‘LIVES HAVE BEEN WRECKED’
PREGNANT women came to her from far and wide, drawn by glowing testimonials about a midwife who’d help them give birth in the comfort of their homes, away from the rigours and rigidity of a sterile hospital environment.
She had 11 years’ experience and had delivered hundreds of babies, Yolande Maritz said. So for women wanting a natural birth she seemed like a great alternative to gynaes who were often quick to perform C-sections, sending carefully wrought birthing plans out the window.
But for many moms who came to Yolande, things went horribly wrong. Horror stories have emerged of women nearly dying in labour, of babies left disabled – and, tragically, of death.
At least six newborns died over the past five years, two in August this year, all seemingly healthy infants who never got to take their first breaths.
It took years for the allegations to surface and Yolande carried on with her practice, You & Me, first in Bloemfontein then in Pretoria.
But things have come out now – and the person responsible for opening the can of worms is none other than Yolande’s daughter, Estuné Maritz (21).
The young woman worked with her mom as a doula for four years, emotionally supporting women during labour. The avalanche of accusations against her mom started after Estuné posted on Facebook about a “specific midwife” illegally giving
