hi, I’m studying to be a student midwife currently in uni and all I hear is bad news and upset at the profession which is disheartening as it’s something I’ve always wanted to do, do you have any advice or experiences you could share with me?
Oh Ellie, congratulations on entering the best profession in the world! Honestly I loved so much of my time as a student midwife and as a midwife and many of my university peers are still midwives twenty years on.
I think my best advice would be to look after yourself and enjoy it … it was harder once I had my own babies and no family nearby… that certainly added to the stress for me.
I wish I would have had the foresight and time to look after myself more.. go to the gym, go out with friends, even to get some sleep after a night shift became a luxury with two little ones at home.
I loved being a midwife and I did plan to go back once my girls were older but time ticked on and it never happened.
Don’t be put off… everyone’s circumstances are different… in hindsight I could have coped better if my personal life was not so difficult at the time.
I can’t lie.. the system sucks… shortage of midwives, heavy caseloads etc but the job itself is like no other… life enhancing and full of love and ooh the babies 👶
Take it one shift at a time, ask for help when you need it and be proud of being part of the best profession in the world.
Good luck. Always here if you want to chat or share. ☺️
Perfect… I’ll be here. Take your time Melina… it’s a lot of work
(in so many ways) but also the training is a great experience in itself so you want to be in the best position to enjoy it. I didn’t start writing until I was 50… there is always time to start a new journey.
Oh go for it Melina… It really is the best profession… it was an honour and a privilege to care for women and their babies. I have some amazing memories and I learned so much. Midwifery is a joy and a gift… the system is appalling but don’t let that steal your joy. 🫶
Thank you 🥹 I hope to be able to do part practice and part research so I can feel like I’m both doing the hands on work and trying to make the system a little better !!
Brilliant… ‘hands on’ is an education in itself and will really help inform your research and understanding. Do shout out if you have any questions or want a chat… midwifery needs people like you and Ellie .
It’s definitely at least a few years down the line prospect, maybe at least until after my first baby? Kinda scared it would stress me out ahah, maybe that’s silly. But yes will definitely reach out for a proper chat once its time to make the jump!
Thank you so much for posting this. Sadly there are so many of us aren’t there? All that training, all that hard work and sacrifice, all those hopes and dreams.. all gone. What a waste… midwifery is always in my heart, even when it’s not so acutely in my life ❤️
Thanks for reading Mmerikani. We need to open more eyes to system of ‘care’ that childbearing women are forced to endure and work in (most midwives are female and the male ones tend to ascend the ranks quickly). It is jarring. It makes me really angry. But also really sad. I loved my job. I loved my patients. I will always be proud of the time I spent as a midwife and I will never stop advocating for the rights of all childbearing women.
Thank you for using your story to advocate for this — this is f*cked and also not surprising given how our global economy is structured. Care needs to be sacred and resourced 💕
Absolutely….the care I wanted to give was sacred, holistic, empowering and tender….not dashing from bed to bed making sure everyone was (just about) safe. I have subscribed to you.. we seem to be on the same page. ❤️
It's indeed so tied to the way our economy is structured... that's partly what the Institute is trying to research, better ways of embedding care work and care systems into our economic fabric, so they don't have to rely on goodwill or philanthropy!
hi, I’m studying to be a student midwife currently in uni and all I hear is bad news and upset at the profession which is disheartening as it’s something I’ve always wanted to do, do you have any advice or experiences you could share with me?
Oh Ellie, congratulations on entering the best profession in the world! Honestly I loved so much of my time as a student midwife and as a midwife and many of my university peers are still midwives twenty years on.
I think my best advice would be to look after yourself and enjoy it … it was harder once I had my own babies and no family nearby… that certainly added to the stress for me.
I wish I would have had the foresight and time to look after myself more.. go to the gym, go out with friends, even to get some sleep after a night shift became a luxury with two little ones at home.
I loved being a midwife and I did plan to go back once my girls were older but time ticked on and it never happened.
Don’t be put off… everyone’s circumstances are different… in hindsight I could have coped better if my personal life was not so difficult at the time.
I can’t lie.. the system sucks… shortage of midwives, heavy caseloads etc but the job itself is like no other… life enhancing and full of love and ooh the babies 👶
Take it one shift at a time, ask for help when you need it and be proud of being part of the best profession in the world.
Good luck. Always here if you want to chat or share. ☺️
Beautiful advice!! I’m myself planning to potentially go to midwifery school in the next few years so it’s lovely to hear.
Perfect… I’ll be here. Take your time Melina… it’s a lot of work
(in so many ways) but also the training is a great experience in itself so you want to be in the best position to enjoy it. I didn’t start writing until I was 50… there is always time to start a new journey.
Oh go for it Melina… It really is the best profession… it was an honour and a privilege to care for women and their babies. I have some amazing memories and I learned so much. Midwifery is a joy and a gift… the system is appalling but don’t let that steal your joy. 🫶
Thank you 🥹 I hope to be able to do part practice and part research so I can feel like I’m both doing the hands on work and trying to make the system a little better !!
Brilliant… ‘hands on’ is an education in itself and will really help inform your research and understanding. Do shout out if you have any questions or want a chat… midwifery needs people like you and Ellie .
It’s definitely at least a few years down the line prospect, maybe at least until after my first baby? Kinda scared it would stress me out ahah, maybe that’s silly. But yes will definitely reach out for a proper chat once its time to make the jump!
Thank you! 😊 x
I feel this in my bones. I'm wrote part of my experience here. We're not alone: https://taylorfriesen.substack.com/p/on-leaving-midwifery-part-i
Just read your piece, very sad to see the experience carries across borders. Thank you for your work!
Thank you so much for posting this. Sadly there are so many of us aren’t there? All that training, all that hard work and sacrifice, all those hopes and dreams.. all gone. What a waste… midwifery is always in my heart, even when it’s not so acutely in my life ❤️
This is eye-opening, slowly and then jarringly. Very necessary to read. Thank you.
Thanks for reading Mmerikani. We need to open more eyes to system of ‘care’ that childbearing women are forced to endure and work in (most midwives are female and the male ones tend to ascend the ranks quickly). It is jarring. It makes me really angry. But also really sad. I loved my job. I loved my patients. I will always be proud of the time I spent as a midwife and I will never stop advocating for the rights of all childbearing women.
Thank you for reading!
Thank you for using your story to advocate for this — this is f*cked and also not surprising given how our global economy is structured. Care needs to be sacred and resourced 💕
Absolutely….the care I wanted to give was sacred, holistic, empowering and tender….not dashing from bed to bed making sure everyone was (just about) safe. I have subscribed to you.. we seem to be on the same page. ❤️
It's indeed so tied to the way our economy is structured... that's partly what the Institute is trying to research, better ways of embedding care work and care systems into our economic fabric, so they don't have to rely on goodwill or philanthropy!