In Perth WA there is a community organization by the name of COMMUNITY MIDWIFERY WA that works in collaboration with the COMMUNITY MIDWIFERY PROGRAM which is a government funded homebirth midwifery program.

I am fortunate enough to work for both! I work with committed community members and midwives dedicated to facilitating women and their families to be empowered, supported, informed and able to seize the awesome opportunity that birth is for growth in how we know ourselves as women and mothers.

As a homebirth midwife my day can consist of driving to meet women and families in their homes, across the continuum of pregnancy, birth and the early post partum from the first meeting when pregnant bellies are only just starting to show and the journey of planning to birth at home is just beginning, to being there for the birth of their baby and in the early days following.

Each visit consists of answering questions, addressing fears and concerns, listening, laughing, drinking tea, sometimes tears, discussing the latest research regarding routine tests which are offered in pregnancy, and getting to know each other because a comfortable trusting relationship is imperative for all involved for a great birth experience no matter what and where that birth experience is.

Some evenings when I put my Community Midwifery WA hat on I can be leading a discussion with newly expectant parents or couples planning to have a baby, on choices in Western Australia for maternity care options and the issues surrounding all of these big decisions we are faced with in pregnancy and birth and the early post partum period, or leading an active birth workshop to couples in the last trimester of pregnancy where we explore what active birth is for mind, body and spirit which then can aid to enable an informed empowered experience of birth from where to step into the journey of parenthood.