Who am I?

Hi there, I am Amy… midwife and mother of three delightful and energetic children. I launched my own independent midwifery practice so I could return to practicing as a true midwife and focus on safely serving the individual, rather than serving the service’s needs.

Individual centred holistic care and a lifelong genuine fascination and respect for the pregnancy and birth continuum was the reason I came into midwifery. Having trained and worked for over a decade in the NHS, I often felt extremely restricted and overwhelmed by short appointment slots, large caseload sizes, high care turnover demands and a culture of routine practices.

I was unable to give the families in my care the time they really deserved and needed. There was simply not enough time for them to receive and digest all the information to allow them to make truly informed decisions about their care and what is right for them. The allocated contact time was just too restrictive, and the culture of routine practice meant many women were encouraged to have unnecessary interventions without being given an adequate rationale. Over my career I have worked across all areas of maternity care - community, labour ward, maternity theatres and the wards. The community setting was where I always gravitated, but I never quite felt like I’d found the right fit and felt disheartened at not being able to be the midwife I know I am. As time went by, the voice in the back of my mind grew louder and louder, telling me that I needed to work in a different way… so here I am taking action and feeling very excited about the future of Vitality Midwifery.

o  Continuity of care – Proven to improve outcomes and birth experience. I offer true continuity of care, where we work closely and get to know each other really well. I provide all of your care and also attend your birth, so that everyone in your birth space is familiar, trusted and known by you. You also have telephone/virtual support alongside our face-to-face meetings, so you don’t have to wait between visits to get any advice and reassurance you need.

o  Time – our meetings will be unhurried and there will be plenty of time for us to prepare your body and mind for a wonderful birth experience, however that looks for you.

o  Convenience – I see you at home, so both you and your partner feel at ease and are both involved throughout your whole journey.

o  Flexibility – my services are tailored to you and your needs, at a time to suit you.

o  Evidence – safety is key. My practice and advice are informed by current up to date evidence and I’ll signpost you to sources of useful information so you can make fully informed decisions about your care in your own time.

o  Advocacy – If challenges arise, I will be there helping you navigate through your journey in whatever way you need; attending hospital appointments, breaking down the jargon and providing emotional support every step of the way.

o  Control – you are in charge. You can see me as much or as little as you like. We can discuss your wishes and plan around them. No matter how complex your pregnancy is or how specific your care needs are, the support and care I provide puts you in control and makes your voice heard.

o  Belief – my area of expertise is the physiology of pregnancy and birth. Thanks to our ancestors’ ability to grow and birth the next generation, I not only believe it works, but know it works.

o  Hypnobirthing and relaxation – Embedded within your antenatal care I use hypnobirthing techniques and relaxations to prepare your mindset for your birth. Where the mind leads the body follows.

o  I am an NMC registered midwife and I uphold the NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council) Code and Standards. You can even look me up on the register!

o  I access an abundance of reputable evidence-based information to keep up with the latest research.

o  In order to maintain my registration, every three years I go through a process called Revalidation to evidence my hours in practice and CPD (continuous professional development).

o  I have appropriate indemnity insurance with the Royal College of Nursing and Zest Midwives, to  cover all my services.