"Community midwife program & my birth experience"

As a FTM I was nervous about pregnancy and labour especially during COVID and since my first appointment at King Edward Memorial Hospital, I felt welcomed and at home. I was lucky enough to be accepted into the Community Midwife Program and enjoyed the continuity of care especially after being diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes (GD). Both the midwives and dieticians were all really friendly and professional and helped me manage my diabetes. I became quite anxious during pregnancy due to COVID but still found everyone to be very lovely and informative. I felt the staff did their best to keep things normal and focus on me and my baby even with a lot of staff changes and disruptions due to COVID. 

I was induced at 38 weeks due to the baby being on the bigger scale and GD. So my nerves were higher now. I am particularly grateful for Caylin my midwife in the last few weeks of pregnancy. She was friendly, mature, caring, and professional. Everything you need in a midwife in my opinion. She always had my best interest at heart and made me feel calm and helped me and my husband work together to bring our baby into the world. 

I was nervous as we did not get the training we would have, had it not be COVID. However, Caylin explained everything in detail and reassured me throughout the entire process. It was like having a sister or friend in the room with you or at least a team captain or coach with you. I describe Caylin as my netball coach - coaching me through breathing and encouraging me to get through birth. I am extremely happy with the Community Midwife Program - in particular, my Midwife Caylin - even the aftercare was great and she went above and beyond to check in on both baby and I even after the 5 days as I lived close by and it's often that extra bit of reassurance before we were discharged. 

Words cannot thank her enough. King Edward should be happy to have such amazing staff that offer such a high level of service and I'd definitely recommend the Community Midwife Program and Caylin. 

Thank you King Edward - Caylin & The Community Midwife program.

xx