Bunbury midwife awarded for helping change birth stories across country WA

A strong desire to empower and educate women and their partners on what a fear-free birth journey looks like is the main driving force behind one South West midwife’s passionate career.

Bunbury Hospital’s Kasey Biggar claimed the Excellence in Midwifery award at the recent WA Nursing and Midwifery Excellence Awards — an accolade she was honoured to be nominated for.

“It means a great deal to me that someone took the time to write kind words about me during the nomination process and then to have won is amazing,” she said.

“I enjoy working with the whole maternity team at Bunbury.

“They are a great group of people who are women focused, care and strive to provide a fantastic service.”

After 10 years as an emergency nurse, Ms Biggar had plans to join the Royal Flying Doctor Service and became a midwife to tick a prerequisite for the position, but instead found herself drawn to the different path.

It means a great deal to me that someone took the time to write kind words about me during the nomination process and then to have won is amazing.

After witnessing a woman use hypnobirthing techniques during labour, she knew she needed to find out more about the practice.

“A few weeks later, I collected a woman from theatre who had a very long labour, every intervention you could think of and then finally an emergency caesarean section,” she said.

“I thought I would be debriefing and supporting her through her traumatic experience, however I couldn’t have been more wrong.

“I knew then that I needed to know more about this incredible program that clearly has such an impact on a woman’s birth journey despite what may happen.”

Ms Biggar helped introduce Hypnobirthing Australia classes to Bunbury Hospital to provide women with the standard content of antenatal education as well as tools to navigate the complexities of labour and birth.

“I am passionate about this program being accessible to everyone,” she said.