Born at Home
 
 
Holistic Birthing Centre Ltd & Holistic Counselling Centre Ltd
 
 
Our Midwives

Tracy Thomas, Director H.B.C

Head of Midwifery. Dip H.E. (Midw), R.M. BA. (Hons).
 
 
 

And so dreams really do come true...

To facilitate such an amazing service is a dream of mine which I have had for many years.

Like you, the women, I experience disappointment, frustration, and disbelief every time I walk through the hospital door.

I am sorry to say that it isn't getting any better, in fact it could be argued that it is getting worse in many units. I receive phone calls and Emails most days from women sharing stories which are beyond belief. Women in contemporary society are feeling unsupported, let down, cheated, upset..the list goes on. Why? Because they "dare" to ask a question about their body or baby, or may resist a hospital policy because the risks out way the benefits for them on a personal level.

The problem largely is because many hospitals are functioning with staff shortages, or lack in resources. There are some fantastic midwives out there, many my close friends, trying their best with the limited time they have with women, they meet only for the first time when they are in labour.

This isn't good enough for me, that certainly isn't good enough for you, your baby, your family. When my phone rings at 3 am, I know who it is at the end, a special person who I have met over the last 9 months, someone whom I have grown to like, respect ,and value. I know everything about them. I am excited to be getting out of my bed to be with that family, at one of the most exciting times in their lives. There's nothing quite like seeing that family all together, mum breastfeeding her baby in the pool, while dad and big brother look on.

The hardest part of my job, is saying goodbye when the baby is 6 weeks old. But if I am honest, I usually don't ! When I am in the area I still pop in for a cup of tea and a chat and receive letters and photos of baby's every milestone. I now have the pleasure of being with the families to see brothers and sisters born. It doesn't get any better than that for me. I am practising midwifery to its fullest extent. I absolutely love my job.
 
 
 
 
 

Viv Charnley, Director H.C.C.

Head of Counselling Services

B.A. (Hons) Dip H.E. (Couns) Dist. Dip H.E. (Midw). R.M.

For me, practising midwifery is about being in touch with life.  Being able to provide care to women in an holistic, natural way has been, and continues to be a real privilege.

Having a baby is an amazing journey and can be one of the most fulfilling and liberating experiences a woman ever has.  My aim is to simply be with women, to encourage them to trust and believe in themselves and in their innate ability to birth their babies.

I am also a fully qualified counsellor and I co-ordinate the service provision of the Holistic Counselling Centre.

Outside of work. I enjoy family life, friends, theatre, eating out, reading, talking, laughing and travelling.

I live near Chester with my husband Stuart and we have three lovely children, Sara, Owen and Freya.
   

Jennie Lyons

BSC. (Hons) Dip H.E. (midw). R.M.

I moved to Liverpool in 1999 to complete a degree course
at Liverpool University and it was during this time that I
found my passion for midwifery.  So upon completion of my degree course and a successful application to study
midwifery I began my training with a desire to provide
women and their families the best experience of natural childbirth possible.  I feel that the best way to achieve this
is for women and their families to get to know me and vice versa and this is the reason I am passionate about the
birth centre and the philosophy behind it.  In my spare time
I enjoy going to the theatre and cinema and enjoy eating
out.  I also live near Sefton Park and enjoy going for long
walks or sitting and reading, especially if the suns out!
   

Verena Burns

R.M.

I have always wanted to be a Midwife. I trained in Germany
and qualified there in 1991. I worked in a small hospital in the Black Forrest gaining my first experience and learning much about natural aids to normal childbirth. I came to England primarily, to learn English. I started working in some smaller and some bigger Hospitals around the country and finally settled in Chester. However, with so many changes in the NHS, it is becoming increasingly difficult to practice in a caring way that is individualised and I believe every woman deserves this.
I believe that parents need support and encouragement in
the first few weeks after their Baby's arrival as it is such a wonderful upheaval of life! I have seen the value of complementary therapies in Germany and would like to implement it in the care that I give. I am qualified as an Aroma therapist and continue to study other valuable complementary therapies to aid normal birthing. I am also qualified to do the Baby's first Examination after birth.
In my free time I like to be outdoors, Paragliding, canoeing
and hiking.

www.aromabirthing.co.uk
   

Danielle Gilbert

B.A. (Hons). R.M.

