After our first baby was born, I wrote "...she was a very special part of our birth. We both had total confidence in her as a midwife and she was very professional in her approach; explaining things clearly and carefully so we understood. But she was more. She provided us with strength and confidence in ourselves. At one stage, I thought she was going somewhere. I was really worried I didn't want her to leave, and now I know she wouldn't have left us. She was our Northern Star our guiding light and continued after the birth and will forever share a special bond with us..."
There was no doubt then, when we discovered we were pregnant again, we wanted it to be all just as perfect as the first time. And I wrote, after our second baby, "... I was excited. I was confident. I felt ready, supported and strong. (My midwife) was with me and my (husband) was with me... I just wanted them both to hold my hands..."
By putting my trust in her, her experience and knowledge, it enabled me to fully feel the powerful experience of both births. She provided all the important checks and practicalities, but was so in touch with me on a deeper level. She encouraged me to open my mouth, to rest between contractions, to relax, to be vocal, to touch my babies crowing head all these things helped me and focussed me on birthing my babies.
I can remember and feel the labours; and births of my babies with my heart, not my head. This is what it's like with my midwife. It's beyond words. The feelings and emotions during those times are priceless, magical; it's when families are created. Her involvement in my life continues, perhaps not because she was my midwife, probably because we are part of the same family. Every now and then though, I remember those days when I laboured and how she helped me and the parallel with my life becomes evident, because I know when I struggle with the difficult issues and decisions in my life she is there for me. Amelia Johnson April 2000.