About us
Core principles
Understanding physiology
Pregnancy, birth and lactation are innate physiological processes. Mind and body awareness are pivotal in the release of oxytocin and endorphins; the hormones of labour and love. These incredible hormones are essential in the birthing process, and play a part in many other physiological changes that take place during labour, birth and breastfeeding.
During your antenatal appointments your midwife will explain the vital role that hormones play in preparing the body to birth, and how to optimise the flow of hormones through relaxation and meditation, intimacy, and mindful movement such as Spinning Babies.
Education
Pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period is a time of immense learning which can at times feel overwhelming with all of the information available. As registered midwives, Essence Midwifery are informed by the latest published maternity research, and will ensure that you are well informed when developing your personal pathways of care and support.
We encourage to grow your understanding of pregnancy, birth, lactation and postpartum through external resources such as allied birth educators, books and podcasts, and connecting with parents groups and online forums.
Autonomy
Essence midwifery are engaged by you to provide up to date evidence based information and ensure that true informed consent is received for each decision that you make under our care.
A balanced understanding of the available research, your individual risk factors, and your desires for your own care and support are integral to true autonomous decision making in the birthing journey.
We will ensure that evidence based information is given and understood, and respect the decisions that you make for your body, birth and baby.
Connection
As midwives, we have a deep faith in the bodies ability to birth naturally. As part of our care, we gently guide you to explore any fears, trauma, or barriers you may have around your bodies ability to birth, so that you can meet labour with a sense of trust and safety.
We encourage you to foster meaningful connections with yourself, your baby, birth partner/s and care providers to ensure that this sense of trust and safety remains continuous throughout your labour and birth.
Our team
Primary Midwife
Robyn Partington | RM, EPPM
I have lived in the beautiful Yarra Valley for over 20 years. I have raised four amazing children, with all the challenges and joys that has involved. My personal pregnancy and birth experiences were life changing, creating a deep passion for pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and motherhood.
5 years attending homebirths as one half of Yarra Valley Midwives has reinforced my deep passion for providing continuity of carer for homebirthing families, and empowering birthing people with evidenced based knowledge, love and respect.
Prior to fully transitioning to Private Practice Midwifery I worked in both a busy Tertiary hospital and at Monash Health Casey Hospital as a Clinical Midwife Specialist. Maternity care should be safe, evidenced based and provided to families without judgement or coercion.
We know the ‘system’ is failing birthing people and families every day, so I come to homebirth midwifery with the intention to provide families with improved birth outcomes, a unique pregnancy and birth experience and a changed narrative around pregnancy and birth.