MIDWIFE Tess Pollard says her job is an absolute privilege. Every day she gets to be part of a special journey for so many women and families.
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It reminds her how precious life can be.
“Our maternity unit as a whole works so well together as a team to work with women in a 10-month period of their lives, starting from when they are pregnant and in antenatal classes,” Ms Pollard said. “Birth is just one day in the journey and it’s so awe-inspiring and amazing to be part of that. Afterwards we continue to check in.”
International Day of the Midwife on May 5 is fittingly celebrated just before Mother’s Day. Ms Pollard said it was a great chance for midwives to take time to recognise how proud they are of their role.
For as long as Ms Pollard can remember, she had two goals – to work at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne and to be a midwife. She has achieved both.
Ms Pollard started as a nurse at the Royal Children’s and said it strengthened her desire to take up midwifery.
She worked in Melbourne a few years before moving back to her home town and a job at Ballarat Health Services’ Base Hospital.
“It really was a dream to work with children and babies. Working on the maternity ward is what I wanted to do – it’s awesome to be part of the childbirth experience,” Ms Pollard said.
“I’ve been really lucky, I love my job, and when you’re passionate about your job it makes working a lot easier.”
Ms Pollard’s love for the job shows and has captured attention.
A Facebook post on Ballarat Buy, Swap and Sell in its baby, toddler and children’s section by a first-time mum asking for midwife advice sparked a few mum’s spruiking Ms Pollard’s name and calm support.
Ms Pollard said the BHS maternity unit worked as one big team to ensure the smoothest possible experience for women in such an important time in their lives.
BHS has about 70 midwives working with the region’s women and babies. Ms Pollard said each and every midwife considered themselves lucky in their job.
This year’s theme for International Day of the Midwife is 'Women and Newborns: The Heart of Midwifery'. The theme aims to shine a spotlight on the hard work midwives around the world do every day to ensure women and newborns receive the quality care they deserve.
