Learning Alongside a Privately Practising Midwife

My name is Siobhan Burrell, I am a mother of three. My first was born via caesarean, my second and third births were vaginal birth after caesareans (VBACs). Myself, I was a ‘born-before-arrival’ baby, much to the shock of my mother who was planning second epidural birth. Adding to my confidence of birthing women, two of my nephews were born at home. When I had my first child, my experience was much different to what I had imagined for myself. With wonderful midwifery care I was able to have a healing and redemptive second birth and a beautiful third birth which I recall stating to my husband on the way out the door, four hours after birth, ‘see, I could have had a home birth’. I was grateful to have the support of the same student midwife through my first and second pregnancies, and she inspired me to also follow this path. Now, I am a third-year midwifery student at Griffith University. I am pleased to share with you my reflection of my experience as a student learning from a privately practising midwife and being able to attend home births.