​I know what it is like to arrive in a new country and have to start again.

When I moved to Italy, I had to find my way around a new language, a new culture and a completely different way of doing things. The beginning wasn't always easy. There was a lot to learn, and a lot of things I simply didn't know yet.

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But little by little, Italy started to feel like home.

I also discovered something I really appreciate about living here: if you make the effort to learn the language and understand the culture, people notice. Italians are often very welcoming, and over time I found my own people, my own places and my own way of living here.

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From midwife to Accanto

Before starting Accanto, my experience as a midwife brought me to Policlinico di Modena, where I supported women and couples throughout pregnancy, labour and the first moments after birth.

I also cared for several international couples.

I quickly noticed how much it helped them to have someone who could speak English with them. Being in an Italian hospital can already be a lot to take in. During pregnancy and birth, when there are questions, decisions and sometimes unexpected things happening, having someone you can properly communicate with makes a real difference.

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It made me think about my own experience of arriving in Italy. When I first came here, there were plenty of moments when I wished I had someone nearby who could simply explain how things worked, tell me what to expect and help me find my way.

And I realised that, as a midwife who had also gone through that experience as a foreigner, I could offer exactly that.

Not just information about pregnancy and birth, but someone who understands what it is like to do all of this in a country that isn't your own.

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That is where the idea for Accanto started. It means “beside” or “by your side” in Italian.

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And that is really what I want to be for the families I work with: a midwife who understands the system, speaks your language, and is there beside you as you find your way through pregnancy, birth and those first weeks with your baby.

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And so, Accanto came to life.

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Being able to bond so quickly, in such a short time, is what gives me energy.

People allowing me being part of this special moment, is what makes me thankful.