A WELL known midwife is set to retire after more than 40 years working for NHS Dumfries and Galloway and delivering thousands of babies.
Alison Rogerson, from Lochmaben, trained as nurse at the South-West College of Midwifery at the Crichton, Dumfries in 1983 and spent the first six months of her career as a staff nurse at Nithbank before becoming a midwife in 1988.
Over the course of her 40 year career Alison has assisted expectant mothers across Annandale and Eskdale as a community midwife and has worked in all three incarnations of the region’s maternity ward, from Cresswell to Mountainhall and now Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary.
Reflecting on her tenure as midwife, Alison yesterday said: “There have been too many highlights in my career, I’ve met so many lovely families and it’s been a privilege to be a part of their lives and birthing stories.
“I’m now at the stage where I’m helping parents who I helped bring into the world and in some cases I’ve met three generations of the same family.
“And because I live within the community I work in I see the children grow up and it’s a beautiful thing.
“I’ve seen people’s approach to childbirth change so much as well, now people are taking photos during the delivery or having a home or a water birth.
“Childbirth is the most magical thing to be a part of. Of course there’s been sad moments as well but I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
Meanwhile, Alison has also seen her own family grow and expand over the years and as a mum-of-three and grandmother, she’s looking to spending more time with them. She said: “I couldn’t be prouder of my three children and now as grandma to three beautiful girls I’m excited to spend more time with them and watch them grow up.
“I’m also looking forward to travelling in our VW campervan and possibly going island hopping off the west coast, but we’ll have to wait and see.”
Alison will officially retire at the end of the month and will be celebrating her retirement on Saturday with her family, friends and colleagues, as well as some of the parents she has helped during her illustrious career.
