Lara qualified as a midwife from Oxford Brookes University with a first class honours degree in 2013. Following qualification, she was a rotational midwife working clinically across all areas of midwifery including a busy obstetric-led delivery suite at Oxford University Hospital Foundation Trust. Quite quickly into her midwifery journey, Lara realised her passion lay in community midwifery and caseloading and moved to a free-standing midwifery led unit in the Cotswolds. There she provided continuity of carer to women and their families across the childbirth continuum.
Lara has a keen interest in the use of holistical and non-pharmacological therapies in midwifery, including hypnobirthing, which she teaches to women and their families in her spare time. She is also passionate about relationship building in midwifery to support women to make informed decisions around their care, ensuring they feel confident and in control of their pregnancy and birth experience.
During Lara’s time at the birth centre, she was the interim manager for a period of 6 months gaining invaluable leadership and managerial skills. Lara is extremely passionate about positive leadership in the NHS and the effect that it has on a team.
Lara joined the University of Northampton in January 2021 as a Lecturer of Midwifery and has since become the Infant Feeding Lead. Part of this role is to ensure that the baby friendly standards are threaded throughout the Midwifery curriculum and that students are confident, on qualification, to support families with feeding and developing close and loving relationships so that all babies get the best possible start in life.
