What year are you in?
2 (but only just!)

Whats are your personal circumstances?
i.e. married/kids/single etc
single, DS 8 and DD 5

What did you do before you became a student midwife?
researcher at BBC radio 3

Why did you choose Midwifery?
i needed to retrain as had become disillusioned with the world of media (dahling!)...looked around and realised that only teaching or health care would pay me to retrain! Realised after being a childminder for a year or so that teaching was not for me as really didnt have the patience! Did not have 'the calling' for midwifery as so many seem to have, the training money called for me!

How did you feel on your first day at uni and in practice?
first day in uni was not great. So many people already knew each other from having done access which i hadnt so felt i would have to work hard to infiltrate 'the groups'. Instead I ended up conciously searching out the only other person who didnt seem to have done access and also knew no one else and then stuck like glue to her! - we have been firm friends ever since! Needless to say, the groups didnt last that long, and we have all got to know one another really well.
First day in placement was scary!!

Please share a highlight of being on the course, so far...
too many to mention! but right now i would say it is going into the second year and really being able to reflect on everything that I have learnt so far.

Please share a low point and how you got through that...
my first catch. It was a lovely normal labour with low risk woman but baby came out and never ever took a breath. Heart rate was fine but just never breathed. Baby was in scbu for 3 days before decision made to turn off machines. Was just such an awful experience. Blood cultrues came back positive for cytomeglavirus, which in this one case turned out to be fatal. Dealt with it badly at first, but after a while understood that it wasnt my fault and it wasnt my grief...if that makes sense? In other words you can be upset for them and empathise with them, but it is not your baby that has died.

Do you prefer academic or clinical?
both for different reasons. Academic - to see my mates and to have some normal predicatble hours in my life. Clinical - to put theory into practice and be with woman.

What is your favourite midwifery text book?
johnson and taylor skills for midwifery practice - invaluable in placement

What is your favourite midwifery literature book? i.e. babycatcher.
oh dear can't remember the title, sorry. Think it might be called a midwifes tale. It's the one about the midwife in the amish community

What is your shift preference? earlies/lates/long days and what time to they start and finish
never done earlies or lates so not sure of times. Long days are 7.30 - 8.30 and nights are 8-8. Prefer long days as child care for ngihts is a pain in the arse to organise

Are you a member of a midwifery organisation? i.e RCM/ARM/LLL
RCM, ARM

Do you feel supported in practice? if yes/no please tell us why that is.
yes, most of the time. have had some great mentors. and know who tell if i dont!

Do you feel supported at Uni? if yes/no please tell us why that is.
feel so well supported. Have a great personal tutor, she's always good for a strike when you're feeling down! Also good supportive pathway leader. Student support services also accessible

Do you prefer antenatal/intrapartum/postnatal? and why?
again, all 3 for different reasons. If i really had to choose though, i guess it would be postnatal and seeing the family complete and helping transition to motherhood

What are your future plans as a midwife?
the world is my lobster!!!

Share your wisdom.... what would you like to pass on to other students/wanabes?
when the going gets tough - the tough get going! Hang in there, stay motivated, enjoy,,,,and appreciatte women!

__________________
Site Administrator, Student Mentor Scheme Manager

STMW 2nd year - no, really!