Oak Midwifery Team

05/07/2023

Sharing this with permission - we are so proud to be Continuity Midwives and receive feedback like this 💗💜

So I just want to start off by saying a huge thank you to charlotte my amazing midwife. From the first time I met her I instantly felt safe, comfortable and completely at ease. I said to her from the beginning I wanted a home birth, instead or raising her eyebrows or saying ‘are you sure’ like most people, she clapped and said oh my goodness that’s amazing. For me, I couldn’t have wished for a better response. To be supported and praised for my birthing preferences was all I could have ever asked. I hear horror stories of unsupportive and coercive midwives, reeling off risk factors and reasons why it’s not such a good idea but Charlotte knew all the reasons I wanted one and agreed with everything I was saying. She knows physiological birth, she supports and and praises it. I had done so so much research, to the point it was slightly obsessive, I knew my facts and I had the studies to back it up, but Charlotte knew this too. She has made a point to know exactly what a birthing woman needs outside of the ‘norm’ and how important it is for women to feel safe and at home in order for their oxytocin to flow etc etc, I could go on.

Although I didn’t get the birth I wanted (even though we had planned exactly what date he should be coming out, the date she was on shift!!!) there was no home birth team on. Birth resulted in an emergency c-section and I was completely disheartened. Charlotte came to see me after a few days and it felt like I was crying to a friend I’d known for years, I mourned the birth I wanted and she understood and comforted me every step of the way.

The main reason Charlotte really stood out to me was because I never had to convince her of anything. Person centred care was just a given to her, you want this- fine, let me explain the risks but everything is your choice as it’s your body. Even when baby was over his due date and she looked at me as if to say do I even bother asking if you want me to book an induction, because she knew my birth plan and she knew that wasn’t what I wanted!! (She did ask and explained the risks but only as formality to explain safety for baby and myself etc).

Had I had another midwife I don’t feel I would have been half as supported, respected or cared for in the same way (nothing against anyone else but Charlotte just has a way about her). At the end of the day I’m a first time mum, relatively young and quite stubborn, but none of this mattered because she listened to me and she cared. I assumed people would think I was mad wanting my first baby as a home birth, no pain relief, doing hypnobirthing etc etc but not an ounce of judgement, just support.

I’m still part of a home birth group on Facebook and the horror stories I constantly hear about midwives pressuring and scaremongering and I thank god I didn’t have to grow a child and fight for how I wanted to birth them because I had such an amazing and beautiful midwife.

Thank you so much Charlotte.

I also wanted to mention the beautiful and caring midwives who came to see me after I had my baby, I was an emotional wreck and I genuinely couldn’t have gotten through that first week without them. So sorry that I can’t remember everyone’s names but everyone who came to see me including the students were absolutely fantastic and so supportive, it’s such a lonely and emotional time. I answered the door in tears basically pleading for help ‘are you the midwives’ inconsolably sobbing as my baby wouldn’t stop crying and wouldn’t latch. Within 5 minutes I was laughing and smiling and baby was latched.

During my birth I also had an incredible student midwife Liz, she is going to make a wonderful midwife. So caring, kind and compassionate!!

Sorry for the ramble but I really think you lovely people don’t get praised enough. People are so quick to complain but rarely give praise where needed, especially in such tough circumstances that is the NHS currently.

Keep doing an amazing job all of you!!

L

05/07/2023

Hi Ali, We just wanted to say a huge thank you for looking after us throughout our ante natal journey. The whole experience with the Oak team was brilliant and we were so grateful to be able to see you for every appointment and for your support.

A huge thank you to Bryony for being so fantastic in the delivery suite, putting up with our country music on repeat and just being so wonderfully friendly and supportive.

Another huge thank you to Charlotte for everything during the delivery and after, I was so grateful for the positivity as was Joe especially when I was at my lowest points there!

And we were so grateful to the rest of the team too!

G&J and baby D
(shared with permissions)

20/01/2023

Great for all new mums looking for somewhere to meet others with your new babies

Monday mornings just got cuter!!!
Introducing our informal stay & weigh sessions for parents & carers. Baby scales available to self weigh babies*, stay & enjoy a coffee and chat!
If your baby weighs the same as our cake of the day - win a free slice 😂👍🏻
Bring someone or come alone, meet some new friends, head off for a walk around the park afterwards? We are hoping to support new parents, and create a community as many local weigh in clinics and groups haven’t reopened post covid.
*please note that this is a self weigh session. If you have any worries or concerns please please contact your health visitor.

05/11/2022

🏥 💼 👶 🤰🏻

18/10/2022

28/09/2022

What a great photo! Really feel this highlights the importance of skin to skin…look how calm those babies and mum are!

‘Keeping your baby close and responding to their needs is a really important part of breastfeeding’

21/07/2022

❤️⭐️ This little lady Emily - I have been busy talking with, palpating and measuring and checking on for the last 40 weeks, I got to welcome her mum and dad into the hospital 2 weeks ago in labour and I have seen them in the postnatal period, today to discharge from our care and wish them well on their journey ahead…

… I have also been lucky enough to be the midwife who delivered her older Brother George two Christmas’ ago 😃.

This is what brings all the joy as a continuity midwife - is watching a family begin, and then grow and then full on bloom right before you. Twice Over. 💯 the best part of the job.

