"My birth was the most incredible experience of my entire life. And I cannot for one second imagine doing it without Rachael by my side. She’s the perfect balance between being the most trust worthy loving birth partner, and also being an incredible professional healthcare provider. She was constantly reassuring in her words and her body language. Making me feel so safe. Not for one second did I feel scared. I couldn’t wish for anyone more incredible for my baby to have their first little medical check over. Rachael will always have the hugest place in my heart.  She kept my birth safe, calm, loving, and peaceful. She respected every wish I had. She was there when I needed her and and she gave me space when I was focusing. I couldn’t have wished for a more incredible midwife. 

I wish everyone had a Rachel, childbirth as we know it would be a very different story.”

Mathilda

Throughout my third pregnancy, Rachel was not only my midwife but also my pillar and safe haven. T trusted her completely, which says a lot after having had some traumatic birth experiences. She made time to truly be with me, listened to my worries and frustrations, and above all she HONOURED and ENCOURAGED me to make my own choices which made me feel so EMPOWERED.

Our birth was magical and Rachel’s calming and warm presence was exactly the energy I wanted in my birth space. She encouraged me to tune back in with my own instincts when I started looking for reassurance, because she knew I didn’t want any interventions or checks done. This meant I was able to fully sink back into my own body, instead of looking for outside validation. We had a beautiful homebirth and I would choose Rachel again if we ever jave any more babies. Having had 3 babies and working in the birth world myself, I have seen a lot of midwives. No one has ever come close to the magic Rachel brings with her where ever she goes. She truly is a gem!

Noa, doula

I had my first baby at a Midwife Led Unit (MLU), and ended up with a retained placenta and hemorrhaged 1.5 Litres of blood, because the environment and the timelines did not suit my baby and me

For my second baby I planned a home birth. However, the Lockdowns had wreaked havoc on the home birth and ambulance services, so home births were officially cancelled by my NHS Trust when I was 40 weeks. Due to the significant stress of the 40 minute drive to the hospital, again I haemorrhaged soon after the baby was born. I ended up with a room full of medics, an unwanted Managed Third Stage and all of the drugs. Again I lost approx 1.5 Litres of blood, but I was fine to leave the hospital the next day. Also, I had tested positive for Group B Strep (GBS) during this pregnancy, but the baby was fine (I declined antibiotics)

For my third baby, because I was outside of guidelines due to the haemorrhages and possible GBS; I was determined that I was going to Freebirth alone at home if the NHS home birth midwives were unable to support me. This pregnancy was different, in that I only saw the local midwife Rachel each and every time. Rachel heard me and my history and understood why I was reticent with many of the NHS services. I declined the bump measurement and declined the Consultant appointments that appeared in the post for me. Rachel explained the purpose of these provisions, which did make me think that I shouldn't just blindly decline; but I was confident that I just needed to get the environment right this third time. Due to my previous experiences with Consultants I knew that they would simply recommend that I gave birth in hospital, not understanding how physiological birth worked - like I knew Rachel did

As an alternative to the hospital appointments, Rachel kindly arranged an appointment with the local Consultant Midwife. Rachel attended with my husband and supported me. We had a good discussion where the consequences of me bleeding out at home was clearly explained, but that they would try to support me to have the homebirth that I felt was right for me. Rachel and the Consultant Midwife said that they considered each case based on that woman's needs, and if I wanted a home birth, they would do everything within their power to support that.

When the day came for me to go into labour, my husband's call to Hospital Triage got through to the MLU, and from there to Rachel. Because she knew me, she agreed to go on call that night, and happily the Consultant Midwife was also able to come to support us. The contractions ramped up at 11pm, so Rachel got in the car. She arrived about 12.20am and baby was born beautifully and calmly by candlelight at 12:47pm. Rachel had sneaked into the house between contractions and had only monitored the baby's heartbeat once. She did not monitor me, as she knew that I did not feel that would be necessary if I looked well. When we were waiting for my first natural birth of a placenta, Rachel encouraged me calmly, and did not tell me how much time I "had left". For the first time, I did not hemorrhage at this birth, and it was 100% physiological. Only my husband and I touched Merryn until after the golden hour

Rachel had heard me and supported me and made herself available for me and my baby and the rest of my family. She did what I would expect a midwife to do, but what I understand is very difficult to put into practice in the big system. 

Merryn is a calm and joyful baby, he is well connected to me and a good breastfeeder - I think a lot of this can be traced back to his beautiful, natural birth

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

Evelyn

The care I received from Rachel throughout my pregnancy and postnatally was exceptional and she made my whole experience extremely relaxed and so positive. No question was ever too much for her and her attentive approach meant I always felt really well looked after. She gave me the time to talk things through if I was unsure about anything and I always felt so listened to. I couldn't recommend Rachel enough, both myself and my husband were so thrilled with the care we received. Thank you for everything Rachel. 

Rosie

As a first time birthing partner, there is plenty to think about. Rachel did an amazing job at making everything that was happening calm, understandable and controlled. I loved watching her connect with Mathilda (my partner) and communicate with her in such a perfect way. She is such an unshakeable person, and I couldn’t have ever asked for someone more homely and lovely to have at our first birth. She made the experience as special as it should be.

Isaac