A Sunshine Coast Health midwife is being dubbed one of the ‘luckiest’ in our health service, after being involved in more than a few milestone births, including our most recent.
Nicola Hamilton - who has been a nurse for more than 30 years and a midwife for almost 20 of those – was at the first publicly funded home birth on the Sunshine Coast.
Nicola said it was unexpected, as the mother’s due date was after a few of the others in the program.
“It was such a great experience though and so amazing to support a woman and family to birth in their own home, without having to leave their familiar environment and travel to hospital,” she said.
“It is a moment I will never forget - after all the preparations, training and simulations it all went so well, it couldn’t have been better really.”
Although, this wasn’t Nicola’s first, first.
When Sunshine Coast University Hospital (SCUH) opened in March 2017, she was also there for the birth of our first baby, Layla.
“When we realised we were going to be the first birth at SCUH it was a bit of a surprise to both of us but very exciting,” Nicola said.
“It was really lovely as I was advised that the First Nations Community was doing a blessing ceremony at the time of her birth.”
To top it off, earlier this year Nicola was also involved in a first for her career – twin sisters who gave birth just minutes apart despite there being a two-week difference in their due dates.
“My colleagues and I kept joking with them that they would birth on the same day, but 22 minutes apart was not what any of us were expecting at all,” Nicola said.
“The mums were so excited to have their babies on the same day, so it was a special moment for them both.”
Having supported hundreds of women throughout her career, another notable experience for Nicola was working with a surrogate mother and the intended parents.
“That is another birth I will always remember, seeing someone selflessly go through a pregnancy and birth, as well the postpartum period, while at the same time seeing a couple become parents was incredible.”
Nicola has been part of the Midwifery Group Practice Program (MGP) at Sunshine Coast Health since it rolled out 8 years ago, and also works with the Supporting Teenagers with Education, Mothering and Mentoring (STEMM) Program.
“I particularly enjoy working with young women and empowering them to believe in themselves as well as supporting them through any challenges they may have,” she said.
“I have been involved with lots of incredible women and different birthing experiences, every birth is unique and special and a woman’s birth experience is so important to them and their family.
“I am so excited to see our service expand and hopefully offer homebirths to many more women who would like to choose that option as their preferred birthing environment.”