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The Baby's Coming
Virginia Howes was a mother of four doing the ironing when she had a revelation. Still broody, but not really wanting to add to her family, she realised that becoming a midwife was her true vocation.
It was a long journey to get the education and qualifications she needed, especially with a young family, but she was determined and never doubted her decision. Following her training, she spent two years working within the NHS, but her naturally independent spirit fought against the constraints of the system and fourteen years ago she decided to set up on her own. Virginia works with mothers who want to give birth at home naturally, something which Virginia believes in passionately. 350 births later, Virginia still loves what she does.
The Baby's Coming is Virginia's memoir and tells the stories of her training as a midwife as well as some of the most memorable the most dramatic, the most touching. Virginia particularly remembers the births of her own grandchildren whose arrivals in the world were some of the most special moments for her as both a midwife and grandmother.
It was a long journey to get the education and qualifications she needed, especially with a young family, but she was determined and never doubted her decision. Following her training, she spent two years working within the NHS, but her naturally independent spirit fought against the constraints of the system and fourteen years ago she decided to set up on her own. Virginia works with mothers who want to give birth at home naturally, something which Virginia believes in passionately. 350 births later, Virginia still loves what she does.
The Baby's Coming is Virginia's memoir and tells the stories of her training as a midwife as well as some of the most memorable the most dramatic, the most touching. Virginia particularly remembers the births of her own grandchildren whose arrivals in the world were some of the most special moments for her as both a midwife and grandmother.
- GenresNonfictionMemoir
320 pages, Paperback
First published March 13, 2014
11 people are currently reading
108 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
July 27, 2018
One of the most amazing books I've read (especially for midwives or mothers). I am a student midwife and reading Virginia's story from start to end was the most empowering and beautiful stories. I couldn't put this book down, I got through it within a week. Virginia talks about her life as a mature aged student, working in hospitals and home births. She explores the diverse characters throughout and the magic along the way. This book delves into how magical childbirth can be and how individual each and every experience in pregnancy and birth is.
March 11, 2014
I am a mum, I have two children aged nearl 10 and nearly 12. Both births were quick, one in hospital and one an unscheduled home delivery with dad delivering his son in a rare footling breech birth. I also work in a children's centre and am surrounded by children aged 0-5 years throughout the week. My husband knows I am broody and would have another baby at the drop of a hat, however he is not wanting anymore, and if we did , i would be in hospital at 20 weeks and not allowed out until the baby is born! However, this book has really made be want another baby and to have a birth at home, which is scheduled and to my wishes!
I first heard about Virginia Howes through a television programme on ITV last year which followed midwives about their work. Working in a children's centre I knew that there were district teams of community midwives who cared for ladies from the moment they knew they were pregnant until around ten days following the birth however I had never heard about independent midwives. Virginia Howes is one such midwife and after reading this book I think she is a remarkable lady.
Through this book, the reader learns about Virginia's life - her early years, her school life, her teenage relationship which lead to her becoming a teenage mum who's child was planned and the subsequent years and the births of her other children. The care that she received changed with each pregnancy and it was through these experiences that Virginia decided midwifery was for her and also that she wanted to support women in giving birth how they wanted to and in a calm and relaxing environment with minimal intervention.
When reading this book I believe that Virginia is a very strong willed lady and is confident to speak on behalf of her patients whenever possible and also to remind her clients of their initial wishes and try her best to ensure that these are followed to the letter. There are many birth stories included in the book, although they are all relevant to the progression of Virginia's career, and some are the ones included in the television programme.
I would recommend that all student midwives should read this book as part of their course as it really encourages the mother's wishes to be central to their work. It is a great read which also is one of social history of the medical profession as practice changed.
Many books which document a midwife or nurse's life has the obligatory ten or so pages of glossy pictures, this one doesn't and I don't think it needs it, in fact I believe it shows Viginia's beliefs that her clients are most important, not all about the end result, although of course healthy babies are also important. This book is evidence that Virginia Howes should be recognised for her work in the medical profession.
I first heard about Virginia Howes through a television programme on ITV last year which followed midwives about their work. Working in a children's centre I knew that there were district teams of community midwives who cared for ladies from the moment they knew they were pregnant until around ten days following the birth however I had never heard about independent midwives. Virginia Howes is one such midwife and after reading this book I think she is a remarkable lady.
