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15-Nov-2007, 22:25
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 Independent Midwives Questionnaire If you would like to complete the questionnaire, please copy and paste into a reply box and then answer the questions and post yor reply. Thankyou. What is an independent midwife? How long after qualification did you become and independent midwife; did you work in any other areas of midwifery previously? How does an independent midwife differ from those working in a hospital or birth centre environment? Considering the autonomy you have working independently, does the responsibility daunt you at all when working outside the normal support network of PCT, Hospitals and other health services? Whats are your personal circumstances? i.e. married/kids/single etc What did you do before you became an independent midwife? Why did you choose Midwifery? How did you feel on your first day in practice, after qualifying? Please share a highlight of being an independent midwife, so far... Please share a low point and how you got through that... What is your favourite midwifery text book? What is your favourite midwifery literature book? i.e. babycatcher. What is your shift preference? earlies/lates/long days and what time to they start and finish Are you a member of a midwifery organisation? i.e RCM/ARM/LLL Do you feel supported by your supervisor of midwives? if yes/no please tell us why that is. What are your future plans as a midwife? Please give us an idea of your normal working day activities…. Share your wisdom.... what would you like to pass on to other students/wanabes?
__________________ Josie StudentMidwife.NET Co-founder & Director  
Last Blog Entry: Running a busy forum...in pyjamas. (01-Apr-2008)  |
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16-Nov-2007, 15:31
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| Re: Independent Midwives Questionnaire OMG!!! Do you want my bra size too!!!! LOL  I will answer these questions as honestly as I can! Just give me a few days to get through them!!!! Only messin' Vic xxx
__________________ Vicky Liverpool Independent Midwives  |
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16-Nov-2007, 19:33
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| Re: Independent Midwives Questionnaire Answer mine first  hehehe
__________________ Advisor & Moderator Supervisor
Last Blog Entry: My goal is in sight.... (13-Apr-2008) |
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11-Dec-2007, 07:56
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| Re: Independent Midwives Questionnaire Hi Guys I'm sorry I haven't been in touch recently. My dad had a massive heart attack a few weeks ago and I've been a bit consumed with that. I will reply to this thread asap. Haven't forgotton you!! Vic x
__________________ Vicky Liverpool Independent Midwives |
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11-Dec-2007, 08:48
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| Re: Independent Midwives Questionnaire Vic I am so sorry to hear your sad news. I hope your Dad is on the mend and wish him a speedy recovery to full health. Sending you both a big hug  Jxx
__________________ Josie StudentMidwife.NET Co-founder & Director
Last Blog Entry: Running a busy forum...in pyjamas. (01-Apr-2008) |
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11-Dec-2007, 10:36
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| Re: Independent Midwives Questionnaire Hi I have looked at your questions and have posted my answers below: The words in bold are my answers... What is an independent midwife? An IM is a qualified midwife who has had the same training as everybody else and abides by the NMC rules etc... and who is supervised like other midwives. The difference is that we provide complete one to one care for the entire pregnancy, birth and postnatal period. We take a more holistic family centred approach and many of us have extra skills in alternative therapies and specialise in home birth and home waterbirth. We develop a very close relationship with women and their families and promote true choice, continuity and control. Women are very much active participants in care and not passive recipients of care and my relationship is more as a partner with the woman. We are self employed and therefore charge for our services. Most of us work completelY outside of the NHS but some do bank work or have honorary contracts. How long after qualification did you become and independent midwife; did you work in any other areas of midwifery previously? I went straight into IM from qualification and I was planning my career as a student so I would be ready to go straight in. I obviously didn't work anywhere else previously but I do still do bank night shifts at our local MLU. How does an independent midwife differ from those working in a hospital or birth centre environment? IM's differ in that we are not bound by hospital/birth centre protocols or guidelines. We are free to work truly evidence based and as we are not under pressure from shift leaders/senior midwives, we can truly practice autonomously. We also work mainly in the home and homebirth is commonplace in IM practice. Most of us also look to alternative therapies when tackling 'problems' or conditions. For example, homeopathy for heartburn rather than that horid Gaviscon and moxibustion for breech presentation. Considering the autonomy you have working independently, does the responsibility daunt you at all when working outside the normal support network of PCT, Hospitals and other health services? Absolutely!! It is a huge responsibility we all have anyway, but when we are getting back to basics and using our instincts, senses and communication to assess labour we really have to have our wits about us. I often have times when I question myself , i.e. the long second stage...do I continue at home or not?? I'm not sure that midwives really have a true support network on the NHS nowdays though...correct me if I'm wrong. Midwives are so stretched when on shift, they barely have time to have a wee and a cuppa never mind offer support to colleagues. I have also seen midwives being totally dropped by fellow midwives when things have gone wrong... who? me? I didn't see anything!! Whats are your personal circumstances? i.e. married/kids/single etc I am married and we have 3 children. I have a very supportive husband who doesn't mind if he doesn't see me for days on end and doesn't complain