Maureen Gannon

I was born in 1936. so I was a child of the second World war and still have memories of that time.

A lifetime experience of babies beginning with the births of my sisters, my own babies, plus a long career as a nurse, midwife, maternity nurse, in hospitals and the community. As a maternity nurse, with a record of 64 babies, so far, I am in the unique position of having spent many weeks/months, in 24 hourly contact/care of new born babies, living in the home and working closely with and teaching the parents in the early period following birth. Such closeness has enabled me to experience all the ups and downs of new parenthood, the variety of issues that can arise at this time and the questions new parents ask and information they want to know, which they were not told before the birth. Many professionals attending at the time are unaware of the issues that go unsaid or not understood. Uniquely, I am there to answer the questions as they arise. Many of my clients have urged me to put everything in writing in book form, especially the comforting positions.

During my NHS career regular mandatory update was a requirement.

Since self-employment I have kept up to date by subscribing to The Midwives Journal as a retired member and attending many lectures, study days and conferences: -

• Nurturing Childbirth, Imperial College, London

• British Doula Association, 4 day course, Dr Michel Odent, Course Director, at Michel Odent’s residence in London

• Enriching Early Parent-Infant Relationships 2 day Conference, with Dr T Berry Brazelton and Dr Kevin Nugent, at Church House, Westminster, London.

• Baby Friendly Study Day, Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare Trust, London.

• Mandatory Update, Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare Trust, London

• Homebirth in Practice, Association for Improvements in The Maternity Services, St Georges Hospital Medical School. University of London

• Running Antenatal Classes, National Childbirth Trust, Alexandra House, Acton, London

• “Tongue Tie” Presented by Lynn Thomas and Felicity Bertin, The Association of Birth & Baby Professionals

• Nurturing Childbirth, Imperial College, London

• British Doula Association, 4 day course, Dr Michel Odent, Course Director, at Michel Odent’s residence in London

• Enriching Early Parent-Infant Relationships 2 day Conference, with Dr T Berry Brazelton and Dr Kevin Nugent, at Church House, Westminster, London.

• Baby Friendly Study Day, Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare Trust, London.

• Mandatory Update, Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare Trust, London

• Homebirth in Practice, Association for Improvements in The Maternity Services, St Georges Hospital Medical School. University of London

• Running Antenatal Classes, National Childbirth Trust, Alexandra House, Acton, London

• “Tongue Tie” Presented by Lynn Thomas and Felicity Bertin, The Association of Birth & Baby Professionals.

My love of babies was inspired by the births of my two younger sisters when I was aged 7 and 13 years. I mothered them and watched in awe when they were tiny and were bathed and taken care of by our loving parents, who seemed to have a natural parental nurturing and we all felt very much loved and protected.

At aged 13 years, I decided to be a midwife, after observing the midwife who visited following the birth of my baby sister. This ambition wasn’t realised until 30 years later after the births of my own three children and a long career as an intensive care sister.

I was born in London spending my childhood in Dublin. I did my nursing training in Swansea and midwifery training in Cardiff, gaining work experience in Cardiff, Bristol and the Orkney Islands, both in hospital and in the community.

After my nursing training I married, had three children and stayed at home as a full time mother for nine years before returning to my career.

My youngest son was 15 before I fulfilled my childhood ambition to become a midwife and my special interest has been the welfare of the woman throughout her pregnancy, the birth and the important early days and weeks with the new born. I have always been aware of the importance of the father’s role.

In 1996 I went on a Children of China Study Tour, visiting maternity hospitals and other institutions where babies and children were cared for.

As a postnatal independent midwife I travelled to France, Holland, South Africa, Jersey, The Philippines, Canada and Switzerland, progressing naturally to Maternity Nursing/Postnatal Midwifery, helping and teaching parents with the care and understanding of the needs of their new-born and coping with the overwhelming experience of new parenthood, including the involvement of siblings with the new baby.

