My Philosophy of Care | Guided By You Midwifery

My life experiences have shaped the midwife I am today

Here's a little glimpse into the midwife behind Guided By You Midwifery

My Philosophy of Care: The Midwife Behind Guided By You Midwifery

Guided By You Midwifery has been shaped by far more than my professional experience. It has been shaped by my own personal experiences of birth, motherhood and loss, alongside the hundreds of women, babies and families I have had the privilege of caring for throughout my career.

I’m a woman, a mum, a nan and a midwife, and every one of those experiences has helped shape the way I care for you today.

Before I Was a Midwife, I Was a Mum

Before I understood pregnancy and birth through the eyes of a midwife, I experienced them as a woman and a mum.

I have four children, and my own journey through pregnancy, birth and motherhood hasn't always been straightforward. I've experienced both lower-risk and higher-risk pregnancies, I've had an induction of labour, and I've experienced postnatal depression.

I also experienced the heartbreak of a miscarriage at 14 weeks. At the time, it was one of the hardest things I had ever been through. The emotional and physical pain was something I will never forget.

But after that loss came something incredibly special. I went on to have my rainbow baby, my daughter, who is now one of my best friends in the world.

That experience of loss, followed by pregnancy and birth again, has become another part of my own story and another life experience I carry with me as a midwife.

None of these experiences mean I know exactly how you feel. Every woman's story is her own, and I would never assume that because I've experienced something myself, your experience will feel the same.

What they have given me is the perspective of being on the other side of maternity care. I've been the woman with questions, hopes and worries. I've known vulnerability and uncertainty, as well as the incredible joy of bringing my babies into the world.

I'm now a mum of four and a very proud nan of two, and family life has given me a wealth of experiences that I bring with me into my work.

All of it has shaped the woman I am and, inevitably, the midwife I am too.

Why I Became a Midwife

Midwifery has never felt like simply a job to me.

The part I have always loved is the women and families I am lucky to support.

I love getting to know people, hearing their stories and learning what's important to them. Being invited into such an intimate and significant chapter of somebody's life is something I have never taken for granted.

I've now attended hundreds of births, and they've taught me that there isn't one type of woman, one type of family or one right way to give birth.

Every woman is different.

Every family is different.

Every birth is different.

And I believe their care should be too.

My Philosophy as a Midwife

At the heart of my philosophy is a very simple belief:

Your pregnancy. Your body. Your baby. Your birth.

I bring professional knowledge, clinical experience and judgement, but I don't believe my role is to take over.

My role is to walk alongside you.

To give you honest information.

To answer your questions.

To explain benefits, risks and alternatives.

To recognise when everything is progressing beautifully and doesn't need interfering with.

And to recognise when circumstances have changed and you or your baby may need something different.

I believe in evidence and clinical safety, but I also believe deeply in individualised care.

Guidelines are important, but so is the woman sitting in front of me.

Your history, beliefs, previous experiences and wishes all form part of the picture.

I don't expect you to make the choices I would make.

My job is to help you understand your options so that you can make the decisions that are right for you.

That is the foundation of my philosophy.

What My Years in the NHS Gave Me

Much of my career within the NHS was spent doing something I have always loved: supporting women to give birth at home.

Home birth taught me to have enormous respect for the physiology of birth. It taught me to observe quietly, recognise normality and know when things are unfolding exactly as they should.

Just as importantly, it taught me to recognise when something isn't quite right.

Working in a home birth setting requires you to be calm, prepared and confident in your clinical judgement. You need to know when to allow birth to unfold and when it's time to act.

My NHS experience wasn't limited to home birth.

I've also worked within the hospital environment, caring for women with more complex pregnancies and higher-risk situations, and working alongside obstetricians and the wider maternity team when additional monitoring, intervention or medical care was needed.

Having experience in both home and hospital birth settings has been incredibly valuable.

It taught me that good midwifery isn't about choosing between a "natural birth" approach and a "medical birth" approach.

It's about recognising what the woman and baby in front of you need at that moment.

And my NHS years taught me something else that eventually changed the direction of my career.

How precious time is.

Why Continuity of Care Changed My Career

During my time in the NHS, I experienced something that completely shaped the midwife I wanted to be: continuity of care.

I had the opportunity to really get to know the women and families I was looking after. I could build relationships during pregnancy and, where possible, be there as their journey continued through birth and beyond.

And I fell in love with that way of working.

For me, there was something incredibly special about walking into a room and already knowing the woman in front of me. Knowing her story, what mattered to her, what she was hoping for and sometimes simply knowing, without needing to ask, what she needed from me in that moment.

When the NHS hospital I was working for stopped providing that continuity model, I knew I didn't want to give it up.

I had experienced what continuity could bring to maternity care, and I wanted to continue practising in that way.

That was what led me to become a private midwife.

My Time as a Private Midwife

Becoming a private midwife allowed me to continue providing the continuity I had grown to value so deeply.

