Who we are

Caroline Baddiley Dip HE RM Cert Ed

After qualifying as a direct entry midwife in 1994, I worked for four years in a midwife-led unit. I then left the NHS and have worked as an Independent Midwife since 1998. I chose to leave the NHS as I wanted to work as a truly autonomous practitioner and offer complete care to women from early pregnancy, through labour and birth and in the postnatal time.                                      

I am still amazed by pregnancy and birth as each one is so different and wonderful. Midwives can learn so much from the women they care for once they have helped create a safe emotional and physical space for the woman to grow and birth her baby.

We have a grown-up daughter and a son who was born at home many years ago. Our daughter has two lovely little sons and we adore being their grandparents.

Years ago we lived in Southern Ireland and brought our children up there. I may have always been a midwife at heart. I used to go to friends’ births, nearly all of which were at home and they would ask me to go to support them. We hadn’t heard of doulas at that time! I later spent time with an Irish independent midwife, going to more home births with her and absorbing pure midwife knowledge and learning about how women’s bodies work in birth.

I now support women to give birth at home and also in hospital if need be, helping to make the experience the most positive and empowering as it can be. I love water births as they are usually so calm and gentle.

I teach mindful hypnosis (Mindful Mamma)for birth  to help women reduce the ever-increasing fears they have around birth. I find teaching these classes so rewarding as I see women’s/couples attitudes change from fear and apprehension to a more positive, confident and empowered attitude to the coming birth of their baby

I also work part-time on the breastfeeding Education Team in an area of the NHS. Amongst other things I work in the community to promote Baby-Friendly practice and am at present training all Children’s Centre staff in basic breastfeeding awareness so that they can better support local families.

Chrissy Hustler Bsc(hons) Rm , RGN

Chrissy

I have practiced as a midwife for over twenty years, and have been privileged to be at many, many births. I have four children, varying in ages from sixteen years upwards, and five beautiful grandchildren. I feel especially privileged at being present at all their births. I feel passionately about the power of birth and how it can be such a tremendously rewarding and empowering, albeit, hard work, experience. I recognise the impact birth has not just for the woman but for her family as well.

I believe women have the right to choose the type of care they receive and where they birth their babies. I also wholeheartedly believe if a woman is comfortable and feels secure she will labour more effectively. She needs to feel safe and supported and this is best achieved by being cared for by a midwife she has grown to know and trust, in a relationship of mutual respect and understanding. This is the ethos of the care I offer.

I have worked for many years as a community midwife before stepping outside of the NHS to work in partnership in independent practice. I am now free to work in a way I feel is best suited to my ideals. I am particularly happy to care for women who want to birth at home, and or in water as this is where my expertise lies, although I am able to offer care within local hospitals if that is what you prefer. I am also happy to offer care to a woman who have had a caesarean section or a previous traumatic birth experience or a woman who just wants to know her midwife will be there for her, to support her when she needs her most.

I really believe women need information about labour and childbirth choices before labour commences, and therefore I offer antenatal education in classes or on an individual basis to all my clients, and am happy to discuss your personal needs on an individual basis.

Erika Thompson Bsc (Hons), RM

I believe birth is the most beautiful experience in life. It is a privilege to support women, partners and their families through the most amazing, magical time in their lives and be witness to what can only be described as a miracle.

Erika

I qualified in 2000 and worked in an NHS trust. I was involved in making home from home birthing rooms in an obstetric unit and contributed to rewriting protocols and guidelines which would enable women to have a more natural and less controlled and managed birth. I believe each woman is an individual and should be treated so and that is one of the reasons I enjoy practising independently. I am passionate about my work and dedicated to providing a high standard of care. I have supported women through uncomplicated pregnancies, very complicated pregnancies, easy labours, challenging labours, caesareans, inductions, breech birth, water birth, multiple birth, postnatal recovery, breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, caring for babies and adjusting to family life. I am also a qualified aquanatal teacher.

Independent midwifery allows me to practice midwifery in a way which I feel is beneficial for you and for me. I feel confident you are recieving a high standard of care which is individualised and personal to you. You can recieve unbiased, evidence-based information enabling you to make informed decisons in your pregnancy, which will enable you to feel confident and reclaim ownership of your pregnancy and birth.

I am an advocate of homebirth and waterbirth. Having experienced both of these myself I can thourghly recommend! I am very happy to support you in your informed decisons reagrding home VBAC and other circumstances where you may find resistance in the NHS. We would discuss this fully together. I can also accompany you to hospital for planned casareans or other circumstances.

I believe strongly that if you feel calm and confident before the birth, your body will labour and birth more effectively. That is why I also facilitate antenatal classes. I am passionate about breastfeeding and realise that although it is natural it is not always easy. I run breastfeeding workshops and offer breastfeeding support . (www.beautifulbirths.org)

My husband and I have had 17 amazing years together. We have 3 wonderful children. My personal birth experiences have all been different, and all amazing, empowering, beautiful and euphoric.