Tasmanian midwives will be celebrated on International Day of the midwife
The superheroes who care for new Tasmanian mums will be celebrated this Sunday on International Day of the Midwife. Why they love their job >>
Tasmania
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If your baby was one of the 4854 born in Tasmanian public hospitals over the past year, there’s probably a special place in your heart for a midwife.
Tasmania’s midwives will be celebrated this Sunday on International Day of the Midwife.
Becoming mums themselves has only enhanced the professional passion of Royal Hobart hospital midwives Jessica Brown and Bonnie Bowen.
Mrs Brown, 29, of Oakdowns, has been a nurse for eight years and a midwife for two.
She loves “everything” about her job.
“It’s a pretty incredible job, it’s empowering and special to be part of someone’s pregnancy journey and to have an influence,” she said.
“To educate women to make empowering decisions and have positive pregnancies that can go on to amazing post-partum and child rearing.”
Currently on parental leave with Ruby, five months, Mrs Brown said having a baby would help her relate even more to new mums.
“When you have had a baby yourself you can understand exactly what they are going through,” she said.
Mrs Brown, 28, of Rokeby, had been a midwife since 2017.
“I find that there’s nothing more rewarding than being able to be involved in helping a family through their individual pregnancy, birth and post-partum journey,” she said.
“Supporting women and families to feel empowered during their experience is what I love about my job.
“I feel incredibly grateful that I was able to experience such an empowering birth and being supported by my colleagues during my pregnancy and birth made my experience so much more special for me.
“I feel the depth of my understanding has increased since becoming a mother and it has only increased my passion I have towards midwifery.”
Tasmanian Health Service Assistant Director of Midwifery Ellanor Wootton said continuity of care was at the centre of maternity service in public health.
Midwifery group practices are located in all Tasmania’s public birthing hospitals.
“We’ve got a number of models of care within our public services and they are all based upon working with our women collaboratively so the women have a say in how they are cared for,” she said.
“Midwives can be really protective and advocate for women through a really vulnerable time in their lives.”
Associate Professor Francine Douce, who is chief nurse and midwife in the Tasmanian Health Department, said being a midwife was about much more than delivering babies.
The role also extends to all aspects of maternal wellbeing, along with sexual and reproductive health.
“We now see midwives with additional education and qualifications coming into the space of maternal and child health,” she said.
Professor Douce said International Day of the Midwife was an opportunity for Tasmanian midwives to reflect on their role and to be celebrated.
“We know the challenges we’ve got in health. We want to put them aside for a little while and celebrate and enjoy the time,” she said.
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