A group of Peninsula Health midwives responding to the prompt: “The thing I love most about being a midwife is…”.
Around 3,000 babies are born every year at Frankston Hospital, and behind each birth is a dedicated team of midwives who welcome new life into the world.
That’s why today, International Day of the Midwife (IDM), we are celebrating all of our dedicated midwives for the incredible care they provide to women and babies across the Frankston-Mornington Peninsula region.
One such midwife is Brittany Lawrence, who has been a valued member of our health service for three years.
“Birth is a uniquely vulnerable and powerful time in a woman’s life,” says Brittany.
“We get to support women though moments they will never forget.”
“Anyone who works with women and has the opportunity to educate, empower and support them – and watch babies be born – should see their role as an absolute privilege.”
Brittany says she was drawn into a career in midwifery due to her interest in health promotion and education, more so than the treatment of illness or disease. To her, there is nothing better than caring for young women through pregnancy and birth – processes she describes as “natural and physiological”.
Brittany says one of the best parts of her job is working alongside her dedicated colleagues.
Importantly, to Brittany, there is no single aspect of her role she loves most.
“If I had to use one word to describe the best part of my job, it would be my ‘colleagues’,” says Brittany.
“But one word or sentence doesn’t do the job justice. I can think of a few moments that give me that warm, beautiful, oxytocin hit – like when parents get to meet their baby for the first time, when older siblings get to meet their brand-new baby brother or sister, or when I am simply able to provide continuity of care to women.”
“We are incredibly proud of the midwives at Peninsula Health”
Our Operations Director of Women’s, Children & Adolescent Health, Colleen White, has shared the following message to celebrate #IDM2021:
International Day of the Midwife originated on 5 May 1991 with the theme: ‘Towards safe birth for all by the year 2020’. Midwives are not nurses, however many midwives hold a dual qualification as nurses. Midwifery is one of the oldest health professions, with evidence of the existence in most cultures across the world of a woman experienced in maternity care, who is called to assist other women from their community during childbirth.
This year, the theme of International Day of the Midwife is ‘Follow the Data – Invest in Midwives’. This theme recognises that countries that invest in quality midwifery care demonstrate better outcomes for women and babies. We now have Australian data that provides conclusive evidence that high-quality midwifery care results in not only improved outcomes, but better birth experiences for women.
We are incredibly proud of the midwives at Peninsula Health. The last 12 months have been a challenging time in health – and in particular maternity care – where women have been isolated for long periods of time from their families and other supports, as we all combated a global pandemic. Our midwives continued to strive to provide the highest standards of care for women through masks, visors and gowns, supporting them to have positive birth experiences sometimes against great odds.
Thank you to all of our wonderful midwives. Happy International Day of the Midwife!
Thank you to all our midwives
The role of midwives at Peninsula Health cannot be understated, who provide the best of care to mothers and babies on a daily basis.
We thank all of the brilliant midwives who provide world class care every day, and wish them a happy #IDM2021.