Who are we?
Each family is cared for by two midwives from our team of three
My name is Marijn Veuger; during a placement on a maternity ward in my nurse training in the Netherlands, I became intrigued by the ‘miracle of pregnancy and birth’. It was then that I decided I wanted to be a midwife. I did my midwifery training in Kent and qualified in 1996. I worked in developing countries as well as the UK, both in hospital and in community settings. My respect for the amazing processes involved in childbirth has only grown throughout my professional development. I had an opportunity to provide ‘one-to-one’ care in a case-loading team in the NHS and took to it like a duck to water. When the funding for this remarkable project ran out, I helped set up Maya Midwives in order to provide the same fantastic care. In the last three years, I have absolutely enjoyed looking after families providing continuity of care: each birth and baby brings its unique story. In my spare time, I enjoy being outdoors, gardening and sailing, as well as crafts and cake baking.
And I'm Viv Gray; I have two children, Rosie
and Jasper, and became fascinated the whole process of pregnancy, birth and
breastfeeding when they were born in the early 1990s. I subsequently
trained as an antenatal teacher with the National Childbirth Trust, founded a
charity providing birth support to women prisoners, and finally trained as a
midwife in 1998. To me, independent midwifery is true midwifery. The opportunity to develop a relationship with a
family during pregnancy, be present at the birth of their baby, and continue to
care for them in their early days together, is the most amazing privilege
imaginable. I believe that every labouring woman deserves to be cared for by a
midwife she knows and trusts. When I'm not at work I enjoy my
children, camping, tai chi, reiki, reading and eating Marijn's cakes.
I'm Andrea (Andy) Parker. Since I was a child I’ve always loved babies and found pregnancy and birth fascinating. I worked as a nanny for six years in a variety of settings, giving me the opportunity to work with families. I had my own son at home 11 years ago, with the help of my midwife Maggie and Juno team. The pregnancy and birth was a wonderful experience that inspired me to embark on my own midwifery career. I trained within the midwifery model of care in Torbay hospital, where home births were positively encouraged. I was a breech baby myself, and am experienced in attending vaginal breech births. I enjoy bike riding and picnics with my son, playing the violin and reading.