about sensitive midwifery
Sensitive Midwifery aims to improve midwifery, pregnancy, birth, and parenting by providing midwives and maternity professionals with inspiration, updated evidence-based information, insights, and perspectives that promote natural, physiological, instinctive care for mothers and babies. This is achieved through initiatives such as Sensitive Midwifery Events (Symposiums, Seminars, Workshops, Webinars), the Sensitive Midwifery Academy, Newsletters, Blog, Podcast and Social Media, which also share research updates, tips, and insights. Through our Sensitive Midwife Memberships, midwives join our network and gain access to accredited masterclasses, our trusted practitioner listing, exclusive community support and more!
As the professional brand of Sister Lilian Centre (PTY) Ltd, Sensitive Midwifery was founded in 1996 by Sister Lilian Paramor, a leading South African midwife and advisor. She recognised that many pregnancy, birth, and parenting challenges stemmed from a lack of sensitive perinatal care and set out to change this: first for her clients, and later for midwives nationwide.
The first Sensitive Midwifery Symposium soon expanded to multiple cities and neighbouring countries, even attracting international delegates. In 2008, Sensitive Midwifery Magazine was launched, widening the community’s reach. Today, the growing Sensitive Midwifery Academy continues to develop educational initiatives for the online and global midwifery community.
meet the team
Dr. Margreet Barnardt
Margreet Barnardt is a Midwife Specialist, and a passionate South African born of Dutch parents. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Midwifery from the Artevelde Hogeschool in Gent, Belgium in 2002, and furthered her studies with a BCur Honours in Advanced Midwifery and Neonatal Nursing Science (2012) and a Master’s Research degree in Midwifery (2014), both from the Nelson Mandela University in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Margreet has completed her PhD at the same university where she has also assisted as a student mentor for advanced midwife students. Her PhD looked at strategies to scale-up clinical midwifery practices in South Africa. She has published various articles and presented at various conferences, both nationally and internationally.
Margreet’s first work experience as a new midwife was in the Netherlands, which is known for its strong midwifery-led model of care. After relocating to South Africa, she gained experience in both the public and private sector and became acutely aware of the many midwifery dynamics and challenges in South Africa. This moved her to start a specialised midwifery clinic in 2009 – the Healthy Mom and Baby Clinic (HMBC) in Jeffreys Bay – which is a non-profit organisation committed to delivering professional private care to the most vulnerable and underprivileged women. Margreet firmly believes that the clinic is a blueprint that can be replicated in other communities and is an answer to addressing maternal and neonatal morbidities and mortality. HMBC has served as a training centre for international students and several South African nurses and. While directing the clinic, Margreet also worked as an independent midwife, becoming well known as ‘The Surfing Midwife’. She has become an advocate for a better birthing culture in South Africa.
Through engaging with the founder and director of the Sister Lilian Centre, widely known as Sister Lilian, and its Sensitive Midwifery initiatives, she was identified as a worthy leadership successor for the company. Having undergone an extensive mentoring period with Sister Lilian, Margreet assumed the position of General Manager of the Sister Lilian Centre and Sensitive Midwifery in January 2019. This enables Margreet to continue working for all pregnant women, babies and families on a far greater scale, and to be a voice for and champion of the midwifery profession as a whole, on a national and international platform.
Gillian Richards
Gillian Richards is the longest standing team member of Sensitive Midwifery. She has been with the organisation since 2007 and has journeyed through all the twists and changes into what the company is today. She is the friendly voice and face behind the scenes and is involved with marketing activities and organisation of the Sensitive Midwifery Symposium and Academy. She is dedicated to the vision and mission of Sensitive Midwifery, beyond the call of duty.
The highlight of her work is the rewarding feedback she receives from the Symposium attendees, once she has worked hard to market, motivate and register delegates to the Symposium year after year.