when my mobile goes off in the middle of the night. What did you do before you became an independent midwife? In my former life, I was an office manager and before then I worked for customs and excise. Did some HCA work here and there too. Why did you choose Midwifery? Ooh the hardest question of all... well it's a bit corny I suppose. I just find the whole conception, pregnancy and birth thing absolutely amazing. I don't know how many babies I have delivered now, but every single one is special. It never ceases to amaze me when I have looked after a woman through pregnancy from when her baby was the size of a grain of rice right through to full term, listening to that baby with the pinards in labour, totally dependent on it's mother for everything and then suddenly it's born and completely independent....I'm not religious but it's a miracle and a total priviliege to see. How did you feel on your first day in practice, after qualifying? Proud and scared. It took my ages to get used to people calling me a midwife...it was surreal for a while. I think we get so consumed in our studies that when we qualify it's like being liberated...but then everything you have worked for comes together when you take on your first client and all the stuff you said as a student to your women, then comes pouring out of your mouth as a midwife but the difference is...it's your advice and your signature on the paperwork and your responsibility! Please share a highlight of being an independent midwife, so far... My first home waterbirth was fantastic. We had worked so hard preparing for birth but when my lady went into labour she blossomed and just went into a world of her own. She knew exactly what she doing, she was totally in control and birthed her baby in water with her husband by her side. I just sat quietly in the corner while she used her instincts to work through labour. She was truly beautiful during this time and it moved me to tears. Please share a low point and how you got through that... Most of my low times have been during my time as a bank midwife to be honest, but as you are asking as an IM...then, it must be when I was up against opposition from NHS midwives and managers when I first went into practice. It was hard getting to grips with being newly qualified, practising on my own, starting a business and gaining my confidence without getting knocked down by midwives who were either jealous or just didn't get it! I have a fantastic supervisor who helped me through this and the women who were booked with me at the time spurred me on. What is your favourite midwifery text book? Ooh that's hard..I think Spiritual Midwifery by Ina May Gaskin. What is your favourite midwifery literature book? i.e. babycatcher. Don't really have one to be honest. What is your shift preference? earlies/lates/long days and what time to they start and finish Well I obviously don't have shifts. I work around my women which means that I could start at 7am and finish at 11pm. I go on call for upto 6 weeks per woman too. As a bank midwife I work nights which start at 9pm and finish at 7.45am. Are you a member of a midwifery organisation? i.e RCM/ARM/LLL I am a member of IMA, ARM, NCT, LLL. I was a member of the RCM but as we pay full fees and don't even get insurance from them...I pulled out....waste of time. Do you feel supported by your supervisor of midwives? if yes/no please tell us why that is. Absolutely. It took me a while to find one who was supportive and sympathetic to my needs, but she loves what I do and will back me up when the going gets touch with NHS midwives. What are your future plans as a midwife? I am going to practice as an IM for as long as possible and I am expanding next year and I will be taking on 3 midwives to work with me. Beyond that, I don't know as the indemnity insurance issue may change things for me. If I can't work independent then I will probably leave midwifery. Please give us an idea of your normal working day activities…. Ok, in the morning I do the paperwork that I will probably need for the day and answer emails from clients. I try and make my first appointment after 9.30am as I usually need to travel a long way to my clients and want to avoid heavy traffic. (I travel upto 50 miles one way to client). I don't have more than 3 appointments in one day as I like to allow 2-3 hours per visit. During the day, I will take phone calls and texts from clients, colleagues etc... I usually have to pop into one of the local hospitals to drop off waste, PKU's, paperwork etc... Upon my return home, I have more paperwork to do, phone calls to make to hospitals, SOMS, GP's HV's etc... I back these up with letters out too. I then do the business side of things... accounting etc... I take my phone to bed in case anyone has any worries durin the night (most common with new postnatal women) and for if I'm on call...which I usally am for most of the time. If I am working a night, I will make my appointments after 3pm and do them after I wake up. It's a bit of a mad rush though if I'm doing a few nights in a row and having to do appointments as well. Share your wisdom.... what would you like to pass on to other students/wanabes? Stay focussed on why you want to be a midwife and remember that although it is hard to make decisions for yourself as a student, once qualified you are an autonomous practitioner. Midwifery is a very influential profession and you will remain in the memory of women forever. Therefore you have a responsibility to yourself, the women and the profession to be the best practitioner that you can and remain woman centred. PHEW! XXX
__________________ Vicky Liverpool Independent Midwives |
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11-Dec-2007, 14:50
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| Re: Independent Midwives Questionnaire Thanks Vic, really appreciate you taking the time to complete the questionnaire 
__________________ Josie StudentMidwife.NET Co-founder & Director
Last Blog Entry: Running a busy forum...in pyjamas. (01-Apr-2008) |
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| Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
| Community Midwife Questionnaire | Josie | Interviews with Midwives RM | 6 | 31-Mar-2008 10:46 |
| Any Independent Midwives on board? | Josie | Student Midwife Discussion | 4 | 11-Dec-2007 15:07 |
| Independent Vs Hospitalised Midwifery | Josie | Student Midwife Discussion | 36 | 11-Dec-2007 10:43 |
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