"Supporting me and my birth experience"

The continuity model and specifically through the lotus midwife team based at causeway hospital was incredibly valuable to my experience of pregnancy and birth here in Northern Ireland.

This is our third child but first pregnancy and birth in Northern Ireland and with the NHS. This model of care provided me with so much support, feeling seen and heard in what I wanted for my care and my birth. I had incredible care from my midwife team throughout pregnancy which encouraged me to do hypnobirthing which led me to seek a water birth, using hypnobirthing and using no pain medication.

I was able to have an unmedicated birth where previously I had received 2 epidurals. This was a goal I had set and was able to complete because of the continuous care and support. My midwife, Jess, was able to be in Antrim and deliver my baby after we had discussed exactly what I wanted the day before. She was able to offer reflexology that aided in starting my labor! All of these small details added to me having a great birth experience.

When I got to Antrim I was kept in the EOU for a few hours as my labor rapidly progressed and only made it to the birth suite 15 minutes before birthing my daughter. Though that experience of doing the majority of my laboring in an EOU bay, was not ideal, I was able to stay encouraged knowing my midwife was on her way and I was confident she knew me and what I wanted and didn’t want in my birth experience.

Specifically I had talked with Jess about wanting to deliver using gravity if I was unable to have a water birth and as soon as Jess made it to the birthing suite she had me get into a different position so that I could use gravity and not deliver on my back.

I am so grateful to her and then whole model and method for supporting me and my birth experience. I think every woman would benefit greatly from experiencing continuity care from a midwife team and wholeheartedly believe birth outcomes would be more positive when this model is used.