Blacktown Hospital midwife Agatha Osifo one of the busiest in NSW

The following piece was first published in the Blacktown Advocate.  Alumni Agatha Osifo is a former Graduate Diploma of Midwifery student.

Blacktown Hospital Midwife Agatha Osifo.

If THERE'S one thing Agatha Osifo has learned in her years of midwifery, it's that you should always trust the mother.

After spending 15 years at Blacktown Hospital, and delivering almost 1000 babies, the senior midwife knows a thing or two about the birthing process, but she says mothers always know best.

"I always tell the mother, 'I believe you' when she says something is wrong or the baby is coming, I say 'OK' and always listen to them," Mrs Osifo, 51, from Cherrybrook said.

Time spent in the hospital's maternity unit has seen Mrs Osifo deliver between 45 and 84 babies a year, with the hospital welcoming a dizzying 3249 babies in 2015-16, Western Sydney Local Health District's Year in Review data shows.

Agatha gives mum Swetha Chikoti a break while cradling Anay Noone.
Blacktown has been sitting at the top of the ladder for NSW births for five consecutive years making the midwives some of the busiest in the state.

"Whenever we get a new trainee I always pull them aside and tell them to stay calm," Mrs Osifo said.

"Sometimes emotions can be tested and sometimes it's going to be difficult or tough, but just be yourself and be calm and make sure the mother has the best birthing experience possible."

Blacktown's high birth rate ensures Agatha is always busy.
The Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages says that in 2015 there were 784 newborns from mothers who lived in the suburb of Blacktown.

Auburn was second with 740 births and in 100th spot was Charlestown in Newcastle with 174 births.

Blacktown also took out number one spot in 2014 with 846 babies, in 2013 (823 babies), 2011 (849 babies), 2006 (693) and 2001 (634) births.

"Every birth is different and unique," Mrs Osifo said.

"I'm so happy that I get to play a hand in all these births ... to bring a new life into the world is truly beautiful and I love it."

The next four years is expected to see 31,012 births in the Blacktown local government area, with Mrs Osifo ready for the challenge.

"I love my job," the mother of two daughters and one son said. "I love being there for the mothers, even for the unexpected births."

Mrs Osifo has delivered babies in hallways, and with a few seconds notice but says regardless, she is always on top of her emotions.

"You can't let anything get to you. If a mother is screaming 'Oh the baby is coming now', and you're still in the hallway, you say 'OK', and you deliver the baby, even if you have to get a sheet and a wheelchair spread out waiting for her. No gloves, no equipment, no worries, you've got to make sure the mother has a safe birth and it's the midwife who should be prepared for all births."