Gillian is a proud mother of two daughters. She likes to listen to music and spending quality time with her family to unwind the hectic days.
our vision, mission & core values
vision
Sensitive Midwifery and the Sister Lilian Centre see a world that values midwifery and creates and raises children in a way which liberates the best in each and every individual.
mission
To be leaders in improving midwifery, pregnancy, birth, parenting, health and family life, because families grow the next generation and shape the future of humankind.
core values
Intuition. Integrity. Individuality. We consciously set out to make a difference, with impeccable service delivery and an inclusive approach in all we do.
about sensitive midwifery
Sensitive Midwifery aims to improve midwifery, pregnancy, birth, and parenting by providing midwives and maternity professionals with inspiration, updated evidence-based information, insights, and perspectives that promote natural, physiological, instinctive care for mothers and babies. This is achieved through initiatives such as Sensitive Midwifery Events (Symposiums, Seminars, Workshops, Webinars), the Sensitive Midwifery Academy, Newsletters, Blog, Podcast and Social Media, which also share research updates, tips, and insights. Through our Sensitive Midwife Memberships, midwives join our network and gain access to accredited masterclasses, our trusted practitioner listing, exclusive community support and more!
As the professional brand of Sister Lilian Centre (PTY) Ltd, Sensitive Midwifery was founded in 1996 by Sister Lilian Paramor, a leading South African midwife and advisor. She recognised that many pregnancy, birth, and parenting challenges stemmed from a lack of sensitive perinatal care and set out to change this: first for her clients, and later for midwives nationwide.
The first Sensitive Midwifery Symposium soon expanded to multiple cities and neighbouring countries, even attracting international delegates. In 2008, Sensitive Midwifery Magazine was launched, widening the community’s reach. Today, the growing Sensitive Midwifery Academy continues to develop educational initiatives for the online and global midwifery community.
meet the team
Dr. Margreet Barnardt
Margreet Barnardt is a Midwife Specialist, and a passionate South African born of Dutch parents. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Midwifery from the Artevelde Hogeschool in Gent, Belgium in 2002, and furthered her studies with a BCur Honours in Advanced Midwifery and Neonatal Nursing Science (2012) and a Master’s Research degree in Midwifery (2014), both from the Nelson Mandela University in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Margreet has completed her PhD at the same university where she has also assisted as a student mentor for advanced midwife students. Her PhD looked at strategies to scale-up clinical midwifery practices in South Africa. She has published various articles and presented at various conferences, both nationally and internationally.
Margreet’s first work experience as a new midwife was in the Netherlands, which is known for its strong midwifery-led model of care. After relocating to South Africa, she gained experience in both the public and private sector and became acutely aware of the many midwifery dynamics and challenges in South Africa. This moved her to start a specialised midwifery clinic in 2009 – the Healthy Mom and Baby Clinic (HMBC) in Jeffreys Bay – which is a non-profit organisation committed to delivering professional private care to the most vulnerable and underprivileged women. Margreet firmly believes that the clinic is a blueprint that can be replicated in other communities and is an answer to addressing maternal and neonatal morbidities and mortality. HMBC has served as a training centre for international students and several South African nurses and. While directing the clinic, Margreet also worked as an independent midwife, becoming well known as ‘The Surfing Midwife’. She has become an advocate for a better birthing culture in South Africa.
Through engaging with the founder and director of the Sister Lilian Centre, widely known as Sister Lilian, and its Sensitive Midwifery initiatives, she was identified as a worthy leadership successor for the company. Having undergone an extensive mentoring period with Sister Lilian, Margreet assumed the position of General Manager of the Sister Lilian Centre and Sensitive Midwifery in January 2019. This enables Margreet to continue working for all pregnant women, babies and families on a far greater scale, and to be a voice for and champion of the midwifery profession as a whole, on a national and international platform.
Gillian Richards
Gillian Richards is the longest standing team member of Sensitive Midwifery. She has been with the organisation since 2007 and has journeyed through all the twists and changes into what the company is today. She is the friendly voice and face behind the scenes and is involved with marketing activities and organisation of the Sensitive Midwifery Symposium and Academy. She is dedicated to the vision and mission of Sensitive Midwifery, beyond the call of duty.
The highlight of her work is the rewarding feedback she receives from the Symposium attendees, once she has worked hard to market, motivate and register delegates to the Symposium year after year.
Gillian is a proud mother of two daughters. She likes to listen to music and spending quality time with her family to unwind the hectic days.
our vision, mission & core values
vision
Sensitive Midwifery and the Sister Lilian Centre see a world that values midwifery and creates and raises children in a way which liberates the best in each and every individual.
mission
To be leaders in improving midwifery, pregnancy, birth, parenting, health and family life, because families grow the next generation and shape the future of humankind.
core values
Intuition. Integrity. Individuality. We consciously set out to make a difference, with impeccable service delivery and an inclusive approach in all we do.
