I trained as a nurse and worked as a Staff Nurse in the UK at a unique NHS Breast Unit, where women were encouraged to take part in the decisions about their treatment for breast cancer.

I have four sons of my own, three of them born at home, including one water birth. It was after the birth of my second son that I was inspired by my midwife to become a midwife myself! I felt that I had to let other women know that there is another way, and set forth to empower women to get in touch with their instincts and to give birth naturally at home.

As a student midwife, I met a Homeopath on the labour ward. She was attending a bright, alert and beautiful new mother and baby, obviously benefiting from the absence of the intervention of drugs, instruments, surgery and from her decision to use homeopathy.

Disillusioned with the midwifery practice at the time, I decided to become an Independent Midwife, caring for women in the home throughout their pregnancy, homebirth and afterwards.

I also trained to be a Homeopath. This is a complete system of medicine using the proven laws of nature to stimulate self healing. It has set principles to follow and a philosophy on health producing an holistic individualised treatment without side effects. I was so deeply impressed when a Homeopath successfully treated my son’s severe eczema that I took a four-year course in Classical Homeopathy in London followed by a postgraduate certification in Homeopathy.

For the last 15 years I have studied and practised homeopathy in London and Cork. I have contributed to many journals and books, including some on complementary therapies in pregnancy and childbirth, and have been invited to speak at many seminars and conferences for student and professional homeopaths including the International Irish Conference and the Society of Homeopaths AGM in the UK. I have taught at postgraduate accredited study days for midwives across the UK and Ireland.

• Antenatal Preparation
  A practical guide to using a woman's own
  resources for coping with birth and a new baby
  naturally. Includes massage, techniques for
  coping with pain, relaxation and simple exercises.
  
  
• Aquanatal Classes
  My interest in aquanatal exercise stems from the
  unique use of water in enabling women to find and develop their own resources and capabilities forcoping with pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period. Using exercise combined with relaxation and breathing, I encourage mothers to prepare for the new arrival on a mental, emotional and physical level.
  

• Homebirth
  My Homebirth Service is offered with one-to-one midwifery care throughout pregnancy, birth and afterwards. This can be either as part of the Southern Health Board Domiciliary Midwifery Pilot Project or privately. I have experience in attending water births and also VBAC's. "Once a Caesarean, always a Caesarean" is simply not true.
  
  
• Postnatal Group
  Weekly sessions where exercises, breast-feeding and parenting issues are informally explored. Introduction to baby massage and topics such as 'The Immunisation Decision', natural medicine and positive health are discussed. Babies welcome up to the crawling stage.
  
  
• Birth Debriefing
  For women of all ages needing to heal their experience of giving birth or specific trauma from their pregnancy and afterwards. I provide interpretation, counselling and advice as an Independent Midwife in complete confidence.
  

• I am trained in Classical Homeopathy and specialise
  in family health using non-toxic, therapeutic
  medicines that are safe during pregnancy and birth
  and also for the newborn and young children.
  
  

• Homeopathic remedies can be used to stimulate the body and its immune system to heal or rectify a problem. They cannot reach irreversible conditions such as brain damage, and broken bones need to be set by a surgeon whilst remedies are given to promote healing and ease the pain.
  
  
• Homeopathic medicines are not chemicals or herbs; they are made from natural substances that have been systematically diluted beyond their crude state to elicit their safe medicinal property which stimulates our immune system to address any imbalance. They are prescribed on the basis of like cures like.
  
  
• In using remedies for pregnant women and at births, I saw the benefits of women's reaction to the Homeopathic stimulus. I found that they experienced relief from minor ailments and help with the birth and their recovery. Homeopathy is extremely good in aiding recovery from traumas, including forceps deliveries and Caesareans.
  
  
• Homeopathy is the only medicine that can apply itself in birth to release labour- inhibiting factors such as fear or grief. It uses the mother's emotional symptoms as the most important considerations when prescribing a remedy to progress the birth. In contrast, orthodox medicine at this stage may start a cascade of interventions that lead to chemical, mechanical or surgical treatment. Homeopathic remedies are useful for childbearing women because they are non-toxic and can give relief from ailments or emotional disturbances without the need for drugs.
  

Phone: 028 20633 Email: bridgetjim@eircom.net

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