Through this book, the reader learns about Virginia's life - her early years, her school life, her teenage relationship which lead to her becoming a teenage mum who's child was planned and the subsequent years and the births of her other children. The care that she received changed with each pregnancy and it was through these experiences that Virginia decided midwifery was for her and also that she wanted to support women in giving birth how they wanted to and in a calm and relaxing environment with minimal intervention.
When reading this book I believe that Virginia is a very strong willed lady and is confident to speak on behalf of her patients whenever possible and also to remind her clients of their initial wishes and try her best to ensure that these are followed to the letter. There are many birth stories included in the book, although they are all relevant to the progression of Virginia's career, and some are the ones included in the television programme.
I would recommend that all student midwives should read this book as part of their course as it really encourages the mother's wishes to be central to their work. It is a great read which also is one of social history of the medical profession as practice changed.
Many books which document a midwife or nurse's life has the obligatory ten or so pages of glossy pictures, this one doesn't and I don't think it needs it, in fact I believe it shows Viginia's beliefs that her clients are most important, not all about the end result, although of course healthy babies are also important. This book is evidence that Virginia Howes should be recognised for her work in the medical profession.
February 15, 2019
Absolutely incredible book! As a student midwife wanting to work as an advocate for women and their choices for their birth this is one of the most inspiring things i have ever read confirming to me that my future will be with other independent midwives doing the best job in the world! Thank you Virginia x
May 15, 2019
I love midwifery books
A great book! I enjoyed being right in the rooms as the mothers as they have birth to their bundles of joy. I have always wanted to be a midwife so reading a book from a mid wife's perspective, has to be the next best thing!
A great book! I enjoyed being right in the rooms as the mothers as they have birth to their bundles of joy. I have always wanted to be a midwife so reading a book from a mid wife's perspective, has to be the next best thing!
October 6, 2019
Though I really enjoyed this book, I felt like Virgina was very judgmental of women who decided to have a section or an epidural, she says she's all for making sure women know their options but when a laboring mother asks for pain relief, instead of giving her gas and air or something, Virgina tells her they can always go the hospital to get an epidural, which is down right manipulative, she could have had other pain relief but Virgina seems to be very against it, and letting a patient go 19 days over due is just dangerous, I totally understand women not wanting to be induced or intervened with but sometimes induction is just safer. 2 of my nieces and 1 of nephews were born via C-section and though the recovery is difficult, their mothers still had a lovely birth experience, there's nothing wrong with having a elective C-section, I'm all for empowering women and letting them choose what birth they want, and that includes C-sections and medicated births in hospital.
June 14, 2017
A modern call the midwife! Loved every second of it!
I loved every second of this book! I felt super inspired by Virginia and her passion for her work as a midwife. All women deserve the experience she gives in pregnancy and labour.
If you love call the midwife you will love this, it is a modern version of it.
Funny, heartwarming and at times heartbreaking. I can definitely see this being read over and over.
I loved every second of this book! I felt super inspired by Virginia and her passion for her work as a midwife. All women deserve the experience she gives in pregnancy and labour.
If you love call the midwife you will love this, it is a modern version of it.
Funny, heartwarming and at times heartbreaking. I can definitely see this being read over and over.
June 25, 2020
Inspiring
I loved this book. I am in awe of Virginia's tenacity to fight for the rights of the women in her care. It really highlights the importance of continuity of care and informed choice. Reading Virginia's journey into midwifery and beyond has made me think about the kind of midwife I aspire to be one day
I loved this book. I am in awe of Virginia's tenacity to fight for the rights of the women in her care. It really highlights the importance of continuity of care and informed choice. Reading Virginia's journey into midwifery and beyond has made me think about the kind of midwife I aspire to be one day
November 30, 2018
Surprisingly good!
I got this on my kindle to tide me over until the book I really wanted was delivered. I ended up reading the whole thing in 2 days. Really nice style of writing and so interesting to hear first hand the tales of an Independent Midwife. Recommended!
I got this on my kindle to tide me over until the book I really wanted was delivered. I ended up reading the whole thing in 2 days. Really nice style of writing and so interesting to hear first hand the tales of an Independent Midwife. Recommended!
April 25, 2023
inspiring!!
As a wannabe midwife this read just reconfirmed everything I feel about going into the profession! Virginia’s accounts of childbirth are inspiring and empowering I hope one day I’ll be as good a midwife!
