By Theresia Titus
In celebrating the International Day of the Midwife on Tuesday 5 May, Joan Cunningham, Birth Suite Nurse Manager at St John of God Subiaco Hospital, shares her midwifery experience with The Record.
Her story is even more significant as the World Health Organisation has designated 2020 as the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, to recognise the vital role nurses and midwives play in providing health services.
“I arrived in Australia in 1993 and shortly after started working St John of God Subiaco Hospital.
I have now been here 27 years, 25 of those have been spent in the birth suite,” Joan said.
“In 2012, I became the birth suite manager at the hospital. I have worked as a practising midwife for 34 years, having been in nursing for 40 years overall.”
With about 3000 thousands babies born at St John of God Subiaco Hospital each year, Joan has cared for countless babies and their mothers throughout her career.
“I love midwifery and I think it is the most amazing job in the world,” she said.
“We make a big difference to the lives of our patients and families, and we, as midwives, need to respect the power we have at that moment.”
Joan said one of the hardest challenges she had encountered was dealing with the bereavement parents had to deal with when they lost their child.
“The most challenging, yet rewarding, aspect of midwifery is caring for a mother who has lost a baby, through a preterm birth or death. This never gets any easier,” she expressed.
“It is our nature as midwives to do as much as we can, but in these situations, we have to sit and spend time with the mother and family to comfort and support them through this traumatic experience.”
According to the data published by the State Department of Health, 8026 women gave births in Western Australia between January to March, with 8090 live births registered out of 8160 infants born, meaning 70 infants died in that quarter alone.
“The advice I would give to midwives is to always remember that it is a privilege to care for women at this time,” Joan stated.
“No single person has the sole authority on the care of a woman. It has now become a collaborative process with all concerned to achieve the best outcome for that individual.
“My advice for expectant mothers would be that information is power. Take all the information, advice and tips you are given, and do what is right for you,” she concluded.