Hey y’all, yes, this is a post about birth – you can get back up onto your chairs. I’ll wait. I know, its been a while since I’ve dropped a post about birth. They’re my favourite kind, but also the amount of scrutiny, research & double checking I do with them means I don’t always have the energy & time to execute one to my standards, very often – especially now with working at home with FOUR kids in tow, in a pandemic!

But after the heart shattering news of Birth Options forced to close their doors last year and many others who were sadly forced to shut down their practices too (due to circumstances beyond their control) thereby leaving many pregnant women WITHOUT options, I had quite a few women DM me wanting to know WHO can they go to now. (Because lets face it, the current “business of birth” in hospitals when not with a professional midwife, in my humble opinion and experience, simply puts birthing women on a conveyor belt of policy and legislation that rarely puts mom and baby’s needs first, and often leaves them without real options.) So this was a question i received often before,but even more so now.

Especially with Covid hanging a special kind of dark cloud over the heads of many pregnant mamas, knowing your options that will keep you out of hospitals is not only common place but sort after.

Also, when my beloved niece fell preggers and also needed answers, I knew I had to finally get on with this resource (what she did with the information, however was up to her).

Firstly, what is a midwife?

The kind of care you get from a midwife is something else. Never will you (and your birth partner) ever feel so cradled and cared for by a healthcare provider as when your midwife is tending to you during birth. Respecting all your needs and meeting them with all the professionalism and knowledge. Want to give birth squatting, or on the floor? so be it, shes right there with you, flat in the floor; Feel more comfortable in the shower under the hot water? She’s in there with you. Kneeled over the birthball while she needs to monitor babys heartbeat? She’ll contort herself to get there before she even thinks of disturbing you.

So first up, please know that midwives are licensed and highly regulated health care providers. They specialise in low-risk births and usually take far more personalized, engaging and warm approach to your pregnancy care and birth. They get to know you on a very personal level, and in my experience create an environment where you are free to discuss everything. From your mental health, your fears,your joys, your needs and desires…and everything in between. They treat you as a whole person, not just a “patient”.

They understand and respect the birth space and know how sacred it truly is, and they treat you accordingly. More than that, they have confidence in your body and provide unwavering support and will uphold your own confidence levels, if needed.They are professional,highly qualified, highly experienced and just pretty badass, if you ask me.

So because their care is so far more personalized and focussed, midwives (depending on their back up team) can usually only take on x amount pregnant ladies in a month to ensure their quality of care and availability. It is for this reason that i recommend you contact your midwife as soon as you can to ensure you book your space with them.

They are with you through labour, and will come to you at any hour of the day or night. They are absolutely hands on in their care, and never rush you or make you feel rushed in any way as they understand the mechanics of birth.

They are with you post birth, and in my experience eveb after they leave, were always just a phone call away. I remember sms’ing my one midwife at 3am one day after birth about breastfeeding woes. She called me back 5minutes later to ease my mind and tell me shell pop in the next day. She then rocked up at our place at 8am, like a breath of fresh air and put everyone at ease and in a great mood. Kids included! Midwives are magic!

Also please do not confuse the nurses in hospitals labour ward for midwifes – these are often merely titles assigned to regular nurses, not the qualification or training as professional midwifes. Massive difference.

Now, then, now that we’re all caught up on Midwives and their awesomeness, here are their contact details:

Cape Town Independent Midwives
South African Nursing Council (SANC) Registered Nurse Midwives

Susan Lees: sisterlees@gmail.com
Cell: 0823210177
Based in Muizenberg

Ps. I ADORE Sue! I will always have very deep and soft spots in my heart for Ciska, Glynnis, Angela & Sue. Sue was at both Yuriko-Mae and Remy-James births.

Angela Wakeford: www.angelathemidwife.com
email: wakefordaj@gmail.com
Cell 0731660876
Based in Fish Hoek

Karen Wilmot: www.thevirtualmidwife.com
Email: karenwilmot@gmail.com Cell 0672393979
Based in Fish Hoek

Lydia du Toit:
lydiadutoit@webmail.co.za
Cell: 0834575270
Based in Southern Suburbs

Jillaine Jacobs:
www.jillaine.me
Email: jlkintergratedcare@gmail.com
Cell 0760159455
Based in Kraaifontein

Nicolene Laubscher :
Moms and Miracles Clinic
Email: bolandmidwife@gmail.com
Cell 0832567898
Based in Paarl

Natasha Stadler:
www.capemidwife.co.za
Email: info@capemidwife.co.za
Cell:0622363359
Based in Somerset West

Certified Professional Midwives
Registered with the North American Registry of Midwives and Registered Traditional Birth. Attendants registered with the Traditional Doctors Union

Circle of Elephants
Ruth Ehrhardt
Caitlyn Collins
www.circleofelephants.com
Email:circleofelephants@gmail.com
Phone:+27 (62) 345-8685
Based in Muizenburg

Debbie Engelbrecht:
Email: wook@webmail.co.za
Cell: 0825002218
Based in Hermanus

Birth centers
Now, I hesitated big time to list this centre here, as I’ve heard mixed reviews about this centre of late. Whilst there was alot of positivity around it at the beginning, unfortunately based on the plenty of more recent reviews its not looking so great. However, we all need a range of options, and yoire welcome to draw your own conclusions.

Al Nisa Maternity Home
www.alnisa.co.za
(021) 696-8892
A Private Midwife Birthing Unit in Rondebosch East

Doula
Doulas are not midwifes but, instead work along side midwives to provide the birthing mama support.

Jolani Lubbe
084 3831101
Jolanie.lubbe@gmail.com

Please note, i have only had personal experience with the Sue, Angela, and Glynnis, whom i cannot recommend any higher. They are top drawer. Everyone else are just the professionals I know of.

On a personal note, if you dont mind me sharing my 2 cents: when selecting your care provider, take the time to meet them. Meet a few if you must. For it is crucial that there is indeed a meeting of the minds and personalities.

Afterall, birth is such a precious and intimate affair, you would only want those who share in your values, and understand and respect your birth space, to be in your space at the time. You want to be able to fully let go and sink into your birthing mind – fully retreating from the cares of this world. And you can only do so, if you trust your care provider. Only then will you be able to let go.

Also, if a midwifes practice location seems too far (Northern ‘burbs mamas, i feel ya!), chat to them about options. More often than not theyre willing to help you. And even if they cant accomodate you, it wont ever hurt to ask and find out for sure.

And lastly, dont be afraid to ask alllll the questions to ensure its a good fit for you, ensuring that you feel comfortable that your needs will be met and respected. DURING birth is NOT the time you want to find out!;)

Good luck mamas!
If you’re keen to know more about my birth experiences or want to read more positive birth stories, you can read my birth stories over here:

– Morgan-Lees Beautiful Birth: The one where I fired my gynae 2 weeks before birth.

– Parker-Graces Peaceful Birth: My first HypnoBirthing experience.

– Parker-Graces HypnoBirthing Birth film: Our first Birth film.

– Yuriko-Mae,our Rainbow Babys Birth: My first first homebirth AND first waterbirth

– Yuriko-Mae,our Rainbow Babys Birth FILM

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