Leeton Midwifery Group Practice team Beth Herlihy, Shona Kaio, Rebecca Quiring and Leeanne Driscoll ensure birthing mothers have access to positive and safe childbirth choices and continuity of care. Photo: Leeton Midwifery Group Practice.
A highly skilled and dedicated team of midwives is challenging the perception that birthing mothers do not have access to maternity services in Leeton.
Leeton Midwifery Group Practice (LMGP) is led by Registered Nurse (RN) and midwife Leeanne Driscoll, clinical midwifery educator Rebecca Quiring, registered midwife Beth Herlihy and registered midwife Shona Kaio.
Ms Driscoll has 30 years of experience in various challenging roles, including midwifery, nursing in the general wards, emergency department nursing, acute care, theatre nursing and nurse unit manager roles.
The RN is passionate about giving birthing mothers in Leeton the support and care they need without travelling to larger facilities in Wagga or Griffith.
“I wanted to be part of the solution for women’s birthing options for our town and surrounding areas,” she said.
“It worries me that there is a misconception in our area that birthing mothers do not have proper access to maternity services because they do. We are right here at Leeton Hospital.
“We want to let everyone know about our wonderful service and the options available at your doorstep.”
She said while many people want doctors for routine births, this expectation was not sustainable as doctors often miss the main event.
With more than 10 years of experience, Ms Quiring added that midwifery-led group practice is not a new concept in Australia.
“The model gives women the best possible outcomes where babies are less likely to be born premature and mothers are more likely to report a positive birthing experience,” she said.
The clinical midwifery educator emphasised the importance of offering a quality and safe midwifery service close to home for rural women.
“Women have the opportunity to develop a long-lasting relationship with their midwives throughout their pregnancy, to well after their baby is born and then again for subsequent pregnancies,” Ms Quiring said.
“This high-quality service is right here in Leeton – so there is no need to travel.
“For a smaller community town, it has all the facilities of a larger city with the bonus of feeling more personal.”
Ms Herlihy enjoyed the holistic approach to health care and has been practising as a naturopath and registered midwife for more than 25 years.
She jumped at the opportunity to join the LMPG team as a midwife and was emotionally ready to assist women in their birthing experience without a doctor present.
“As a midwife, it is just so important to have the opportunity and time available to develop meaningful professional relationships with the women who use our service and look forward to birthing their babies and offering continuity of care throughout their whole journey,” she said.
“We have a beautiful midwifery team at LMGP with the time to provide the highest level of care.
“We are all about a cohesive and caring work environment and take pride in our ability to educate and empower women and their families about the choices available to them.”
Ms Kaio, a registered nurse of 16 years from New Zealand, said midwifery is a specialised and vital role.
“It is a very specific skill set and I feel privileged to be part of every woman’s birthing journey,” she said.
“I enjoy providing one-on-one care, giving that continuity and reassurance to birthing mothers – it is a perfect way to help women who really need it.”
The LMGP program essentially allows birthing mothers to get to know their team of local specialised midwives throughout their pregnancy and enables care to be focused on an individual’s needs.
LMGP offers midwifery-led ensuring birthing mothers have access to positive and safe childbirth choices and continuity of care.
LMGP collaborates with GPs, obstetricians and paediatricians to provide health assessment and care throughout the antenatal, birth, and postnatal experience of the woman and her family.
The midwives provide education, information and support, including exercise and nutrition, strategies to enhance the birthing experience and breastfeeding support.
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