Author Archives: surreyhillshomebirth

Congratulations Kirsty!

Posted in Meet the team, Uncategorized by

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Kirsty to the role of Homebirth Team Leader

Hello my name is Kirsty and I am excited to take on the role of leading and developing the homebirth team.

I have four children of my own and through my fourth pregnancy I was fortunate enough to receive one-one care with the same midwife from Booking through to Discharge. This made a huge impact on me, and although I had always wanted to become a midwife, this positive, empowering experience gave me the nudge I needed to undertake my training, enabling me to replicate this to those in my care.

Being a member of a case-loading team, providing true continuity of care, enhances the perinatal experience for those we care for, as well as enabling me to support women in the choices they make, empowering them to birth their way. I love building these relationships with women and their families and I am passionate about working within this model of care.

If you would like to learn more about the team and birthing your baby in your own home contact the team at rsch.homebirth.referrals@nhs.net or ask your community midwife for a referral

#HelloMyNameIs #MeetTheTeam #SurreyHillsTeam #SurreyHillsHomebirthTeam #Homebirth #Continuity #Caseloading #Choice #Support

#FridayFeedback

Posted in At Home by

Is there anything better than when an old client reaches out with an update. Unfortunately we can’t share the picture of the gorgeous four month old that accompanied this message but we are very please to be able to share this mums feedback on her care from New Years Day!

“I can’t recommend the Surrey hills Homebirth team enough. Throughout every stage of the process they provided the upmost support and professionalism always going above and beyond to ensure I had the most positive pregnancy and birth.

I was supported when I was told I had gestational diabetes at 30 weeks and was accompanied by one of the team when I went to discuss my birthing options with the consultant at the Royal Surrey.

My home birth was the most positive and wonderful experience, I felt completely safe, calm and looked after in the hands of Caroline and Kirsty.

And finally the compassion and care I was shown in the days after the birth was second to none, I was having trouble breastfeeding and my daughter had a tongue tie, within just a few days the team had organised for this to be sorted at the Royal Surrey.

This team of midwives are truly special and I feel very lucky to have had them during my second pregnancy.”

Surrey Hills Client January 2020

Goodbye Emily

Posted in Meet the team by

Today the team said goodbye to Emily who is moving to Somerset to be closer to loved ones.

The consolidation for the team, as passionate advocates of continuity, is that that maternity unit she is joining are very excited to benefit from Emily’s experience and knowledge as they develop their own continuity models.

We know that you will join us in wishing Emily the best of luck in her new job, new home and new life.

Stork

Posted in At Home by

We are delighted to share this birth announcement from last week (one of our Wednesday hat trick!).

As you can see the team had a little help from a friendly stork as they supported this experienced family welcome their baby earthside at #home for a second time #HomebirthJustHappened #RepeatCustomer #RainbowBaby

Team Stats 2019

Posted in Inspiration & Information by

We are delighted to be able to finally share our 2019 stats with you.

The Surrey Hills Homebirth team work within a continuity caseloading model which means that we continue to care for our clients throughout their childbearing journey, even if plans or place of birth change along the way*

In 2019 we were responsible for the care of 203 pregnant women and their families.

Of these families 32% birthed their first baby, 42% birthed their second, while 26% birthed their third or subsequent baby

92% of our entire caseload experienced a vaginal birth and 82% knew the midwife who was caring for them in labour.

133 (66%) of our caseload used water in labour (hydrotherapy) with 50% (n=101) remaining in the water as they birthed their baby (waterbirth).

We welcomed 99 girls and 104 boys in to the world.

From our original caseload (n=203) 73% (n=148) of families planned to give birth at home with the Surrey Hills team at the onset of established labour. The remaining 55 families (27%) opted for an alternative place of birth. This change in planned place of birth occurred for a number of different reasons including consent to Induction of Labour, the development of situations/conditions which recommended a hospital based birth and moving out of area.

Of the 148 families who planned to give birth at home at the onset of labour 82% achieved their planned birth at home (n=121). 18% (n=27) experienced an in labour transfer to an alternative place of birth, while 3% (n=5) were transferred in the immediate postnatal period.

95% of the clients that birthed at home had a physiological (natural) birth of the placenta with optimal cord clamping.

*please note that there have been some changes to our service in 2020 due to Covid 19 pandemic. Please talk to a team member or read the Covid 19 page for more details

Welcome Lucy M!

Posted in Meet the team by
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Hello my name is Lucy Mason and I am delighted to have joined the Surrey Hills Homebirth team.

I have worked at the Royal Surrey for nearly 10 years, starting out as a maternity support worker, before completing my midwifery training and then working as a midwife in all ward areas.

I was lucky enough to receive continuity care throughout my second pregnancy and birth and have championed homebirth ever since.

Being a member of the homebirth team allows me to form trusting relationships with mums-to-be, enabling me to support their choices through pregnancy, birth and beyond.