Where there was love ... Compassionate midwifery as protection against trauma

Midwifery is more than a job; it is a privilege and honour where a woman chooses to allow us into one of the defining moments of her life. The role of the midwife in ensuring the clinical safety and wellbeing of both the mother and baby is well defined, but the reality is that the midwife's role extends far beyond the clinical and impacts both the initial and long-term bonding within the mother-baby dyad. Written from the perspective of a service-user turned midwife, this piece explores the impact and potential areas for practice improvement in order to identify ways to enhance care for women. It also looks at how the personal birth experience of this author has informed the way in which she provides care to women, as a qualified midwife. Its aim is to reiterate to midwives that this vocation requires consistent passionate and compassionate care.