March was a record month of births at the Bacchus Marsh Maternity Hospital. Among the babies born was Henley, who has a very special connection to the hospital. His mum, Jessica Watkins (Bibby) , and grandmother, Carolyn Bibby, work as midwives at the hospital and chatted to Jennifer Pittorino about their special connection.
Melton woman Jessica Watkins (Bibby) and her mum Carolyn Bibby have a mother-daughter bond like no other.
Not only do they share a passion for their career in midwifery, but they work together at the same hospital.
Even more touching, is that they have both given birth to their children at that very hospital, the Bacchus Marsh Maternity Hospital.
Initially known as ‘Mama Bibby’ and ‘Baby Bibby’ by the hospital community, the pair have now become a trio with Jess welcoming baby Henley in March.
“Even before Jess came on the scene I was known as ‘Mama Bibby’ because I had been there for so long,” Carolyn said.
“Then Jess came along and we got our nicknames because she wasn’t married at that point, now we are known as ‘Grandma Bibby’, ‘Mama Bibby’ and ‘Baby Bibby’.”
The nicknames were given to the pair by their work colleagues, who after all these years have turned into more than work friends.
“It’s just that camaraderie that we have that is really lovely in the workspace that we have,” Carolyn said.
“The really amazing thing about Bacchus Marsh is that you’re not just working in birthing, you also work with postnatal women.
“We all share a lot of the responsibilities so everyone is in it together, it is not separated which gives it a nice homely feel.
“There are women that are our women, they’re not just a number, it’s a really holistic women centred experience.”
For 27-year-old Jess, this holistic experience transferred into her experience giving birth for the first time.
“I was surrounded by my mum and the girls who I chose to have in my birth as they feel like my work family,” Jess said.
“I chose to have a water birth at the hospital, which made it feel like I was having a home birth without being at home.”
The knowledge Jess has as a midwife helped her through her birth, which she said she couldn’t fault.
“It was an amazing experience to have that water birth with them and the knowledge definitely helped,” she said.
“It can be good and bad, but for me, it was definitely a positive thing because it went so well.”
Baby Henley was one of 62 babies born at Bacchus Marsh maternity service in March, the most the unit has delivered since October, 2015.
It was revealed in 2015 that the hospital, which was operated by Djerriwarrh Health Services at the time, was being investigated over the deaths of 11 babies, seven of which were later found to have been avoidable.
The hospital joined the Western Health network in 2021 following the amalgamation of Western Health and Djerriwarrh.
The birth was the first water birth that Carolyn had witnessed as Bacchus Marsh recently started offering water births, which Jess said would be a very positive experience.
“I really wanted to do a water birth from my knowledge as a midwife, I knew it was meant to be really good for pain relief,” Jess said.
“The clinic was very supportive of my choice which doesn’t happen for some women, but I was lucky I had a smooth easy pregnancy.
“It was a really calming, soothing, relaxing, environment and the water really helped me, I was super lucky the stars aligned.”
Since Carolyn’s career has shifted from delivering babies to house visits, experiencing this for the first time with her daughter was special.
Since beginning her career in 1993, Carolyn has evolved through many stages of midwifery, something she said was always a dream of hers.
“It was what I wanted to do forever. In my early days I wanted to be a Mother Craft nurse but I don’t think that exists anymore,” she said.
“I knew I wanted to work with babies, I did my general nursing then months later did nursing and midwifery, and once I finished went to Bacchus Marsh hospital and I have been there ever since.”
Jess always knew she wanted to follow in Carolyn’s footsteps.
“I originally went into a Bachelor of Nursing and I really like it to be honest.
“But I always knew I wanted to do something in healthcare and helping people so I had some discussions with mum and recalled prior conversations with her.
“Listening to her experiences at work and how she was able to deliver babies and look after them at home made me decide to jump on a double degree of midwifery.”
Since 2021, Jess has worked with Carolyn, which has been a dream come true for them both.
“I never in a million years thought she would follow in my footsteps,” Carolyn said.
“So to her to have her now as a midwife working in the same environment and the same hospital is just really special.”
For anyone thinking of getting into the business, both women couldn’t recommend it more.
“It is the appreciation that women give our profession which is my favourite thing,” Jess said.
“The most rewarding part is knowing that you’ve made a difference.”
