Midwife Profiles

Louise Paterson: Clinical Director - Community Midwifery Services

Louise qualified as a midwife in 1989 and has worked in the UK, Hong Kong and Australia as both a hospital midwife and a community -based autonomous practitioner. She is also a Registered Nurse since 1986, Qualified Reflexologist since 2007 and Baby Massage Instructor since 2000. Louise is also the proud mother of two beautful girls: Abigail and Jessica.

I am used to looking after a caseload (large group) of mothers - who I have cared for throughout their pregnancy, birth and postnatal period. The benefits of this level of continuity of care, I have seen again and again. And I always feel very priviledged that I am able to be a support at one of the most exciting, but sometimes overwhelming times of a woman's life.

I am passionate about the whole process, but will always have a special place in my heart for the postnatal period, which in a lot of places, all over the world, is sadly neglected. One of the reasons that I have formed - Community Midwifery Services is to set up a postnatal home visiting service that any mother has the right to link into. The early postnatal period with its introduction into breastfeeding, its rapid hormonal changes and increasing tiredness can quite often send mothers into a panic if they are not prepared for this, but with good support many of the anxieties around these issues can be dissolved.

EDUCATION:

"I have been a midwife for over 30 years now, and have always been very passionate about mothers having access to choices about their pregnancy and where they should give birth, and, up to date, research based information, advice and education to support them in making those choices.

I love to educate and I think if I had not been a Nurse/Midwife I would have been a teacher.

Why? because good health information should be shared and knowledge is always empowering whatever situation a woman finds herself in.

I do not mean "fear - based" information either, because that is almost a form of coercion, when you expect people to do what you say because you know best!

If information is given in the right way, without bias, then the mother/couple can make up their own mind as to whether it is something that makes logical sense to them or not. They can decide, as is their right because it is in their new job description, even from this early stage!!

Some decisions are not easy to make but a good discussion, followed by good listening skills from each party usually means a problem can be solved. This is what I call "Midwives working in partnership with mothers and their families."

To support my philosophy of care of being able to provide good community care to all I became an eligible midwife and medicare provider in November 2011.

I know that all the Midwives in Community Midwifery Services feel this way and that is why I am so excited that they have agreed to join me and to support this dream of mine becoming a reality.

Louise Noorbergen: RN,RM.BA (Couns).Cert I.V MPH.Grad.Cert in Midwifery - Medicare Participating Midwife.

Louise is the mother of three, became a registered nurse in 1986 and a registered midwife in 1991. Since then she has worked in the private and public health settings providing antenatal, labour and birth, and postnatal care. She believes that care of childbearing women is best provided when a midwife works in partnership with woman throughout the pregnancy, birth and early parenting period.

Louise believes that pregnancy, childbirth and early parenting is a major life transition which occurs in context of being part of community. The birth of a child is a social event: the midwife's role is to support the transition to parenthood physically, emotionally, spiritually and socially. Globally, there is much evidence to support the role of the midwife as primary carer.

Being a midwife is a priviledge: it is a priviledge to support a couple through the struggle of infertility or the loss of a child; to be a listening ear as a woman grapples with the issues surrounding an unwanted pregnancy; to facilitate understanding as a couple identifies changes in their relationship as they move from being partners to becoming partners in parenting; to journey through labour and to witness the sacred moment of birth.

Along with this priviledge is the responsibility to ensure competency and currency of midwifery knowledge and practice. This is best facilitated by reflective practice, peer review, client feedback and continuous professional development.

Supporting the transition to parenthood has the potential to impact the wider social determinants of health. It is important that the midwife recognises: the place of significant others in the major transition; the place of inter-sectorial advocacy; social determinants of health and the midwife's role in advocacy.

Louise is motivated to be on the frontline of nurturing healthy nations - supporting healthy mothers (physically, psychologically and socially) and fathers to nurture healthy babies and become healthy famillies.

Louise chooses not to be the rescuer or the principal actor but more to be part of the support crew for the journey!

Helen Gordon RN/RM, Grad Dip Mid.

Helen is the mother of three young adults, Kayla, Ben and Megan and the proud grandmother of three beautiful grandsons, Levi, Malakai and Callan.

She became a registered nurse in 1984 and a midwife in 1998. Since becoming a midwife, she has worked in both private and public health settings. Working for over a decade in a birth centre, within a small team of midwives. Providing antenatal, labour and birth and postnatal care.

She has been able to connect, with women and their families, at some of the most significant moments of their lives. Supporting them through their journey to motherhood, acting as their advocate and has been privileged to share in their joy at becoming parents.

She has seen, first hand, the benefits to women, of having a known primary carer. She was privileged to care for her own daughter, through her pregnancies, labours and births and to support her in those initial emotional and tiring first weeks.

Helen sees her role as a facilitator and believes that all women and their partners, should have the latest information, in order to make the best choices for their families. Acting as a resource person and providing current information, is an integral part of the care that she provides. She understands that education will enable couples to feel safe and empowered through their birthing journey.

Sharing the journey with her daughter and many other women, has given her a desire to provide midwifery support to women, in any form that they may require. Whether that is during pregnancy, as a birth support in the hospital or at home, or postnatally. Thereby expanding on current services available to women and providing continuity of care, by a known midwife, in all contexts.