This document summarizes Sarah Stewart's experience working as a midwife in rural Gisborne, New Zealand. It describes Gisborne as a isolated rural community with a population of 30,000, including a high Māori population. It outlines that Stewart worked as a Lead Maternity Carer, providing total midwifery care from conception to 6 weeks postpartum. The role gave her full professional autonomy but also brought huge responsibility. It notes she developed advanced midwifery skills like assessments, cannulation, and perineal suturing to assist home and water births.

1. Working as a midwife in Gisborne, New Zealand Sarah Stewart April 2008 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 New Zealand License Image: ' Lone evening surfer. ' www.flickr.com/photos/18095953@N00/161747599

2. http://sarah-stewart.blogspot.com http://sarahstewart-eportfolio.wikispaces.com/Employment+History

6. Downtown Gisborne: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattandbecky/2197426688 Worked as LMC: provided total midwifery care from conception to 6 weeks after baby was born

7. Image: ' Gisborne . ' www.flickr.com/photos/18095953@N00/109055812 Being LMC: full professional autonomy Brings huge responsibility but is very rewarding

9. Image: ' Gisborne from Kaiti Hill ' www.flickr.com/photos/37191669@N00/89059667

10. Image: ' Haka in the rain ' www.flickr.com/photos/44124385307@N01/471300486

11. http://www.flickr.com/photos/felipeskroski/281731096/

12. http://www.flickr.com/photos/felipeskroski/281731394/in/set-72157594349065720

13. http://www.flickr.com/photos/smthpal/2390200328/

14. Image: ' vines ' www.flickr.com/photos/82198730@N00/81125582

15. Image: ' placenta and amniotic sac - _MG_3995 ' www.flickr.com/photos/43927576@N00/289148405

16. Image: ' Like watercolours . ' www.flickr.com/photos/18095953@N00/161747951

17. Image: ' Wainui ' www.flickr.com/photos/54447069@N00/29629253

18. Gisborne: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaij/218646241/

19. Tolaga Bay: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattandbecky/2202548445/in/set-72157603725595788/

20. Gisborne Harbour: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaij/218650927/ Reference: Stewart, S. 2001. What’s it like to work in . . . New Zealand. The Practising Midwife , 4 (10): 34-37.