I could spend more time with women, build relationships over the course of their pregnancies and provide the kind of one-to-one midwifery that had become so important to me.

It was another significant chapter in my career and gave me even more experience of caring for women and families outside the traditional NHS model.

Then the private midwifery company I was working for sadly, closed.

Once again, I had a decision to make

By then, I knew there was no going back for me.

Continuity wasn't simply something I loved providing. It had become fundamental to the kind of midwife I wanted to be.

So rather than giving it up, I took the next step.

Why I Became an Independent Midwife

That was when Guided By You Midwifery was born.

Becoming an independent midwife meant I could take everything I had learnt throughout my

career and create a service that truly reflected the way I wanted to practise.

I wanted the time to get to know you.

Time for the conversation that doesn't fit neatly into an appointment.

Time for “Can I just ask you one more thing?”

Time to understand where a worry has come from.

Time to explain something properly rather than rushing through it.

Time to know your partner and your family.

Time to understand what's happened before and what you're hoping for this time.

And time simply to sit together and have a chat.

Guided By You Midwifery wasn't born because I wanted to leave midwifery behind. It grew from everything I had come to love most about being a midwife.

You Never Stop Learning as a Midwife

One of the things I love about midwifery is that you never stop learning.

No matter how many years you've been practising or how many births you've attended, there will always be something new.

Every pregnancy, labour and birth brings its own story. Occasionally I may encounter a condition, situation or experience that I haven't come across before.

And I'm completely comfortable saying that.

Experience doesn't mean pretending to know everything. Good clinical practice means recognising the limits of your own knowledge and knowing what to do next.

I'm fortunate to have a wonderful professional network around me. I remain in contact with midwife friends and colleagues from different parts of my career, including my NHS years and being a private midwife.

Different midwives encounter different things, and that shared professional experience can be invaluable.

If something is unfamiliar to me, I'll investigate it, look at the evidence and, where appropriate, seek advice from experienced colleagues or other healthcare professionals.

That some balance between evidence, clinical judgement and individualised care shapes how I approach physiological birth and intervention.

Midwifery changes. Evidence develops. Guidance changes.

And the women and families we meet continue to teach us.

I've attended hundreds of births, but I would never say, "I've seen it all."

I haven't.

And I don't think any good midwife ever can.

Experience gives me confidence in what I know. Continuing to learn gives me the wisdom to recognise what I don't.

Openness and Honesty Matter to Me

Transparency is another important part of the way I practise.

As a midwife, I have a professional duty of candour, which sits naturally alongside my own belief in clear and honest communication.

Pregnancy and birth aren't always predictable. Circumstances can change, new information can emerge and sometimes conversations aren't easy.

When that happens, I will be straightforward with you. I'll explain what we know, what it means and what happens next.

For me, honesty isn't an extra part of good midwifery. It's fundamental to it.

My Holistic and Nurturing Approach

My approach to midwifery is holistic and nurturing.

I don't just see a pregnancy, a set of observations or a birth plan. I'm interested in the whole person and everything surrounding her.

Your physical wellbeing and your baby's wellbeing are central, of course, but pregnancy affects far more than the physical body.

I want to understand what makes you anxious, what gives you confidence, what helps you relax and what you need from me at different points along the way.

I have a naturally nurturing and loving side, and I don't leave that behind when I'm being your midwife.

There is room within professional midwifery for warmth, affection and genuine connection.

Sometimes you'll need clear clinical advice.

Sometimes reassurance.

Sometimes humour.

Sometimes a cuddle or a hand to hold.

Sometimes someone to laugh with.

Sometimes someone to cry with.

And sometimes you won't want any of those things. You'll simply want me nearby.

For me, holistic midwifery means recognising all of those different needs, not just the clinical ones.

Compassion Is at the Heart of My Care

I have two daughters of my own, and they have influenced the standard I set for myself when looking after other women.

I think about what I would want for them.

I'd want somebody to take their questions seriously. I'd want patience and kindness. I'd want somebody to notice if they were worried and give them the time they needed.

I'd want their midwife to remember that they aren't simply another name on a list.

They're somebody's daughter.

That's something I carry with me.

For me, being a good midwife isn't only about knowledge and experience. It's about compassion, kindness, understanding and genuinely valuing the people who place their confidence in me.

My "Midwife Mum" Compliment

Some of the women I've looked after have affectionately called me their "midwife mum", and that means an awful lot to me.

Not because I could ever replace anybody's own mum, but because I understand what they're trying to tell me.

It's their way of describing that nurturing relationship we've developed.

And to me, that's one of the loveliest compliments I can receive.

Being There When You Need Me

Something that means a great deal to me is seeing families mention in their reviews that I was always available when they had a question or needed reassurance.

Because that's exactly the kind of care I want every woman and family I work with to feel they've received from me.

If you feel the need to call or message me at 11 o'clock at night, there's a reason you've reached out.

