I first discovered midwifery during a school careers talk.
It was immediate. Even at 14, I knew this was the work I was meant to do — although at the time, I didn’t yet have the confidence to say it out loud.
Instead, I took a different route. After completing my A levels, I joined the Royal Air Force, serving for five years across the UK and overseas. That experience gave me something invaluable: discipline, resilience, and the confidence to step fully into the career I had always intended to pursue.
When I returned, I trained as a midwife — graduating with a First-Class degree and receiving a Clinical Excellence Award.
I went on to build a senior career specialising in clinical governance and patient safety, including roles as a former Head of Midwifery.
Over the years, I have led and contributed to serious incident investigations, perinatal mortality reviews, and national audits of maternity care.
This work gave me a clear view of what happens behind the scenes when care doesn’t go to plan — and, importantly, how often families are left without clear, honest explanations afterwards.
I began to see a consistent gap:
Families had questions.
But they often didn’t get answers they could truly understand, trust, or use to move forward.
That gap is why I do this work now.
Through independent birth debriefs and maternity care reviews, I offer something that is rarely available within the system:
Clear, evidence-based explanations of what happened
Honest answers without defensiveness or dismissal
An independent perspective, focused entirely on you
Whether you have one question that hasn’t settled, or deeper concerns about the care you received — you are entitled to understand your experience properly.
If you have questions, I will help you find the answers.
I’m ready when you are.
BMid (Hons) 1st Class, University of Southampton
MSc (module) Maternal and Fetal Medicine, University of Southampton (Distinction)
MSc (module) Risk & Midwifery Practice, City University of London (Distinction)
MSc (module) Professional Midwifery Practice, City University of London (Merit)
HSIB Silver level trained patient safety investigator
Fully trained civil, commercial and workplace mediator, London School of Mediation
Root Cause Analysis trained
Physiological CTG interpretation Masterclass trained.
Diversity & Inclusion in Leadership Qualification
Qualified Midwifery Mentor
About me - Marie Watkyns BMid (Hons) 1st Class, MSc.
Mr P - Southampton
“I know its corny but Marie genuinely helped me make sense of a really fast birth and gave us all the strength to carry on”
Gemma P - London
“…I felt truly heard and understood. The guidance and reassurance I received gave me the confidence to trust my instincts again”
Margie A - Petersfield