After a traumatic cesarean birth with my first baby in 2023, I spent a long time planning and preparing for a home birth with my second baby in 2025 in order to avoid a repeat scenario and hopefully be healing for me. Unfortunately, I ended up needing to have another c-section at 42+3, but Gabby’s involvement in my care helped to ensure it was a much better experience. She is an exceptional midwife, and I believe she truly deserves a DAISY Award.

I first met Gabby in the maternity Emergency Assessment Unit at Homerton a few days before my baby was born. I attended because my blood pressure was high, and I was naturally very anxious about going to the hospital. However, I needn’t have worried as Gabby, having read my notes to understand my background, immediately put me at ease. She was so warm and caring, and spent a long time with us answering all my questions to ensure I understood my options and felt comfortable with the course of action we agreed on.

I had been working with the Consultant Midwife to ensure we had plans in place for multiple scenarios, and once it became clear that I would need a c-section within 24 hours, she did everything she could to control what we could to reduce my anxiety. One of these things was to enlist Gabby as our midwife for the day of the birth, coming in to work on her day off - a decision I will be eternally grateful for!

Gabby showed us to a private room, sat with us, truly listened to my concerns, and was so respectful of my past experience and my endless worries that history would repeat itself. She talked through my preferences for the C-section and agreed on how best to facilitate the delayed cord clamping and immediate skin-to-skin I wanted. We had to wait about 5 hours for a surgery slot, and Gabby communicated with us throughout this time, clearly explaining what was happening and why, chatting to distract us, and making my husband cups of tea.

Once in the theatre, Gabby was amazing - continuously checking in with me and asking whether I was ok with what was happening at every step of the way. She ensured I was able to hold my baby within seconds of her being born, which was so important to me, after this opportunity was taken away from me last time. Gabby even took some incredible photos of me and the baby which I will treasure forever.

Finally, a visit from Gabby on the ward a few days after my daughter was born really lifted my spirits, and it was amazing to be able to say a huge thank you to her before we were discharged! Gabby is clearly excellent at the medical side of her job, but for me, her kindness, compassion and empathy made me feel cared for and listened to, and as a result, I can honestly say that this C-section has helped me heal from my past experience.