I don't want you sitting at home wondering whether something is "important enough" to ask.

If it's important to you, it's important to me.

Sometimes the answer might be straightforward. Other times we might need to talk something through.

Either way, I want you to know you can ask.

I've Been There for the Happiest Moments

There are moments in midwifery that never stop being special.

I've watched women discover strength they didn't know they had.

I've seen partners' faces as their babies arrived.

I've watched families meet babies they have waited and longed for.

I've witnessed tears, laughter, relief, disbelief and overwhelming joy.

Even after hundreds of births, watching a family meet their baby never becomes ordinary to me.

What an incredible privilege it is to be invited into that moment.

And I've Been There During the Hardest Moments Too

Midwifery isn't only about happy beginnings.

I have also stood beside families through loss and been there when the outcome wasn't the one anybody hoped for.

Those experiences have taught me just as much.

Sometimes there isn't a sentence that can make things better.

You don't need to fill every silence.

You can sit beside somebody.

You can give them space.

You can protect their dignity.

And you can remember that while this may be part of your professional working life, for the family experiencing it, this is their life.

That perspective has never left me.

Knowledge Is Power

One phrase comes back again and again in my practice: Knowledge is power.

Not because I expect you to become a midwife, and not because having information means we can control exactly how pregnancy or birth will unfold.

We can't always.

Knowledge gives you the confidence to participate in decisions about your own care.

I want you to feel comfortable asking:

Why?

What does that mean?

What are my options?

What are the benefits and risks?

What happens if I wait?

Is there another choice?

There is no silly question.

The more you understand, the better equipped you are to make informed decisions about your pregnancy, birth and baby.

I Believe in Birth, and I Believe in Safety

I've seen what women's bodies can do, and I have enormous respect for the physiology of pregnancy, labour and birth.

I don't believe that because I'm your midwife I constantly need to do something.

Sometimes excellent midwifery means quietly observing.

Watching.

Listening.

Assessing.

And allowing a woman the privacy to get on with giving birth.

But trusting birth doesn't mean ignoring clinical concerns.

If something changes, I will recognise it and respond.

If I'm concerned about you or your baby, I'll explain why.

And if I believe you need additional medical care, I will say so.

Holistic midwifery and clinical safety aren't opposites.

For me, good midwifery brings the two together.

I Want You to Know Me Too

Independent midwifery is a relationship, and I don't think it should feel completely one-sided.

I'm going to learn an awful lot about you, so you're very welcome to get to know me too.

People ask me all sorts of questions.

About my family, my experiences, what I like and dislike, what makes me laugh, things I've experienced in my own life and sometimes completely random things.

I'm very open to that.

We're potentially going to spend many months together. We talk, we laugh, we share stories, and gradually we get to know each other.

By the time your baby arrives, I don't want to feel like a stranger who happens to be your midwife.

I want you to feel completely comfortable being yourself around me.

Perhaps that's why so many families continue to stay in touch after their formal midwifery care ends.

I receive photographs and little updates as babies grow. I get to see first birthdays, first steps and new chapters in family life. Some families continue to follow my journey through social media, just as I've had the privilege of being part of theirs.

I absolutely love that.

For me, it never feels like "pregnancy, baby, goodbye."

I've been invited into a chapter of your family's story, and it's incredibly special when I'm allowed to see a little of what comes afterwards too.

The Midwife Life Has Made Me

When I look at the way I practise today, I can see pieces of my whole life within it.

My own pregnancies and births.

The straightforward experiences and the more complicated ones.

My induction.

My miscarriage and the rainbow baby who followed.

My experience of postnatal depression.

My NHS career.

The home birth midwife who learnt to trust normal physiology while always keeping a watchful eye.

The hospital experience that exposed me to more complex and higher-risk care.

The independent midwife who wanted more time.

The hundreds of births I've attended.

The joyful days.

The devastating ones.

Being a mum.

Becoming a nan.

And all the families who have taught me something along the way.

They've taught me to stay curious.

To never assume.

To remain calm.

To keep learning.

To appreciate joy.

To sit with sadness.

To speak up when something concerns me.

To ask for another perspective when I need one.

And sometimes simply to be present.

Why Guided By You?

The name Guided By You Midwifery really does describe my philosophy.

I bring everything I have to our relationship: professional knowledge, clinical judgement, years of experience and everything life has taught me along the way.

But at the centre of it is you.

Your story.

Your choices.

Your family.

Your baby.

Your birth.

I bring the midwifery. You bring you.

And together, we create care that is genuinely Guided By You.

Get in Touch

Choosing a midwife is incredibly personal.

You can read about my qualifications and experience, but sometimes you simply need to have a conversation and see whether somebody feels like the right person to walk alongside you.

So if you've reached the end of this page and thought, "Yes, that's the kind of midwife I'm looking for," I'd love to hear your story too.

Get in touch and let's have a chat.