Twenty-two speed humps

Reminiscing about the publication of Changing Childbirth (Department of Health (DH), 1993) over a decade ago and looking forward to the outcome of the national maternity review, midwives continue to provide choice and continuity for women. Consultant midwife, Pauline Cooke shared an experience that shows midwifery care matters and shares one experience of one-to-one midwifery practice. Her story reminded me of the amazing contribution that midwives continue to make to the lives of women and their families.

‘During a spring holiday this year, I visited the beautiful gardens at Wisley with my sister. Around lunch time a woman approached me and asked if my name was Pauline and if I was a midwife. When I said yes, she exclaimed “you were my midwife 20 years ago!” I vaguely recognised her face but when she said her name, I knew immediately who she was, where she lived and remembered James, her then 3-year-old very bright little boy with a liking for toy Swiss army knives. Photos on Clare's phone were shown, mobile numbers exchanged and an invite issued for tea to meet Hannah (the “baby”), now 20, before she returned to university.