Robyn Alexander, Team Leader, Midwives and Me Midwifery Group Practice (MGP)

After leaving school, I did my nursing training at the Royal Brisbane Hospital from 1978 to 1981.

Then I did my midwifery training at Royal Women’s Hospital in 1983-84.

I planned to work in a cardiac unit until I did Midwifery and found what I loved.

So, I have been a Midwife for almost 40 years, but it’s been over 45 years since I started my nursing training.

Initially I worked in a small country hospital where I was the only midwife on a shift.

The second person for the birth was the EN who was on shift, too.

The doctor was a GP who came in when we called him.

I then worked at Maryborough Base Hospital until I started at Caboolture Hospital in Maternity in January 1995.

The last almost 10 years have been in a Continuity of Care model, Midwives and Me, which turns 10 on 18 November 2023.

There have been so many changes in Midwifery over the years. One of the biggest was what resulted from the Term Breech Trial.

It was literally overnight that women went from having breech babies vaginally to having planned LUSCS (Lower Uterine Segment Caesarean Section).

Women’s voices are being heard and they are being given the choice to have their babies vaginally again.

Another change will be happening soon.

We will have an offsite clinic, which I am hoping will open before Christmas.

I still love being a midwife – I love the relationships I have with the women I care for.

I love supporting women to have the experience they want.

Sometimes their choices are outside our guidelines.

It’s my role to educate, inform and support them.

I love watching women progress through pregnancy and become mothers for the first time, and then watching that progression as more children come along.

I love that often they stay in contact.

I have one lady who usually sends me the yearly Santa photo with an update, and her eldest son has just finished primary school.

I am getting closer to retirement, but I’m not quite ready yet.

I say if you aren’t still learning then it’s time to go, and I am still learning.

I first met Emma Cooper, pictured with me above, when she started working as an Administration Officer in the Antenatal Chart Room and then Antenatal Clinic.

I was privileged and excited that she asked me to be her midwife. Together we journeyed through her pregnancy and then labour.

I wasn’t sure that her bub was going to arrive while I was there… and then she did – 12 minutes before I finished a 12-hour shift!

Emma is going to share more about her Caboolture Hospital birth tomorrow.

Have you got a story to share? Email ckw-engage@health.qld.gov.au.