MEETING someone, falling in love and having a baby is the dream for most young women.
But pregnancy and birth can be a traumatic and emotional ordeal - if you are not prepared that is.
So dont worry, Mary the Midwife will guide you through each stage in a series of colourful videos in a fun, easy-to-use app to prepare mums and dads-to-be.
The jolly Irish character was created by former midwife Marie Sheehan, of Meadvale Road, Ealing, to help nervous parents learn about the jargon of birth to dispel their fear and help them make informed choices when that special day comes.
Marie came up with the idea last year after her friends and neighbours called on her for help. She wrote the script which was checked by old friend and colleague Professor Ronald Lamont, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist.
Marie hopes the short, snappy four-minute videos will target fathers.
She said: Its designed for first time mums and dads. I want the men to understand as well. Men feel they have to be the men but when it comes to birth they can feel theres nothing they can do.
I want the videos to be reassuring. People who go into the hospital full of fear have longer and more painful births, the research shows they need more pain relief. Ive found if they are more reassured and educated, they are more in control and have a quicker, easier birth.
The fun designs were drawn up by a group of young men at Karrot Animation based in south London, who were more than honest when some ideas were too gory for the boys.
Marie grew up in Ealing. She trained as a general nurse at Central Middlesex Hospital and then as a midwife at Northwick Park. She later became a neonatal nurse then a research midwifery sister specialising in premature labour and miscarriage.
She added: I was dreading the maternity section of my general nurse training at first. I was dreading the screaming women and babies but then I realised midwifery was for me. I still remember my first birth. It was an honour and privilege, its such a special time in someones life and so individual for each person.
The first six video apps can be downloaded on both Apple and Android phones and tablets or at www.partnerslabouroflove.com.
