Sue McPherson is passionate about the world of pregnancy, birth and babies.
For 43 years she has devoted herself as a midwife to guiding countless women through the transformative process of bringing new life into the world.
The motherhood journey and evolution of women was a privilege to witness, Sue said.
“You see women coming in having their first baby, you see them through the pregnancy all the way through to birth and then post-natal,” she said.
“Then you can see them again with subsequent pregnancies and they become very strong women and passionate mothers.
“Motherhood really changes you and the way you view the world. It’s not just about you any more. Motherhood grows them as a person and how a family evolves. It’s wonderful to witness their journey and provide that continuity of care.”
Midwifery wasn’t about “just catching babies”, she said.
“It’s really about supporting the creation of whole new families,” Sue said.
“With every birth there’s partners, kids, grandparents – it’s not just all about the baby. It’s really about families.”
Sue started her career at the Royal Brisbane Hospital, known now as Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, in 1981. She has worked at Mackay Base Hospital since 1989 after relocating north for her husband’s career.
Her first five weeks at MBH were spent in the medical unit, before she relocated to the Women’s Unit.
“I am first and foremost a midwife. I’ve been in the women’s unit ever since,” she said.
Sue credits her 16 years at Mackay Birth Centre as a highlight of her career.
“I started with the Mackay Birth Centre in 1994 as a midwife when it was the very first centre of its type in Queensland,” Sue said.
“Thirty years ago it was a little house on hospital grounds with a beautiful garden. It had such a wonderful homely and welcoming atmosphere. You walked in and immediately felt comfortable,” she said.
“Back then we used fish weighing scales with hooks on the end – the linen department made up bunny rugs with button holes in four corners so we could put the baby in and weight them.”
Sue has acquired a wealth of knowledge and honed her skills through additional study during her career, completing a Bachelor of Midwifery Advance Practice as well as earning a scholarship to do a Nurse Practitioner Masters degree.
“I’m a big believer that when opportunity knocks you have to be ready to open the door and step through. Be ready and waiting – it’s too easy for things to pass you by,” she said.
“Coming to Mackay and a regional area certainly afforded me a lot more opportunity to learn and grow than if I had stayed in Brisbane,” she said.
“I’ve been fortunate to witness multiple babies in local families and across multiple generations. I’ve seen the babies having their own babies and sometimes the mother comes along to the daughter’s booking and she says ‘you were my midwife when I had her’,” Sue said.
“That the ultimate continuity of care.”
Sue has spent the last 13 years as a Nurse Practitioner looking after First Nations women and vulnerable women in the community and providing them with antenatal and postnatal care. She also has an outreach clinic and works with non-government organisations such as indigenous agencies and youth centres.
Early intervention and early prenatal care as well as encouraging mums-to-be to make lifestyle changes was vital.
“Lately I’ve seen a lot of past clients who were teenage mums who are now employed in support or carer roles themselves,” Sue said.
“I feel really proud how far they’ve come. People give teen mums a hard time, but there’s really some amazing and inspirational stories,” she said.
“One of the biggest compliments I think you can have is when a mum client eventually comes back to tell you she’s going to become a midwife herself,” she said.
A good midwife was resilient, patient, proactive and empathetic, Sue said.
“Some of the best midwives I know have never had children. Having a good rapport with patients is vital, sometimes at very short notice and it’s important to be non-judgemental in your support for them.
“You can’t build a rapport when you are sitting in judgement of someone’s life choices.”
April 11 is her last day at work before she officially retires and packs up the van and “heads off on a big lap” around Australia.
She is confident she leaves the midwifery service in very capable hands.
“Mackay has always been a leader and his highly regarded for our Birth Centre midwifery services and continuity of care,” she said.
“We provide an excellent service and I’m happy that work will continue.”
