Meet Kirsten, your midwife
Hi! I'm so glad you're here.
My name is Kirsten Ash, and I'm an independent midwife in the Midlands with a passion for traditional, bespoke midwifery as an ancient practice. I come from a long line of Dutch home-birthing women, meaning I grew up in a culture that believed birth to be an extraordinarily ordinary event. Something that was powerful, intense and intimate, but nothing to be feared.
I would love to bring that wisdom and background to your pregnancy and support you in finding your own calm confidence in your pregnancy, birth and postnatal period, however that looks to you.
I didn't know that babies were usually born in hospitals until I was 15. My older sister was born in a hospital, but she was quite premature. Myself and my younger sister were born at home. This seemed very logical to me, and still does. I'm not anti-intervention or anti-obstetrics by any stretch, we're lucky to have the access to emergency care that we have in the NHS. But I also believe that the automatic attitude that childbirth is inherently a medical emergency is doing more damage than good. What are your thoughts on this?
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My Story
Before I became a midwife, I studied Anthropology and Archaeology (BA Hons) at Durham University. This is where the world class BASIS research study is based, and the anthropology of pregnancy and birth really solidified my lifelong passion. I began my midwifery training as soon as I graduated.
I achieved a First Class (BSc Hons) in Midwifery from City University of London (now City St. George's) in 2019, and the highest grade in my dissertation in my graduating class.
I started work in a busy London hospital. I worked on Delivery Suite, the Birth Centre, and the Postnatal Ward, before moving out into the community setting. This was where I thrived, and I loved being able to build relationships with clients antenatally, see them postnatally at home, and support the Homebirth team.
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My first little boy was born in 2021 following a difficult hyperemesis gravidarum pregnancy, and I felt so grateful that I received continuity of care from one of my friends and colleagues from start to finish. I knew that's what everyone deserved and needed, and I knew I was lucky.
I moved back home to Warwickshire shortly after birth, and joined an NHS Trust where I became a Practice Midwife in the community and birth centre settings.
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I had my second boy in 2024. Again a very difficult HG pregnancy, but an incredible homebirth supported by my partner, Doula Lucinda and community midwife NHS colleagues.
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I knew the NHS wasn't where I wanted to be - I wanted to be able to provide true continuity and not be constrained by NHS guidelines that are often out of date and not evidence based. I wanted to be able to give more than 20 minutes in an appointment, and individualise care to what each person needed. So I decided it was time to do what I always wanted - go independent. And I love that I'm able to practise what I consider to be authentic midwifery, truly be on your side. I'm excited to bring my expertise and passion to your pregnancy and postnatal journey, and look forward to hearing from you.