Charmaine continues the care at Emporium Hotel South Bank

Clinical midwife Charmaine was initially drawn to a career in midwifery by the lure of cute babies. But it didn’t take long for her to realise it was the holistic care that she provides during one of the most important times of a woman’s life, that really made her fall in love with the job.

As a midwife Charmaine has been able to help new families at Mater Mothers’ Private Brisbane navigate their first few days of parenthood.

“I love working at Mater Mothers’, meeting new women and families every day. You hear about so many different pregnancy journeys and see firsthand the challenges that some parents have faced. And when you see that moment where they meet their little one, it’s just so special,” Charmaine said.

Charmaine is also one of the midwives supporting families who choose Mater Mothers’ Private Brisbane’s newest option Mater Moments at Emporium.

Women now have the opportunity to spend two nights at the luxurious Emporium Hotel South Bank as they transition from hospital to home. Along with all the creature comforts of a boutique hotel, there’s also a Mater Mothers’ Private Brisbane midwife, like Charmaine, in the hotel 24/7.

“The offer for mums to spend two nights at Emporium Hotel is so exciting. I see it as a reward for mums that have been on a long journey and an opportunity for families to spend downtime getting to know their new little one,” Charmaine said.

 “I start my shift by visiting each of the women and introducing myself. I like to check in with each of the families and see that they have settled in okay; ensure they are orientated with the space and see if there is anything extra they need,” Charmaine said.

“I’ll see how they are going with feeding, settling their baby and ask if they have any questions for me. We then make a plan together on how I can help them throughout their stay.”

Charmaine has been able to tailor her approach for each family.

“It’s really their decision how much or how little support they need from me. It’s a great balance between families having their time together and still being supported when needed,” Charmaine said.

“I spend time discussing breastfeeding and settling techniques, and checking in with the overall wellbeing of the parents.”

Charmaine says meeting the extended family is also really helpful in preparing parents for their transition home.

“It’s nice to be able to have a better understanding of the family dynamics, meaning I can tailor my advice to provide practical tips and strategies that will fit in with their home environment,” Charmaine said.

“You can really see the parents’ confidence grow over the course of their two days at Emporium Hotel. By the end of their stay they’re ready for home.”

For Charmaine she is grateful for the opportunity to connect with families and share their Emporium Hotel experience.

“Every midwife wants to leave a shift and feel like they have made a difference. I definitely feel like I do that at the end of my shifts at the Emporium. It really has renewed my passion for being a midwife and I am grateful to have been a part of each of the families’ journey,” Charmaine said.

“I’ve seen how much the families love it and I love it too!”

For more information about Mater Moments at Emporium Hotel South Bank, click here or call 07 3163 1782.

*Subject to eligibility and availability.