Kerry’s Story

Kerry undertook a work placement with Elayos whilst she was a student midwife.

“My name is Kerry and I am a final year student midwife. I am deeply passionate about enhancing the care women receive throughout pregnancy and into the postnatal period. This passion is especially focused on improving outcomes for vulnerable women. Throughout my training and whilst working in a maternity unit where many women come from disadvantaged and impoverished backgrounds, this has only strengthened my desire to positively impact their experiences.

I have observed women arriving in labour, isolated and without a birthing partner for support, lacking the financial resources to care for themselves and their babies, often feeling frightened, and uncertain about what lies ahead. Pregnancy is arguably one of the most vulnerable experiences of a woman’s life and I firmly believe that no expecting, or new mother should feel alone, frightened or be unable to provide the most basic essentials for both themselves and their baby.

As a student midwife, there are often caseloading demands and time constraints that limit the support we can offer, which can lead to frustration for both midwives and women. However, working with Elayos in a nonclinical capacity gave me the opportunity to spend more quality time with the women using their services. I spent three weeks shadowing all of the Elayos doulas.

I was able to help with practical tasks like helping pregnant women and new mums clean their homes, making them a cup of tea, just being there to listen to their concerns and even holding their babies while they took a well-deserved break to have a shower! I was also able to attend a hospital appointment with a young woman who had very little support and in which her baby had a confirmed congenital heart defect. These simple yet meaningful actions helped me recognise the importance of holistic care, which goes beyond medical interventions and includes nurturing the emotional and psychological wellbeing of the woman and her family.”