I have never retired and still run a course in Hypnobirthing, care of the new-born and breastfeeding counselling.

My own children are now parents themselves and I enjoy the special relationship that comes with having 7 grandchildren, (two of them great-grandchildren), with whom I am very much involved. I have an abundance of toys and books in my house, now being enjoyed by the third generation; a bit shabby now but well loved.

My love of animals grew from our close proximity to the Dublin Zoo, as a child, where I was a frequent visitor. My smallholding in Orkney combined the care of sheep, cows, pigs, geese, ducks, turkeys and chickens with my job of District Nurse/Midwife on a remote island. Two weeks of my annual leave were taken for the Spring lambing season. Being in a farming community my patients understood the joke that I was on ‘maternity leave’, The ewes thrived on the same tender loving care I gave to my patients!!

After my nursing training I married, had three children and stayed at home as a full time mother for nine years before returning to my career.

season Being in a farming community my patients understood the joke that I was on ‘maternity leave’, The ewes thrived on the same tender loving care I gave to my patients!!

My youngest son was 15 before I fulfilled my childhood ambition to become a midwife and my special interest has been the welfare of the woman throughout her pregnancy, the birth and the important early days and weeks with the new born. I have always been aware of the importance of the father’s role.

In 1996 I went on a Children of China Study Tour, visiting maternity hospitals and other institutions where babies and children were cared for.

As a postnatal independent midwife I travelled to France, Holland, South Africa, Jersey, The Philippines, Canada and Switzerland, progressing naturally to Maternity Nursing/Postnatal Midwifery, helping and teaching parents with the care and understanding of the needs of their new-born and coping with the overwhelming experience of new parenthood, including the involvement of siblings with the new baby.

I have never retired and still run a course in Hypnobirthing, care of the new-born and breastfeeding counselling.

My own children are now parents themselves and I enjoy the special relationship that comes with having 7 grandchildren, (two of them great-grandchildren), with whom I am very much involved. I have an abundance of toys and books in my house, now being enjoyed by the third generation; a bit shabby now but well loved.

My love of animals grew from our close proximity to the Dublin Zoo where I was a frequent visitor. My smallholding in Orkney combined the care of sheep, cows, pigs, geese, ducks, turkeys and chickens with my job of District Nurse/Midwife on a remote island. Two weeks of my annual leave were taken for the Spring lambing season Being in a farming community my patients understood the joke that I was on ‘maternity leave’, The ewes thrived on the same tender loving care I gave to my patients!!

Helping parents with the care of the most precious thing in their life, their new-born baby is a privilege, joy and an honour.

QUALIFICATIONS

Orthopaedic Nursing Certificate

General Nursing Certificate

Intensive Care Nursing Certificate

Registered Midwife

(all above as retired)

British Doula Association, 4 day course, Course director, Michel Odent.

Diploma course in HypnotherapyOrthopaedic Nursing Certificate

General Nursing Certificate

Intensive Care Nursing Certificate

Registered Midwife

(all above as retired)

Independent Antenatal Educator

Post Natal Educator

Breast Feeding Counsellor

Hypnobirthing Educator

Royal College of Midwives (retired)

Federation of Antenatal Educators

National Registered Number 11976

INTERESTS

World Affairs

Grandchildren

Gardening

The welfare of women during the period of pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period, including the father.

The new-born baby (especially during the neonatal period)

Wildlife

Knitting

Tortoise Breeding

Human and Animal Welfare

Reading – when I have time!

Owner of a dog and a three legged cat

PREVIOUS PUBLICATIONS

BIRTH OF A MIDWIFE © 2004 by Maureen Gannon published in The Royal

College of Midwives, MIDWIVES JOURNAL, VIEWPOINT, NEWS AND

APPOINTMENTS April 2005

UNDERSTANDING THE NEEDS OF YOUR NEWBORN © 2004

MAUREEN GANNON

UNDERSTANDING THE NEEDS OF YOUR NEWBORN © 2010

MAUREEN GANNON

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