I am a newly qualified midwife and I am really excited about working at the Holistic Birthing Centre. I currently live in Wigan, although I am actually from Berkshire! I believe that midwifery is something I was drawn to, which is in fact, very difficult to explain!

I respect a woman's natural ability to birth her baby and believe that childbirth should first and foremost be a social occasion in which the whole family get involved in. Practising as an independent midwife will mean that I will be lucky enough to get to know my clients and their families, and in doing so, be able to provide them with the highest quality of care. I feel so proud to be associated with the birth centre, where all of these principles are highly valued.

When I have a spare moment, I enjoy reading (especially Harry Potter!), listening to music (a bit of everything!), watching sport including football (best not say who I support!), rugby league and tennis. I love walking my dog, Bob and visiting family and friends down south!
   
Carrie Dewar

B.A. (Hons). Dip H.E. (Midw). R.M.

Midwifery is something that I have always felt drawn to, however I personally did not feel ready to make a commitment to this life changing vocation until I was in my twenties. Today it is such a huge part of my life and I am excited and passionate about dedicating my future to such a wonderful and rewarding profession.

I believe that pregnancy and childbirth are on the whole natural, normal life events and I am passionate about choice, natural birth and providing women with the confidence in their own ability to birth their babies. My philosophy of midwifery is one of advocacy for women and families, to ensure that they are informed, supported and empowered during one of the most natural and amazing adventures of their lives.

My belief in true midwifery has provided me with an innate drive to provide a gold standard of evidence based care and the practical and emotional support that women deserve. This is why I feel honoured and excited to be part of the holistic birthing centre.

Aside from midwifery! In my spare time I like, walking, going to the gym and skiing. My friends and family are really important to me and I spend as much time as possible socialising with them.
   
Sammi Greeves

Student Midwife

My name is Sammi and I am a third year student at Edge Hill University in Aintree; currently working towards a Diploma of Higher Education in Midwifery.

My journey into midwifery began almost four years ago and in finding midwifery, I found my niche. My training has equipped me with the skills needed to become a specialist in the norm concerning pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period and my practice is based upon the most current research and evidence available.

I share the same beliefs as the midwives at the Birth Centre as I have an engrained belief in a woman's ability to birth her own baby without the need for intervention. It is my aim to provide a quality of care which encompasses continuity of the highest standards, treating you, your baby, and your family as individuals.

As a midwife, I want to be a holistic practitioner as well as an advocate for women, empowering them to make informed choices.

By having a shared vision and philosophy, I will be able to provide individualised, woman-centred, holistic care in a professional, yet friendly manner. Through working with the midwives at the Birth Centre, I can become the midwife I aspire to be; one which, like those at the Birth Centre is truly 'with woman.'
   
Sarah Taylor

Student Midwife

I am a student midwife currently completing my final year at EdgeHill University. I live in a small village called Newburgh, near Ormskirk.
I have always enjoyed caring for people in both my personal and work life. When I completed college I knew that I wanted to pursue a caring profession where I could make a difference in peoples lives. Instinctively I was drawn to Midwifery. I rapidly fell in love with the subject, the people I cared for and the amazing capability of a woman to bring a new person into the world. It seems that the more information and understanding I acquire throughout my training, the more miraculous childbirth becomes to me.
Having completed a placement at the holistic birth centre, I discovered the incredible service and standards of care that can be achieved through true continuity, and holistic care. After I have completed my training I hope to work with the team at the holistic birth centre under a perceptership programme. Through this I aim to provide the gold standard of care that I have strived desperately to achieve throughout my training.
In my spare time I enjoy reading, jewellery making, caring for my pet chickens and volunteering at my local church.
At the Holistic Birthing Centre we are committed to ongoing professional development and education. As part of this commitment we run a preceptorship programme for newly qualified midwives who join the team. We also offer elective placements for senior student midwives to enable them to experience a different way of practising midwifery.