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Midwives Exclusive is a small but dynamic midwifery practice consisting of four passionate midwives and whole team of support personnel, all working together to offer couples excellent care in pregnancy, the opportunity to give natural birth in a setting in which they feel comfortable, and to give support and guidance in their early weeks with a new baby.

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Sr Heather Pieterse

Midwife and Manager/Founder of Midwives Exclusive

I love being a midwife and facilitating a woman to birth her baby is a huge energizing boost for me. I have always felt that attending a birth automatically puts me, as a midwife, in a ‘safe and quiet space’ without disturbances. Nothing else matters in those hours I’m with a labouring woman other than what is going on inside that chosen birth space.

This is exactly as birth should be for all woman.

I went became an independent midwife in 1998 so have been loving my chosen calling for many years. It’s a blessing to still love what I do and see how midwifery in Pretoria as well as natural birth has gained momentum over the years.

My belief is that birth should be a positive experience regardless of the type of birth you end up having.   We don’t have control of the outcome as birth can be unpredictable but with support, choices and compassion it can be positive.

Informed choices, freedom to choose your own birth space and care provider is an enormous part of the process and vitally important.

Each person should be granted the space to explore their options and have a venue best suited to them to realize their unique birth wishes.

My vision is to create a safe space where woman can give birth without money and politics being the driving forces behind the ‘care’ they receive.

I am also passionate about seeing midwifery grow and continue to thrive safely and professionally as one day I want to know that when I hang my gloves up there are passionate, dedicated midwives with endurance and courage to continue in my path.

The way I am doing this is to find new, younger midwives with the same ‘heart and soul’ and grow them through patience, passion and support.

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Sr Anjo Lubbe

Midwife

Sr Anjo Lubbe joined the practice in November 2021 coming from Femina Hospital where she had been caring for mom’s and baby’s in the postnatal ward.

“From an early age my sister and I observed my mother as she cared for people, and this made me realize how precious and important quality care is. Compassion is the building block on which I live out my passion for nursing and midwifery.

Caring is simply in my blood and a natural instinct.

I obtained my Bachelor in Nursing  (BCur) at the University of Pretoria. Once I was introduced to midwifery in my third year I knew I wanted to be a part of this beautiful moment in a woman’s life.I remember my first delivery and all the emotions I experienced being the midwife while taking care of my patient and her baby. I was so grateful of being able to experience this moment and I asked myself what could be more beautiful, than bringing new life into this world?

I completed my Community Service year at Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital in Labour Ward where I gained a lot of experience and knowledge delivering babies and providing the nessecary postpartum care. My favourite characteristics of being a midwife is the constant urge to be better, to gain more knowledge and to always love and enjoy what I do. Each birth experience is different with its own challenges and outcomes, which makes it so exciting. To support my pateint and to observe how she grows in the strong women using only her body to birth her baby, is truly amazing.

I have worked at Netcare Femina Hospital in the Ante/Post Natal ward. I love caring for moms and their babies. I was privileged to meet new faces daily. I especially have a preference and love for helping mothers and babies engaging in breastfeeding. Therefore, I will go out of my way to inform every mom about the benefits of breastfeeding and thereafter provide the necessary support and guidance.

It was a priveledge to grow up on a farm in Nelspruit. I love spending time in nature and being surrounded by God’s beautiful creation. My family is very important to me. I am strong, positive and wild at heart. During my down time I love spending time with my friends, reading books and enjoy any outdoor activities. I am a hardworking, reliable person and dedicated to my work. I always make sure that I give 100% in what is expected from me on a daily basis.

Why did I decide to be a part of Midwives Exclusive?

My dream is to be an independent midwife working in a practice , and Midwives Exclusive is allowing me to live out my dream. I believe the way women birth matters and to give them that support throughtout the pregnancy is helping them to empower themselves. I am honoured to be a part of this midwife family and to be surrounded by women who is grounded in the same values and beliefs for midwifery.

Sr Marijke van der Merwe

Midwife

I was born the youngest of 4 children. My mother, she was a registered nurse and midwife, inspired me to become a midwife as I was growing up. As a 3-year-old, people used to ask me what I want to do when I grow up and my answer always remained, to catch babies! I was infatuated with pregnant women and babies until this very day. This has never seized to be and ever since that time it became my lifes work to train and serve as a midwife.

I started my Nurse/midwife training in 2004 at Stellenbosch University    and finished in 2007.           I received both best Midwifery student and Best     Professional Practice student awards.

My work experience as a midwife started at Bishop Lavis Midwives Obstetric Unit in 2008 and I was  very lucky to receive the chance to further my studies. I started my Honours degree in Advanced Midwifery and Neonatology in 2010 also at Stellenbosch University and at the end of the year I ended it on a high note when I received my Honours Degree Cum Laude.

My first baby was born in November 2011 and once I had her my perspective changed dramatically   on how pregnant women should be treated and managed by their care providers. I realized how          important it was to have someone who support you throughout your pregnancy and birth.

I worked at Bishop Lavis MOU till March 2013, when I decided to spread my wings. I applied for a      position as midwife in Saudi Arabia. I worked there for a year and gained plenty of experience on    working in an international and multi-cultural setting. During 2013-2014, we were blessed with a      second pregnancy, and our family grew. I realized what it meant to be blessed beyond compare!

I started my own independent Midwife practice, Neo Ava Maternity Practice in October 2014. My      first home birth was such a rewarding experience, and I knew that this was where I was needed.       Slowly but surely, I was getting to realize my dream of being exactly what the word midwife implies, woman who help women in childbirth.

We relocated from Cape Town to Pretoria 2020 and after settling in well, the opportunity presented itself to get back into the birthing world after 2 years.  Joining Midwives Exclusive’s amazing team and being able to share this journey with them is priceless.

Midwifery has been, is and will be my passion for life and a lifestyle I intend to live to the fullest.

Sr Busisiwe Gambu

Midwife

A calling! That’s what I believe midwifery to be. I feel blessed and privileged to be called a midwife and to be able to assist and support women during such a life-changing moment.

I studied my BCur (Nursing) degree at the University of Johannesburg and when I was introduced to Midwifery during my studies, I was immediately drawn to it and knew that this is what I wanted to do. My love and interest for Midwifery was fuelled even more by my mother, who is a retired nurse and midwife, who spent many years working as a midwife. It was her stories, the lessons and constant motivation that kept me so interested in Midwifery over the years.

I did my Community Service in the Labour ward at Dr Yusuf Dadoo Hospital in the Westrand in 2019 and continued to work in the labour ward. I then also had a chance to work in the post-natal ward for a short time before leaving. I gained experience and knowledge from working in a fast paced and busy department. I enjoyed that I was always meeting different patients daily with different stories. Though, over the years I was drawn to private midwifery, as I believed that women’s care during pregnancy should be unique and that women should be given a voice during this time and afforded the right to have a beautiful birth experience.

I’m a young and passionate midwife who loves working with pregnant women and babies. I have a big interest in traditional midwifery and caring practices that I believe have been lost over time. I joined the practice because I believe in giving women and their families’ holistic care during such a precious time in their lives. I really wanted to be able to fully support and guide women during this period and to be able to walk this journey with them from the beginning of their pregnancy till they have their new baby.

When I’m not catching babies, I’m a mom to an amazing boy, Lesedi, who is my absolute world.

I am excited and looking forward to walking the journey of pregnancy and beyond with all the families I’m yet to meet at Midwives Exclusive.

 

 

 

 

This is our amazing Midwives Exclusive team – dedicated, compassionate and passionate about what we are doing as a family!

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