Claire is a home birthing midwife living in Benalla in Victoria. She trained in the hospital system and has worked in MGP (Midwifery Group Practice) but has now found her bliss, stepping out of institutionalised systems in order to directly cater for women’s needs as a home birthing midwife.

In this interview Claire shares what she has witnessed as a rural midwife. She articulates how her alternate care pathway can help resolve issues for rural women; for example, rather than labouring women needing to traverse the distance to the hospital, Claire takes up this drive - sometimes driving up to two hours to support a birthing woman. This strikes a chord, as travel and distance (and the potential to birth before arrival) are fear inducing factors. The notion of travelling two hours and the risk of birthing on a lonely highway, as trucks pass at 100kms per hour, is a vision that often causes rural pregnant women angst. Claire, as a rural independent midwife, is offering an alternative to this and this (in addition to the benefits and personalised care home birth allows) has made Claire a sought after practitioner.

So, understanding the opportunity provided by home birth midwives, Claire and I broke down some of the stigmas around home birthing. In our conversation we broke down and answered the ‘what if’ questions and defined things like the home birth kit and ‘transfer pathways’.

Claire’s business, ‘Your Birth Midwifery’, has filled a need for the rural women of Benalla and surrounds. Offering choice to rural birthing women. If you would like to connect with Claire and explore rural birthing at home with an endorsed midwife get in touch: 

Instagram: @yourbirthmidwifery 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YourBirthMidwifery/

Email: ybmidwifery@gmail.com