(Photo - Shared with parents permission)

05/05/2022

Happy international day of the midwife! Thank you to all of those under our care for welcoming us into their lives and sharing their journey to parenthood with us. We are so grateful to be doing a job we love. (Beautiful artwork by former team member Emily Paul)

17/03/2022

We are looking forward to seeing those of you expecting spring babies at meet the midwife tonight via Microsoft teams 🐣🌷☀️

24/02/2022

ANNOUNCEMENT from UHSussex maternity. 2 birth partners now can support any birthing person in established labour on delivery suites at PRH and RSCH. Please follow social media pages for future updates - thanks

09/02/2022

Meet the midwife session for those due in February and March. 6pm tomorrow via Microsoft teams. (Your midwife will email you the link) we look forward to seeing you! 🥳

29/01/2022

A week in the life of our lovely Rose ..

Monday visits- A very chilly day out and about in the community doing postnatal visits. I visited one of my own women from clinic whose beautiful homebirth I attended, baby is now 12 days old.

Tuesday clinic- Saw all my regular women in my clinic, fully booked this week! Antenatal checks done, birth plans made and questions answered.

Wednesday long day on delivery suite - Started off by doing a labour assessment at home for one of our oak women who was planning a home birth. She was in early labour so after my assessment and some encouragement I left her to carry on at home and went back to the hospital, where I helped on delivery suite.

Thursday night on delivery suite- My early labourer from the day before hadn’t yet had her baby and made the decision to come in, therefore I cared for her in the hospital pool room and a baby girl was born as the sun rose over the south downs!

23/01/2022

Saturday….

Uncovered visits day so I covered it. This is an example of what I’d do if I’m not called in on a night shift…although busy week this week! Will just be quieter next week!

Met some more of our lovely team going to their homes doing discharges, newborn bloodspots, weights, breastfeeding support. A check for jaundice.

My week also includes organising first booking appts and lots of texting! Which fits in in between!

I just love the variety of our job and hopefully this gives you a bit of insight into what we do!

21/01/2022

Thursday…

Our meet the midwife session tonight. A 30-40 minute session on Microsoft teams at 6pm where you have the opportunity to put a name to a face without a mask!! It’s also really nice for us to put a face to your names aswell!
We invite you when you’re approx 36/40 pregnant. We introduce ourselves and tell you which clinic we do, tell you about our Oak Ethos and why we do what we do.

We then tell you what you can expect from us when you’re in labour and afterwards
and we have a little teaching snippet about things of interest to you such as, harvesting colostrum, early labour etc.

On call tonight…(I work a little differently from the rest of the team and do my nights as on calls)…this means I can use the hours that I’m not just on labour ward without an Oak lady in other ways.

I have had communication from Chloe about one of you having your first baby whose waters have broken so I go to bed thinking I may be called but probably not as it can take some time and she wasn’t currently contracting.

23.20…my work phone starts ringing! That can only mean one thing! I jump out of bed and am called in for the lady whose waters had broken and she’s now in established labour contracting 1:2-3 minutes and 4cms dilated.

I tend to get to the hospital in about 20mins, I don’t live far but at night time have to include getting dressed!

The lady did amazing and had her baby at 2am.

It was very special to be there even though we had never met face to face before I had met her the previous month on meet the midwife and she was pleased that she had an ‘Oak midwife’ at the birth.

We also worked out that I will have the opportunity to see her for a postnatal visit which will be really nice continuity.

I drove home this morning with the most beautiful sunrise and frost which was low over the ground it was so magical as was the new life that had just entered the room. Feel very lucky to have a job which I love ❤️

20/01/2022

Follow as we share a week in the life of our team members over the next few Weeks!

First up is Fiona, some snippets from her last week, hope you enjoy reading about the variety of work we do ☺️

A week in the life of Fiona….

Monday…oak team strategy.
Finally a get together with almost the whole team!

Covid has put a real spanner in the works for lots of things but especially at work and working as a small team we feel it’s really important to actually get together once in a while.

It’s been a whole year since we were all together at a brainstorming day and we finally had another on Monday. It was a really productive day and we’ve had lots of new team members during that time so it was really good to all be together. We have lots of exciting ideas…so watch this space!

Tuesday…

Clinic day today so have seen a mixture of antenatals 16/40, 34/40 x 2, 36/40 x 2 and postnatal discharges.

Wednesday…

A day of visiting new mums and babies at home. I love the variety in my job and also having the opportunity to drive around the area. Great when the sun’s out not so great when it’s freezing or raining!

11/01/2022

We felt like it was time to update our team photo! These are the current staff in the oak team, with our lovely Charlotte missing! We promise to get one of us all as soon as possible.
Perhaps you’ve met a few of us already?

From the top row L-R:
Fiona, Terri, FFion, Bryony, Erin, Chloe, Gemma, Rose and Amy 😊🌳

10/01/2022

Meet the midwife this Thursday evening at 6pm .. your midwife will email you with a link to join the meeting - we look forward to meeting you!

24/12/2021

‘Last christmas was my first as a newly qualified midwife (still in a pandemic!) and is a little blurry (like a startled reindeer maybe!) - but I do remember being the midwife for a beautiful night time water birth with the magic of twinkly lights and festive feels all round - it was really special. This year for me as a midwife has all been about caring for my caseload and establishing myself as a continuity midwife, and yesterday as I worked my Christmas clinic I felt so lucky to do what I love and see all the bumps to babies and new parents that I do. I will be on labour ward working the day shift this Boxing Day - ready to welcome any late little christmas arrivals - merry and joyful with all the christmas cheer - I can’t wait🎄🤶🏻 🌟

Gemma - December 2021