Denise and her blog
What Is A Midwife?
It is interesting to see the increasing number of midwives leaving the NHS (even though the fact doesn't seem to free up posts for those who want to stay - but that's a discussion for another day). Midwifery attrition has turned from a trickle to a deluge which seems unstoppable.
Some who leave are making conscious decisions to move on with their careers or have personal or family issues which dictate a move. Many more appear simply to be deserting the sinking ship of the NHS, with hopes of finding something better elsewhere.
There is a trend for these midwives to consider how else they could use their midwifery degrees and experiences. However, this may be done more with a sense of desperation than with any real forethought or understanding that moving from midwifery may entail further training.
The role of the midwife encompasses direct clinical care, research and education. Clinical care ranges from the preconception period to one year after birth. Whilst there are many commonalities and shared skills with other professions, a midwifery qualification does not automatically enable you to move into other professions without further training. I frequently see questions on social media from midwives considering leaving midwifery about whether they can get a job in health visiting or school nursing. Health visiting is a separate profession, albeit strongly linked with midwifery, School nursing is a specialism within the nursing profession, not midwifery. Even other aspects of midwifery such as abortion care, becoming a research midwife or moving into pre- and post-registration midwifery education require further learning and acquisition of new skills.
I remember during my PGCEA course in preparation for teaching, we had to debate whether midwifery was a profession. In the 1980s we still valued midwifery as a profession with its own body of knowledge and specific skills not shared with other professions or jobs. Unfortunately, we seem to have lost respect for midwifery as a profession - and to many, it IS just a job. The erosion of midwifery, aspects of which are increasingly being taken over by obstetricians or maternity support workers, seems to be leading to an inevitable demise of the profession, despite being one of the oldest in the world.
Induction of labour is the hot topic in maternity care right now.
Rates are sky-high, and with them comes the cascade of intervention we’re all working so hard to avoid.
That’s exactly why I wrote my latest book:
Complementary Therapies for Post-Dates Pregnancy (published late 2023).
It’s written for professionals, but there’s plenty in there for expectant parents too - especially those hoping to avoid medical induction.
When researching the book, I found over 100 traditional methods from around the world for starting labour. Some were evidence-based, like reflexology or acupuncture. Others… less so. (Let’s just say, I won’t be recommending baboon urine or elephant dung - though I did come across them!)
The point is: there’s a huge appetite for natural ways to get labour started. But not every method is safe or appropriate for every person. Often, less is more - and timing, context, and caution matter deeply.
Whether you’re a midwife, doula, or educator, this book is designed to give you evidence-based, balanced guidance on working with physiology - not overriding it.
Women’s Bodies Are Designed To Give Birth
That’s the one truth I wish every student midwife carried with them from day one.
Too often, student midwives enter a system where physiological birth is rarely seen - where intervention is the norm, not the exception. And without even realising it, they’re enculturated into a model that assumes the body needs rescuing.
But what if midwifery education started from a different place?
From a foundational belief that the pregnant body is not broken. That birth doesn’t need to be managed, but supported. That we are there to work with physiology, not override it.
If we grounded our teaching in that truth, we’d raise a generation of midwives who trust the body - and know how to hold space for it to do what it was made to do.
Midwives: did you see physiological birth as a student? How did it shape the way you practise now?
A few words about lavender essential oil
If I had to pick just one essential oil to take to a desert island... it might have to be lavender.
Common lavender – lavandula angustifolia – is a midwife’s best friend. It's deeply relaxing, great for pain relief, and even has antimicrobial properties. I’ve found it incredibly helpful in both pregnancy and labour.
BUT not all lavender oils are created equal! Some types contain chemical compounds that aren’t safe for pregnancy, so it’s really important we stick to common lavender – the safest and most appropriate for use during pregnancy, birth, and beyond.
This kind of detail is exactly why I love what we do at Expectancy. It’s about blending knowledge with safety, and giving us the confidence to use complementary therapies in practice.
Mastering the Business of midwifery
Using Natural Remedies Safely in Pregnancy and Childbirth
Herbs, Homeopathy & Rescue Remedy - are the women you care for asking about natural remedies?
I’ve always had a strong interest in natural approaches to pregnancy, birth, and the early postnatal period.
I’m not alone - up to 80–90% of expectant parents in some areas turn to herbal remedies, especially things like raspberry leaf tea for birth prep or ginger for nausea.
However not everything natural is safe. For example, St John’s Wort can interact dangerously with prescribed antidepressants and shouldn’t be used in pregnancy.
That’s why I wrote this book - a kind of A–Z guide to natural remedies. It covers:
✅ Herbal remedies
✅ Homeopathy
✅ Bach flower remedies (yes, including Rescue Remedy)
✅ Traditional approaches from around the world.
It’s a quick reference tool for midwives, birth workers, or anyone who wants to give balanced, evidence-informed advice to the women they support.
Because when they ask - we need to know.
Impact Of Aromatherapy Oils On Midwives
Safety for midwives using aromatherapy in practice.
Let’s talk about your safety when using aromatherapy in practice.
A midwife recently asked me if prolonged exposure to clary sage during a long labour could have triggered unexpected bleeding - despite her having a contraceptive implant.
While we can’t say for certain, it is possible.
Clary sage is powerful. I’ve heard of it causing heavy menstrual bleeding in midwives - and even threatened miscarriage in early pregnancy.
And it’s not the only one to watch:
Lavender, geranium, rose = potential hay fever & asthma triggers
Ylang ylang, clary sage = dizziness & fainting
Citrus oils = skin reactions (especially in those sensitive to citrus)
We’re so focused on supporting women with aromatherapy, but let’s not forget to protect ourselves too. The NMC Code reminds us: care and caution apply to everyone in the room - staff included.
Previous articles
What Is A Midwife?
Induction of labour is the hot topic in maternity care right now.
Women’s Bodies Are Designed To Give Birth
A few words about lavender essential oil
Mastering the Business of midwifery
Using Natural Remedies Safely in Pregnancy and Childbirth
Impact Of Aromatherapy Oils On Midwives
Nausea in Pregnancy
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