Our Midwives
Midwives are experts in birth. Midwifery is the art of safeguarding the natural process of pregnancy, labor and birth. Midwives support the pregnant woman’s right to give birth in a setting of her choice. Since at least 90 percent of all births are normal, midwifery seeks to avoid the occurrence of any unnecessary medical interventions, although we do know when to use modern technical advances to ensure the health of your baby.
The concept of midwifery is to entrust the care of childbearing women to people who understand the experience of childbearing and its many facets including physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.
We are registered professional independent practising midwives committed and passionate about natural birth.
Helping women and families through this transition in life is what we love to do!
Because we believe that continuity of care is important, each client has 2 midwives who see her throughout her prenatal, birth, and postnatal care.
Jaimee Smith
Independent Endorsed Midwife
My name is Jaimee and I am a privately practicing endorsed registered midwife. That means that I can care for you and your growing baby for your antenatal appointments, throughout your labour and birth, and for 6 weeks after your baby is born. You are far more likely to have a normal, positive birth if you have the same midwife with you throughout your pregnancy, labour and birth. Likewise, if you have a normal, uninterrupted birth experience, establishing breastfeeding is often straightforward and enjoyable. I am an experienced (and passionate!) childbirth educator and also offer classes in birth, breastfeeding and caring for your new baby.
The word ‘midwife’ means ‘with woman’ and I love being a midwife! It is such a privilege to walk with you through this incredible time of transition and growth. My relationship with you exists within the context of a wider network of health care professionals and therefore I will make referrals to and collaborate with those other care providers as needed. We will work in partnership together so that you can make informed choices about your care, and feel nurtured and confident as you navigate your options and adapt to your changing body and growing baby.
I am also a remote area registered nurse, wife, and mother to four growing children. My family and I spent several years living and working in a village on a remote island of Indonesia before settling back in Tassie. I enjoy reading, jogging, mountain-bike riding, traveling, playing the piano and walking along quiet beaches.
You can email Jaimee at jaimee@susumidwifery.com.au or call 0429 944 918.
Josephine Jones
Independent Endorsed Midwife
Midwifery has been my career for well over 25 years and although I have worked in remote and rural areas of Australia, in large city hospitals and smaller country hospitals, both public and private, my years as a private practicing midwife have brought me the greatest joy, the most rewarding client relationships, and overall the most fulfilling part of my career.
My personal journey to becoming a mother includes four pregnancies, two involving the rollercoaster of IVF. I have given birth to one daughter (who sadly is no longer with us) and three sons (that now tower over me). Like all life stories, it is filled with humour, success, failure and some sadness. My aim is to draw from my own life story and my years as an experienced midwife to support you in your own pregnancy, birth and parenting journey.
I believe, with support from a known midwife, women’s confidence in their body grows. By gently guiding and equipping women to trust in themselves, birthing becomes an experience of empowerment, and parenting their newborn becomes a fulfilling journey of healing, nurturing, learning, loving and bonding. This is certainly what I’ve been privileged to witness and be part of.
I am humbled by the part you invite me to play in your journey. I have dedicated my professional life to supporting women, their partners (if present) and their newborn baby’s. I commit to bringing all I have as your midwife, whether you choose to birth at home, the birth centre or in hospital, to enable your pregnancy, birth and postnatal journey to be the most positive experience it can be.
I also offer:
- Acuneedling – acupuncture for midwives
- IPRW – Internal Pelvic Release Work
- Education – all things pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and postnatal
When I’m not supporting families I enjoy knitting, walking, hiking, swimming and being with my family – picnics, dinners and holidays together.
You can email Josephine at josephine@waratahmidwifery.com.au or call 0431 649 564.
Michelle Celli-Bird
Independent Endorsed Midwife
I’m Michelle and I’m an endorsed private practice midwife here to walk with you through your pregnancy and transition to motherhood. Every woman deserves to feel nurtured and supported during this transformative time in her life. My focus is to work together with you and be your unwavering support to ensure your journey to motherhood is empowering and all that you hope it to be.
I have been a Registered Nurse since 2013 and completed my midwifery training in 2016. I have worked across all areas of midwifery within metropolitan Melbourne, had homebirth experience in Midwifery Group Practice, travelled and worked in Western Australia as a rural midwife, and am now settling in Tasmania to provide homebirth services as a private practice midwife.
When I’m not being a midwife, I like to fill my time doing pilates, hiking and camping with my husband, gardening, running, cooking, raising my two sassy cats, or planning my next overseas adventure.
‘Her Choice Midwifery’ underlines exactly what I believe is most important; every decision you make for you and your baby is your choice. If you’d like some more information, I offer a free non-obligation meeting, and you can contact me via my email below. I can’t wait to meet you and begin taking the steps towards an informed, empowered, and incredible birth experience.
michelle@herchoicemidwifery.com.au
@herchoice_midwifery