CHAT SESSION 78 with Penny Watson
Topic- Penny says, “The benefits to the mother and the baby starts with personal relationships and ends with better birth outcomes and tailored in-home support”.
Catch up and listen to our chat session https://megaphone.link/LCRUI3375831930
Monday 21st October 2024 1pm https://rppfm.com.au
As a small child, Penny’s dream was to become a nurse after listening to many stories from family members who were mentors and idols to her. So, after leaving school, she moved to Melbourne to commence her nursing studies.
Motherhood surprised Penny when she wasn’t quite expecting it, nor ready for it. She was a student, in the midst of her nursing studies and unsure of the stability of her relationship. However, like most things in her life, she prepared herself the best she could. Penny gathered supportive people to help guide her, and learnt on the go!
She wasn’t prepared for the wakeful nights, excessive cries from her baby, or how quickly the days disappeared and so the first few months of life with a newborn, were extremely challenging.
Penny had only just learnt to look after herself and as a young 20-year-old, she did not have a lot of life experience. How was she going to feed and care for her baby? She grew up quickly and learnt to adapt, coping with the changes that were happening in her life and although she was grateful and appreciative of the support around her, Penny had to find ways to manage on her own.
Penny had grown up knowing that breastfeeding was normal and was exposed to breastfeeding from an early age. Her mum was a very active member of the local Nursing Mother’s Association (now known as Australian Breastfeeding Association) and so Penny didn’t really consider feeding her baby any other way. Although, she did find breastfeeding very challenging. Penny was trying to get back into her studies, wanted to be out and about a lot more, and wanted to be able to leave her baby in the care of family and friends so she decided to combine breastfeeding with bottle feeding. After making that decision Penny felt like she had more flexibility to focus on other things. When her baby was several months old and able to attend childcare, Penny returned to her studies and competed her Diploma of Nursing. Unable to secure a permanent position within the acute care setting, Penny struggled to find an area of Nursing she was passionate about so she decided to return to study in the field of Midwifery. According to Penny, this was the best career decision she made.
She felt at home in the world of Midwifery and was able to contribute positively to the women and families she was working with. She felt passionate about her role for the first time in several years.
Penny’s second baby arrived 8 years later. She now had more life experience and had been working as a Midwife for a couple of years although, this journey presented different challenges, and different hurdles to overcome.
A long and difficult labour led to an emergency caesarean and her recovery took time. Despite having some prior experience, transition to motherhood second time around was not easy. Penny needed extra care and support whilst she navigated post-natal depression. Her baby was not a good sleeper; when she was awake, she wasn’t happy and content; and she was 'fussy' at the breast – pulling off, squirming, and vomiting. Penny struggled to understand why her baby was doing all these things. It was frustrating and time-consuming and at one point, her baby totally refused the breast! This did not help with Penny’s mental health.
As Penny started to recover both physically and mentally, her baby started to improve as well, which was a great relief to both Penny and her family.
Penny was worried her body would not labour effectively due to her previous experience, so her third baby arrived with a planned elective caesarean. She planned everything! From organising the house renovation, work and family commitments, to who was coming to help care for her children whilst she was in hospital. Due to house renovations, Penny and her children went to stay with her parents in the country for a few weeks, until the house was a little closer to being ready. Those 5 weeks were crucial for her physical recovery enabling the establishment of breastfeeding.
A practicing Midwife with over 26 years’ experience, along with 3 very different personal experiences, Penny certainly understands how vital it is for women to feel safe. It is important to develop trusting relationships, have support and care, and have a sense of security to feel emotionally well.
This is why after moving to the Mornington Peninsula, Penny undertook further studies to complete a Graduate Certificate in Midwifery. She felt there was a gap in care services offered to the women living on the Peninsula and saw there was a need to provide a passionate and holistic level of care to women in the community. Achieving this endorsement to her qualification has allowed Penny to renew her passion for providing continuity of care. Caring and working one on one with women during their pregnancy, building confidence to empower them to enter the last stages of their pregnancy, and trusting in their body is what Penny believes to be important.
Founding ‘With You Midwifery’ in 2015, Penny has made it her mission to be available to listen, to encourage and to have faith in the woman’s body, even when they don’t.
Penny says, “The benefits to the mother and the baby starts with personal relationships and ends with better birth outcomes and tailored in-home support.”
Providing continuity of care in the community and outside of the busy hospital setting has allowed Penny the opportunity to be involved in women’s journeys through pregnancy at such an intimate time in their lives. When women are supported, listened to, and cared for, they report higher rates of satisfaction and positive outcomes – for both them and their baby.
It has been a hectic two years for Penny. After a traumatic relationship breakdown, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. This was a huge shock to Penny, but she is not someone to sit in the corner and cry. She dealt with her diagnosis and subsequent treatments with dignity and strength. Like earlier in her life, she gathered all her support networks around her, utilised her medical knowledge and colleagues, and got on with the job of healing from major surgery, recovering from chemo and immune therapy.
Understanding the assurance expectant mothers need when they are receiving expert care was the one quality Penny valued most during this trying time, in and out of hospital.
After 9 years of private practice, Penny has become increasingly concerned women have lost their village. And by that, she means their circle of support, guidance and knowledge base. Women have moved away from family, are starting to have a family later in life and having smaller families.
This recent personal experience has influenced Penny’s professional direction. She has just completed a series of talks to try and spread more knowledge, encourage community building and get the conversation rolling. As the host of WithYou Talks, Penny wanted to rekindle women’s villages. Her aim is to inspire women and their supportive partners by bringing together multiple specialists in their field to re-create a village that can provide education and advice. It is an opportunity for women to interact with each other, start conversations and create new friendships whilst also having some fun.
The talk series has been incredibly successful with positive reviews from both the women attending, and the expert panellists who are invited to come along.
Penny’s biggest achievement so far are her 3 adult daughters. She credits them for helping to shape who she is today. She is incredibly grateful to have her daughters in her life and is extremely proud of the strong, independent women they have all become.
Life certainly isn’t a straight road. There are many twists and turns along the journey and as Penny can attest, “we all need the village around us to support and care for each other during good times and challenging times”.
EXPERT MIDWIFERY CARE we’re With You all the way
Empowering you through every step of your pregnancy journey.
Comprehensive Midwifery Services on the beautiful Mornington Peninsula.
From prenatal to postnatal care, we support you every step of the way.
How do you feel when you look at yourself in The Daily Mirror?
Penny says “Mostly I feel grateful! Grateful for being a mother, woman, midwife and cancer survivor. I’ve been given so many wonderful opportunities through my 55 years, have some amazing mentors in my family who have been by my side, cared for me, provided support for me and cheered me on when I needed it most.
I am now doing all of that for my daughters but also for the women who choose Continuity of Care and engage my services as an Endorsed Midwife and
With You Midwifery"
My hope is that when you’re looking at yourself in the
‘The Daily Mirror’
YOU SMILE
EMBRACE BEING YOU
AND FIND 10 MINUTES IN YOUR DAY TO NOURISH YOUR SOUL!
To get in touch with Cathy email smileinthedailymirror@gmail.com
'The Daily Mirror' acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the land and acknowledges and pays respect to their Elders, past and present.
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