As a wannabe midwife this read just reconfirmed everything I feel about going into the profession! Virginia’s accounts of childbirth are inspiring and empowering I hope one day I’ll be as good a midwife!
July 12, 2017
Brilliant book. Can't beat a good birth story. I laughed, cried & got a little jealous too.
November 20, 2018
Amazing insight
An amazing insight into the life of an independent midwife and her life turned out in her journey in a beautiful career, Virginia Howes is an inspiration!!
An amazing insight into the life of an independent midwife and her life turned out in her journey in a beautiful career, Virginia Howes is an inspiration!!
July 24, 2019
Wow, absolutely loved this book. Such warmth and humanity from this midwife, very inspiring
July 25, 2020
This books was incredible especially if you’re interested in community midwifery
May 16, 2023
I love midwifery books. This is another great one
March 4, 2019
Fantastic gripping overview of life as an independent midwife.
March 5, 2017
Excellent book
An inspirational read! Couldn't put it down. Extremely insightful for anyone considering a career in midwifery. A must read. Thank you Virginia.
An inspirational read! Couldn't put it down. Extremely insightful for anyone considering a career in midwifery. A must read. Thank you Virginia.
Read
May 14, 2014I had to get on and read this quickly having learned that it will become illegal to practice independently as a midwife in the UK (a Catch 22 insurance situation but with a system good to go to solve it and a government with its head in the sand) in just weeks rather than the months we had thought. I am some sort of socialist but in this country we usually allow people to choose whether to use state provided services or make alternative arrangements. Since it had been a profoundly disagreeable slog to get the NHS to do its job and not mess up with previous babies, I arranged an independent midwife (not Virginia) even before the shock of my last pregnancy had subsided.
So for me this book is like a cross between an educational campaign for women's bodies to be allowed to do what they can do and love letter to a job she loves but which may be about to die. I have great admiration for Virginia's nerve as she doesn't make you constantly aware of the political situation. It was fun to read about how and why she became a mother first and then a midwife. She shows indeed how ill-served she was by an insensitive education that failed to gather her back in after illness, even though it seems to have worked out rather well in the end. I'd no idea that she'd made a decent living from running a kissogram business, nor that she'd had such an eventful love-life.
It's a frank account of highs and lows, showing the challenges to family life that 'real' midwifery presents and yet how well it can fit and provide the satisfaction that would see more midwives remaining and thriving in the work for which they have been educated at our expense.
We really need the option of midwives like Virginia Howes... she does not make it all that explicit in the book but many of the stories depict how practising independently (as all midwives are supposed to be even if employed by the NHS but too often are not) she ensures the safety of mothers, babies and families because they can trust her. If all the people who spent hours reading or watching Call The Midwife would spare a few minutes to let the UK government know this matters, we'd have it sorted.
So for me this book is like a cross between an educational campaign for women's bodies to be allowed to do what they can do and love letter to a job she loves but which may be about to die. I have great admiration for Virginia's nerve as she doesn't make you constantly aware of the political situation. It was fun to read about how and why she became a mother first and then a midwife. She shows indeed how ill-served she was by an insensitive education that failed to gather her back in after illness, even though it seems to have worked out rather well in the end. I'd no idea that she'd made a decent living from running a kissogram business, nor that she'd had such an eventful love-life.
It's a frank account of highs and lows, showing the challenges to family life that 'real' midwifery presents and yet how well it can fit and provide the satisfaction that would see more midwives remaining and thriving in the work for which they have been educated at our expense.
We really need the option of midwives like Virginia Howes... she does not make it all that explicit in the book but many of the stories depict how practising independently (as all midwives are supposed to be even if employed by the NHS but too often are not) she ensures the safety of mothers, babies and families because they can trust her. If all the people who spent hours reading or watching Call The Midwife would spare a few minutes to let the UK government know this matters, we'd have it sorted.
April 2, 2014
I don't think I have ever read a book I really relate to as much as this one. I don't think I have ever laughed and cried so much in one read either! Brilliant!
March 23, 2014
Wishing I could work this way. Loved all the stories.
March 23, 2014
Loves it. Amazing could not put it down
June 28, 2014
A must read for any mom, child birth advocate and health professional. A well put together book. Shows how times have changed and go back and forth in the birth arena.
January 4, 2015
A truly lovely and inspirational read.
October 3, 2015
wow wat a truly insiring women loved every second of this book
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews