Warrington midwives hope to inspire change with new midwifery service

With a combined 30 years of experience, friends and former colleagues Jennifer Johnson, 40 and Sarah Fitzsimmons, 36, have delivered countless beautiful babies in their time working for the NHS.

But during that time, the pair speak of seeing a change in how the health care system has begun treating births, with a rise in mothers being advised to have inductions rather than being encouraged to give birth naturally.

An induced labour is usually planned for a set date and is one that is started artificially where a person’s waters are broken for them, and contractions do not begin naturally.

Jenny and Sarah shared the same concerns in how inductions have often negatively affected the outcome of births.

Jenny and Sarah hope to change the practice of midwifery for the better with My Independent Midwife (Image: Supplied)

“Inductions have risen from 20 per cent to 50 per cent of births in the last few years, the number of caesarean sections has risen with it, but of even greater concern is the number of families reporting a traumatic birth that impacts their mental health is even higher,” Sarah said.

A year ago today, the duo decided enough was enough and felt they wanted to provide a service that all mums-to-be deserved, a service with minimal interventions or medication – that is when My Independent Midwife was born.

Over the course of the first year, Jenny and Sarah have seen ‘magnificent results’ from the care they have provided to their clients.

“In the last year we have had 12 births, none of the births were induced. 10 of the births were at home and two births were even breech. Virtually no pain relief has been required by the women and five of the women were first time mums,” Jenny said.

With their sole focus to provide a natural and stress-free birth for each mother using hypnobirthing techniques, aromatherapy and avoiding the prospect of inductions, the pair have received astounding feedback from every family they have helped.

From left: Sarah Fitzsimmons, Jenny Johnson (Image: Supplied)

One glowing testimony from a family stated: “Your care is really real. It is beautiful how that shines through in your work.”

Speaking on some of her concerns for the health care processes in place for pregnancies, Jenny said: “When I first started, most hospitals strived to go below the 20 per cent induction rate. But doctors are now almost rewarded for suggesting an induction and junior doctors are encouraged to do so.

“One of the reasons for this might be related to the government’s initiative to reduce the amount of still births. A way to do that is to recommend inducement if there are any concerns about the birth.

“But it is that cascade of intervention that increases the risk of complications such as forceps, caesarean section and haemorrhage,” she added.

Jenny explained the process of an induced birth. She said: “When you are given the oxytocin drip to start the labour, in a natural birth your body will naturally create this and this gives you endorphins – a natural pain relief - but when you are induced it does not allow your body to make these and in tern it becomes a more painful experience.

“We have many women who have PTSD from induced births.”

Mum-of-one, Rosemary Longden said she would avoid having an induction again after her first experience giving birth to her son Freddie.

“I was induced due to my ICP diagnosis. It was advised and straight away booked in at the hospital.

“I went through with it due to it being my first baby and doctors advising it, I did not want to take any risks. However, after being through it, I would not advise it unless it was really necessary.

Rosemary Longden experienced a induced labour when she gave birth to her son Freddie last year (Image: Supplied)

“Luckily my waters broke naturally, but my labour had to be interfered with multiple times to keep it going. I had to be put on hormones to keep my contractions going and this increased the pain.”

Rosemary encountered complications during the birth and was told she would need to go into theatre before forceps were used to deliver the baby.

More than two days after being induced, she was finally able to meet her little boy.

“I am extremely appreciative to all of the medical staff involved in my labour, but I do think it could have gone much smoother if I was not induced.

"I think labour is something that should only be interfered with if absolutely necessary,” she added.

Sarah and Jenny have encountered many of their own clients in the past year that have been left scarred from a previous birth experience and hope their service will be the starting point of change for midwifery.

“We feel so fortunate that we have found a way to practice midwifery in the way we were taught.

“To believe that the body is capable of birth without interventions, fear and medicalisation and to empower our clients to believe this too. It is our role to safely facilitate these births without fear and doubt,” Sarah said.

To find out more about their services go to their website www.myindependentmidwife.co.uk