Why I Do What I Do: My Journey to Motherhood, Midwifery & Becoming a Private Maternity Nurse

From as far back as I can remember, I’ve always been drawn to caring for others.

I love my work as a private maternity nurse and night nanny, supporting families through the early postnatal period, those tender first weeks when everything feels new, emotional, and sometimes overwhelming. I dedicate my time to helping new parents feel steadier and more confident as they adjust to life with a newborn.

If you’re curious about the different ways I support families in this season, you can explore them here:
✨ Work With Sam

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My mum was my first role model

Growing up, my mum was a strong role model for me. Practical, proactive, and incredibly resilient.

She raised me as a single mum while juggling two jobs, and I became a nurturing child very early on. My mum needed my help, and I felt like we made a strong team together. We’re still very close now.

Looking back, I think this shaped a lot of who I am, my ability to stay calm under pressure, to care deeply, and to hold space for others when things feel uncertain or intense.

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I knew early on that I wanted to work with babies and families

When I left school, I worked in a nursery connected to the local hospital. I think that was where I first felt a pull towards midwifery, even if I didn’t fully understand it at the time.

I trained and worked as a nanny for a few years, until I had my son. After I became a mum myself, the desire to work with women, babies and families only grew stronger.

I returned to nannying later, but what I truly wanted was to become a midwife.

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Life paused my plans for a while, but the dream stayed

Back in the early 90s, I had to train as a nurse before I could move into midwifery.

Partway into my degree, my relationship with my son’s dad broke down, and my plans had to be put on hold. I needed stability, and I needed to provide for my son, so I moved into recruitment and worked a 9-5 role for several years.

But I always knew it was temporary.

My heart was still set on midwifery and on supporting families at the beginning of life.

Eventually, I gained direct entry to a midwifery course, and it felt like the dream I’d carried for years was finally becoming real.

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Midwifery was my dream… but the reality didn’t match what I’d imagined

After qualifying, I worked as a midwife for a few years.

I expected the long shifts. I expected the emotional depth. I expected it to be physically demanding.

What I wasn’t prepared for was the system, rigid, protocol-led, and often rushed. I couldn’t always offer the time, calm, and quality of care I had envisioned for the women and families in my care.

Leaving midwifery was difficult because I had worked so hard to get there. But staying didn’t feel right either.

After a short spell as a doula and doing some bank midwifery work, I discovered maternity nursing… and it changed everything.

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Maternity nursing became the work I always hoped to do

My role as a private maternity nurse is everything I thought midwifery would be, without the hospital system around it, and without the constant rush.

It allows me to focus exclusively on one family at a time.

I can offer:

• calm, steady reassurance
• practical newborn care
• feeding support
• sleep shaping and settling guidance
• emotional support for the parent too
• and space to breathe and recover

This is why I love what I do.

If you’re in that early stage and you’re looking for hands-on newborn support in your home, you may love Settle In With Sam, designed to support parents through the very first days and week at home.

And if nights are feeling heavy and you’re craving rest, you can read more about Night Nanny Support here.

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The early weeks are precious, and also vulnerable

I meet parents at one of the most monumental, vulnerable times of their life.

Bringing home a new baby can feel wonderful… but it’s also physically and emotionally exhausting. It’s a huge adjustmen, for the parent, for the relationship, for the whole household.

Having someone beside you during that time, someone experienced, calm, and focused purely on your wellbeing and your baby’s needs, can be absolutely invaluable.

What matters to me is that parents feel:

• supported
• understood
• reassured
• empowered
• and able to make their own choices, in a way that works for them

I’m not there to tell anyone what they “should” do.
I’m there to help you find what feels right for your baby, your body, and your family.

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Why I believe support matters so much

I’ve worked as a maternity nurse for over 15 years and supported around a hundred families during that time.

Every family has been different, and it has been such a privilege to support them, watch confidence grow, and see families settle into their new rhythm together.

I believe early parenthood shouldn’t feel like survival.

With the right support, those first weeks can feel calmer, steadier, and more nurtured, even when it’s hard.

And sometimes, having a trusted guide you can return to in the quiet hours is what makes the difference. If that resonates, you may love The Newborn Essentials Digital Toolkit, created to support parents with calm guidance and reassurance anytime you need it.

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If you’re expecting a baby and would like support

If you’re currently expecting, and you’d like to know more about the support packages I offer as a maternity nurse, whether in Norfolk, London, UK-wide or internationally, I’d love to hear from you.

✨ Explore your options here: Work With Sam
💛 Or reach out directly: Contact Me

I would love to support you as you begin your parenting journey.

I support families across Norfolk (including King’s Lynn, Hunstanton, Brancaster, Thornham, Burnham Market, Holt and Norwich), and also work in London, UK-wide and internationally.