 Re: Interviews with Student Midwives
What year are you in? Third and final
Whats are your personal circumstances? i.e. married/kids/single etc Living with boyfriend, no kids What did you do before you became a student midwife? I left school and went to study music in Birmingham uni, which I didn't enjoy and so changed to Geography at Birmingham, which I also didn't enjoy. So I left Birmingham with nowt to show for myself and two years wasted, thought about what I wanted to do, applied for midwifery, waited anothr year and half, because of the waiting lists, and tadaaaaaaa, here I am! Why did you choose Midwifery? It's something I had considered briefly as a child, but had always brushed it aside, for some unknown reason. Then I ended up for a couple of weeks in hospital and was in awe of the nurses, thought they were fab! But didn't want to nurse, but do something caring. And then I thought back to midwifery, and it just seemed right, which thankfully, it is, and can't imagine doing anything else! How did you feel on your first day at uni and in practice? On my first day at uni, I was initially excited and raring to go. Then I go a bit demoralised because of all the admin and the long wait until we got on placment. First day in practice, I was excited but mortified at the same time. Daren't speak, just wanted to hide in a corner, and hopefully, have noone speak to me! Please share a highlight of being on the course, so far... Just the mere fact that I am on the course and can bare witness to so many incredible things that the average person will never get to experience. Please share a low point and how you got through that... Normally each time you get given a shedload of assignments, and there doesn't seem to be any end in sight. Also, mentor issues often get me down. The other girls on the course get me through it every time, without fail, and we all pick each other up and encourage each other. They're great, love em all. Do you prefer academic or clinical? Definitely clinical! What is your favourite midwifery text book? Denis Walsh's one What is your favourite midwifery literature book? i.e. babycatcher. I haven't ever read a midwifery literature book! Shame on me! What is your shift preference? earlies/lates/long days and what time to they start and finish Nights, probably. There are no elective sections, and so hopefully there'll be more time to focus on your women. Also, the atmosphere is more relaxed, and the women seem to be too. They start at 8pm and go onto 7.30am. Are you a member of a midwifery organisation? i.e RCM/ARM/LLL RCM Do you feel supported in practice? if yes/no please tell us why that is. Tough one, it changes from hour to hour, depending on who I'm working with, who I'm looking after, and what my hormones are like at the time! But the majority of the time, yes. My mentors generally have a lot of time for me, as a friend and a teacher, and not just in relation to midwifery issues. Do you prefer antenatal/intrapartum/postnatal? and why? I love them all, but probably intrapartum has the edge. I love community placements, especially antenatal, and I love the postnatal ward.... oh, I can't chose, they're all great. But the buzz that you get on labour ward is unique, and the adrenaline gets going, and it's lovely when you feel as though you are being a support to a labouring woman, making her feel less frightened, love it. What are your future plans as a midwife? If only I knew. I would love to travel with it, but eventually settle back home. I want to keep all my skills up to date, and rotate around all areas, if that would be possible, but who knows what the situation in midwifery will be like in a few years time? Wish I did! Maybe MAs will have taken over and we will be surplus to requirement  Share your wisdom.... what would you like to pass on to other students/wanabes? Write down how you feel when you come home from a shift after an amazing day, and you feel on top of the world, you've got no doubts in your mind, feel invincible, and you know that you did a great job and really made a difference to a woman and her family.... And then don't lose that piece of paper!! Anytime you feel remotely down, just look at it and stick it out, and before long you'll feel like that again.
__________________  3rd year Student Midwife
Last edited by MadwifeMcCann; 08-Nov-2007 at 16:51.
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