By its very name, midwife means ‘with woman’, so on this special day – International Day of the Midwives – we celebrate our incredible midwives who are there to support, assist and advocate for women as they bring babies into the world.

Sarah Wealands, Maternity Services Manager at Cabrini Malvern, who leads the Cabrini midwifery team, said it’s a privilege to be able to support families at this extraordinary time in their lives.

“Childbirth, pregnancy, post-natal care, it’s a really vulnerable time, and it’s a really amazing time, but it can also be quite scary, so I think that our job as midwives is to really make people feel safe and secure,” Sarah said.

“And it’s OK to feel vulnerable, it’s completely normal to feel like that, but actually, we’ve got you covered. We will help you, and we will look after you, and we will support you so that you can leave hospital as a family unit feeling confident.”

Cabrini Malvern has a team of 120-plus midwives, each with their own unique skillset, but with the common goal to support the families in their care, Clinical Birth Suite Manager Rachel Guerra said.

“Midwife means ‘with woman’, so for me and the team, midwifery is about having that presence in the room, the soft touch, the right words, and just making the family feel that this is the most incredible experience of their life.

“We do that really well, here. Just recently I had a patient approach me and profusely thank me and the ward and birth suite teams for the care that they received. They couldn’t pinpoint any one particular experience, but they were speaking about the midwives and said that some were funny, some were serious, some were knowledgeable, some were junior, but together, as a whole, they all made their experience just wonderful.

“I really believe the lasting memories that patients have here at Cabrini is not particular things we’ve done, it’s not things we’ve said, it’s the way we’ve made them feel.”

Rachel, too, speaks of the enormous privilege it is to be part of such a momentous time in a family’s life.

“The impact we can have on the women and their families is incredible and so we don’t take any moment for granted,” she said. “From the moment they walk through the door, we make sure they’re feeling heard and that their experience is one to remember.”

Midwife Vijji Ravipati said being with woman at this life changing moment is truly rewarding, and that while every birth is different and extraordinary, there’s always a common thread.

“The best thing about being a midwife is the relationship that I form with the woman,” Vijji said.

“It can be very emotionally heavy, but it’s also a very intimate position to be in. In the room, I just try to be whatever the woman wants in that moment – it might be chatty, or quiet and letting her do her thing; it’s just about being in tune with her needs and wants while she’s on this amazing journey.”

For Assistant Maternity Unit Manager Eliza Koro, advocating for women is at the heart of midwifery.

“Being a midwife is an enormous gift,” she said. “For me, midwifery is about being with woman, supporting her, and using all that knowledge that you’ve accumulated through your career to give her the best care possible.

“Most importantly, it’s about listening and letting her voice be heard. It’s actually acting as an advocate for her.”

While our midwives accept that not every day, they concur that being with woman during their pregnancy and birth journeys is a privilege on many levels.

“You make a difference in women’s lives,” Eliza said. “They’ll always remember the midwife that was there beside them on this momentous day when this little baby came into their lives and made them a parent. I’m so grateful that I can be a part of that.”

To all of our midwives this International Day of the Midwife, thank you for being with our women every step of the way.

Read more about our Maternity Services