'The Village Doula' |
Saturday, 10am |
About Anne BlancheMy journey to being with birthing women began intensely when we moved from Melbourne to a small rural town in northern Tasmania way back in the late 1970’s. Following the birth of our first child in Melbourne I grappled to unravel the effects of the hospital environment had on a very normal birth and the consequences for parenting my newborn. I met and worked with fantastic women exploring the same issues and my commitment and calling to midwifery was born!
Deloraine was a hub for like-minded people and as “newcomers” we clung together. When we're all having babies I was often there. During those 17 years of attending approximately 500 births I was delighted, excited, sometimes bemused and above all, in awe of the very domestic miracle of welcoming new life into the world. I was also often very tired! I mostly worked in partnership, often with a registered midwife, sometimes alone and in those days with great support from some of the local obstetricians and doctors. As well as supporting women to have homebirths we all worked together to establish birth centres, share care plans and postnatal support. It was a wonderfully rich and nurturing time. |