Sarah Bayley

Sarah Bayley, Longstanding Birth Companions volunteer
Nearly two decades of showing up for women, on a pink bike
Sarah is an osteopath specialising in paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology. She joined Birth Companions as a volunteer in 2008, initially supporting women from Holloway Prison through labour and birth. Over nearly two decades, her role has evolved from attending births to holding the Birth Companions phone and coordinating support for women in hospital. Her bright pink bike has carried her across London to many births, often in the middle of the night.

Tell me about your connection to Birth Companions

I heard about Birth Companions through a friend. All my work as an osteopath was in private practice and I wanted to do something for communities I wouldn't otherwise have contact with. My friend said, "I think this might suit you."

I contacted Birth Companions and met the very lovely Denise Marshall, who did my training. This was around 2008, when we were principally supporting women from Holloway prison. As well as birth support, the training involved going into the prison and learning how to negotiate the dynamics of supporting women with prison officers in tow.

I started attending births and gradually there were more women being supported in the community. After Holloway closed, I eventually moved over to being a phoneholder. Rather than attending as many births myself, I manned the 24 hour birthline, taking calls from women in labour and arranging birth support with our other volunteers, which is what I'm still doing now.

Is there a particular moment that has stayed with you?

There are many. I remember supporting a woman on a labour ward when another woman being supported by Birth Companions arrived at the same time. The woman I was with wasn't about to give birth, so I ran across to the other woman, who arrived in a wheelchair and rather vocally proceeded to give birth. Afterwards I went back to carry on supporting the first woman. Everything was happening at once.

Another was Christmas Day. A woman had had her baby, who was in special care at Great Ormond Street. I remember cycling through London when it was very quiet, through the empty city, to support her.

There were lots of moments like that – going out at antisocial hours, or waiting with women in labour to get the bus because we couldn't get a cab.

What feels special about Birth Companions?

It's the non-judgmental support for women and the belief that runs throughout the organisation that women shouldn't be on their own giving birth.

It makes such a difference to someone's peace of mind just knowing there's somebody there with them, somebody's got their back. Women can feel very isolated giving birth, so it's really important that they have a person with them if at all possible.

What still needs to change for the women and babies Birth Companions works with?

A complete redistribution of wealth throughout the world would probably sort it out! More women in positions of power would help too.

Birth Companions has done so much policy work around how the system isn't set up to support different groups of women. Ultimately, that's what needs to change.

Finish this sentence: "Birth Companions is..."

Birth Companions is compassionate support for women in positions of vulnerability.

Tell me about the object you've chosen

My bright pink bike. Amazingly for somebody who lives in London, I've nearly always had the same bike going to births. I think it hasn't been stolen because it's bright pink!

I live relatively near the Whittington, so in the middle of the night it was easier to zip down on my bike. You're often going out at quite antisocial hours, and a bicycle is a good way to get around.

Photography by Sarah Ainslie
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