The journey of conception and pregnancy, our body systems that allow us to reproduce, are brilliant. From two single cells forms a new and distinct human being. Women have been giving birth to their babies for eons. It is only in the last half dozen generations that labour and birth have been altered by the rise of medical science. Some changes have undoubtedly been positive and required to protect women and babies. However, many changes, particularly the overuse of drugs for induction and augmentation of labour, and pain-killing medications have had a negative impact on parents as they welcome their babies into the world.

I've got one year left to go as a student midwife and it's been a wild and intense ride. I have been wonderfully privileged to work with some fantastic families and witness amazing births, learning from midwives that are providing quality care and learning about birth from women.