"My MAPS journey"

I have had 4 pregnancies in the past 3 years, and here are my stories. 

My first pregnancy was in 2022 and delivered us our beautiful eldest daughter.

This pregnancy was before the MAPS program and during the tail end of COVID19. 

Each check-up was with a different midwife. This didn’t bother me as I enjoy meeting a new people and I was having a very healthy pregnancy and was feeling very well throughout its entirety. 

I ended up being induced at 42 weeks. It was a long labor 12 hours (most induced labors are approximately 6 hours) it wasn’t the birth I had planned or hoped for, but we left the hospital with a healthy baby girl, and the birthing injuries I experienced (stage 2 episiotomy, blood loss, low milk production with breastfeeding issues) didn’t discourage me from wanting to do it all again and I felt completely supported during the birth and in the recovery during the weeks after. 

My second and third pregnancies in the beginning of 2024 sadly ended early due to miscarriages. One at 9 weeks and needing a D&C and the other at 5 weeks. 

My fourth pregnancy was in 2024/2025 and delivered us with our beautiful health second daughter. 

During this pregnancy I came under the MAPS program and had two amazing midwives Erin and Jo, all my check-ups were booked in with them. Like my first pregnancy I wouldn’t have minded a different midwife each visit, however after going through the MAPS program I think this is the best way forward. The relationship you build seeing the same caregiver each check-up is invaluable. 

After experiencing a slightly traumatic birth with my first daughter, two miscarriages and then dealing with the death of my mother and nonna during this time was all was weighing on top of me, plus and I was a geriatric pregnant woman (I was 41yr during my last pregnancy) and knew I was going to have to stand my ground with the doctors about being induced early which is recommended in women over 40yrs old. 

Not having the open up each visit to explain to a new midwife that I was struggling with lost and what my views were about being induced and my birth plan made everything more freeing and gave us more time to have a proper conversation about my health, mental health and the healthy arrival of my daughter. 

They both supported my birthing plan (however I absolutely would have changed this if they were any underlying health issues) and gave me a wealth of information about geriatric pregnancies and the reasoning behind the early inducing. Luckily I was having another healthy pregnancy and was in no way pushed by the doctors to induce early. 

My second daughter was born 3 days earlier the her due date and I labored at home for as long as I felt comfortable. We arrived at the hospital and I had planned a water birth but this also didn’t go to plan at I was 9cm dilated and she was born 23min after we arrived at the hospital. I was also very lucky to have one of my regular midwives Jo on shift. She delivered my beautiful daughter and this was so special to me to share that with her.

I hope our system of care continues with the MAPS program. I believe it will be of huge benefit to all  women, children and families and the amazing midwives too.