do attribute a large part of that to Jackie and her leadership. She goes above and beyond for those in her care, she is clear, direct and supportive and from what I can gather the midwives felt the same.

Sometimes you come across people who are making such a huge difference and don't even realise it. I truly believe that Jackie completely changed my labour experience and that without her I wouldn't have had a successful VBAC or even have felt safe to consider it. I truly hope she gets the recognition she deserves and hope that more places round the country can improve birth experiences with leadership like Jackie's.