- What people have said:
First time mother:
"As a first-time mother I was naturally very anxious as to what to expect. It was clear in my mind that I would take all drugs on offer as I don't believe anybody should suffer physical pain if there is a drug to take it away. Lesley talked about pain with a purpose and suggested that while some conventional relief might be required, an epidural was probably not.
"At the antenatal stage, she was helpful in suggesting practical ways to ease my ever-increasing backache, accompanied me to look at the hospital where I was booked in and generally encouraged me to believe that I could give birth in as natural and non-intrusive way possible while never discounting the possibility of conventional pain relief should I want it. She was also great at setting out my birth plan as she had many invaluable tips that only come from having experience of birthing a baby.
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- "At the actual birth she remained calm and collected and soothed me the whole way through. I felt that had I been unable to communicate with the midwife at any given moment, she would have done so on my behalf thanks to our birth plan.
"She encouraged me to concentrate on my breathing and keep moving the whole time I was dilating, until the point where I made it to 9 cm with nothing but two codeines! I found I was able to get through the delivery happily with just gas and air. I didn't once consider anything stronger."
Fourth baby asylum seeker:
"You organised everything for me to go into hospital. You helped me with pain relief by massage. You stopped them giving me morphine against my wishes. I am so pleased that you went through the pain with me for all those hours.......you are a hero!"
Sheila Kitzinger, Birth Crisis Network:
"Splendiferous work - a superb example of best practice."
First time father:
“It’s great for my wife to have somebody here that she can trust absolutely.”
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- Midwife at
Sure Start, Chapeltown, Leeds:
- "The
feedback that I have had from the families has all been extremely
positive. Lesley has been an excellent advocate for the women. She
has taken time to sit with them, listen to their hopes and fears
and plan for their births."
First time grandmother:
“Things improved from the moment you came to the house. I know everything will be fine now you’re here.”
NCT antenatal teacher:
"I think she is excellent. She has a lovely manner and is extremely well informed."
First time mother, asylum seeker:
"She was very good. She helped me with everything…in hospital, with shopping, with the baby, dealing with other people in hospital .... She made me feel more confident as a mother. She always did the best for me and the baby. She was like a mother to me."
First time mother:
“I was very anxious about what to expect in the run-up to the birth, the delivery itself and those first few weeks at home with a newborn.
"Lesley generally encouraged me to believe in birth as natural and non-intrusive, and had lots of tips that only come from experience. She was invaluable at the postnatal stage, mediating with doctors, health visitors and midwives, and it was clear she was used to dealing with health professionals.
"To sum up, Lesley helped make the antenatal, delivery and postnatal stages as smooth and stress-free as possible so all I had to do was enjoy concentrating on me and my newborn baby.”
