Sharing the Love: Supporting Acorns to Grow

It started with the dream for establishing the first autonomous midwifery practice in Bulgaria, Zebra Midwives.  We were determined to create a positive space for women to receive childbirth education, prenatal and... [ view full abstract ]

It started with the dream for establishing the first autonomous midwifery practice in Bulgaria, Zebra Midwives.  We were determined to create a positive space for women to receive childbirth education, prenatal and intrapartum care like never before. No one had offered evidence-based midwifery or continuity of care, there was no trodden path that we could follow. The organization of maternity services in the country and the culture of birth were going to be our greatest hurdles to overcome. 

International allies were sought that would help us make a case for midwifery and women. We used every opportunity to attend conferences where we could speak about a feasible plan that would be achieved if we had international support. Professor Soo Downe, UK,  connected us to a rich network of midwives and obstetricians who listened to our plan and took it to their hearts. Professor Sandra Morano, IT, shared her birth centre, expertise and time to serve as an example for how we can make the first steps. Doctor Tracey Cooper, UK, has held our hands through the beginning stages of Zebra and has made us more confident in our clinical skills and rapport with women.Tracey provided a placement for us to observe midwifery care in birth centres in Lancashire. We took this experience back. Tracey, midwives from Lancashire, Lucia and Phillipe have provided workshops to build confidence in midwifery skills for midwives and develop women's confidence in midwifery led care in Bulgaria. Doctor Sheena Byrom, UK, has been with us in the setting up of our midwife-led birth centre that we have run for four months. We have now supported women in water and those who have previously had a caesarian section in our Birth Centre. They have expressed how wonderful their experiences have been and are spreading the word to their friends.

Despair blossomed into a beautiful network of mentorship, lifelong friendships and, ultimately, genuine hope. We were in a struggle for improving maternity services in Bulgaria, but we now have help and support from a transnational circle of trust and support. We now know that we belong to a global community which will always back us up in our struggles while we fight for evidence-based, respectful care in Bulgaria.