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 does being a hospital based midwife involve?

How long after qualification did you become a hospital based midwife and did you work in any other areas of midwifery previously?

How does the role of a hospital midwife differ from those working in the community, a birth centre or within an independent practice?

Whats are your personal circumstances?
i.e. married/kids/single etc

What did you do before you became a hospital based midwife?

Why did you choose Midwifery?

How did you feel on your first day in practice, after qualifying?

Please share a highlight of being a hospital based 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.

How do you keep up to date with evidence based practice and how easy do you find it to implement this into your care whilst working within the constraints of local protocols?

What are your future plans as a midwife?

Share your wisdom.... what would you like to pass on to other students/wanabes?

Describe your ‘day in the life’ of a hospital based midwife

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Josie
StudentMidwife.NET Co-founder & Director

How many questions??!! I have numbered them them to make it easier for me to answer.

1. Rotation between Labour ward, antenatal ward, postnatal ward, transitional care ward and day assessment unit.

2. Qualified sept '06, started work oct '06, never worked in other areas of midwifery.

3. Unsure how the roles differ due to limited experience of community, birth centres and independent practice.

4. Seperated with children.

5. Student!!

6. Moment of madness after having my youngest.

7. Scared.

8. Having a baby named after me on Easter day, following a sucessful VBAC.

9. Lots of low points for different reasons, always get support from collegues.

10. Both Mayes and Myles for different reasons.

11. My fav author at the moment is Jennifer Worth.

12. Nights 9pm - 8am.

13. RCM.

14. Yes because shes very down to earth and approachable.

15. Pass - answer too long!

16. No question is too 'silly' to ask, its better to ask than to make a clinical mistake.

17. Pass - answer too long!


PHEW!!! Ignore the spelling mistakes.

Madwife, thankyou so much your time and patience with completing the questionnaire is very appreciated

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Josie
StudentMidwife.NET Co-founder & Director

What does being a hospital based midwife involve?
We do three month rotations to delivery suite and the ante/postnatal ward - although if it's busy staff are moved to where the women are so you could be working anywhere.

How long after qualification did you become a hospital based midwife and did you work in any other areas of midwifery previously?
I started work in the hospital I trained at as soon as I qualified - I did MCA shifts until my registration came through as we were broke - I also felt if I was out of the unit for 6 weeks or so then going in as a NQM, I'd be more scared!

How does the role of a hospital midwife differ from those working in the community, a birth centre or within an independent practice?
Obviously we see more high risk women than you would encounter in birth centres and so on. However, I feel that the role of the midwife is no different - there are just variations in how we fulfill the role because of the needs of the women. I don't think that I have an 'obstetric' philosophy just because I work in a hospital, it is possible to practice in a woman centred intuitive way in a hospital environment - it's just more challenging to keep this ethos at times.

Whats are your personal circumstances?
i.e. married/kids/single etc
I'm married with three kids and a dog, I live in a tiny little seaside town where I walk on the beach most days

What did you do before you became a hospital based midwife?
I was a student midwife! I was a teacher before becoming a midwife

Why did you choose Midwifery?
My second son was delivered by a student midwife, and chatting with her piqued my interest. It was a few years later before I took the plunge though. I love working with and supporting the women I care for, I love to support them in their decisions, to see the glow when they've 'done it' or to see nervy primips going home as more confident mums.

How did you feel on your first day in practice, after qualifying?
Crapping myself! I had a very scary first shift - when I got home my DH asked how it went - I was all for phoning round for some supply teacher work!

Please share a highlight of being a hospital based midwife, so far...
So many... Being able to give continuity through teaching parent ed - the first time mums are so pleased to see a familiar face. Working with a student who had only seen epidural/synto births, for the first low key calm birth in a dimly lit relaxed room that she had seen. Recently looking after a VBAC who wasn't sure she could - and crying with both of them when she did.

Please share a low point and how you got through that...
A massive PPH following an instrumental birth - the woman was a relative of a good friend and she went down so quickly - her BP was so low it was unrecordable for 7-8 minutes. I really thought she wasn't going to make it - I was so scared. I 'specialed' her for the rest of the shift, and went in the next night (my day off) to talk things through with them, She didn't remember much but her partner was in bits. I talked it through with the doc and the G grade I'd got in sharpish, that helped me to get my head around it, and through watching them and the critical care and outreach team I learned a lot.
The lowest point for me has been watching a friend and someone I will always think of as my mentor being hounded out of the profession. It has made me question the role of midwifery regulation, but mostly immensely saddened at the loss of an amazing, true midwife. I will always be grateful that I had the privilege of working with this person as a student, an experience that made me the midwife I am.

What is your favourite midwifery text book?
Hearts and Hands - Elizabeth Davies. Quite americanised, but the palpation pictures are fab

What is your favourite midwifery literature book? i.e. babycatcher.
A Child is Born by L. Neilsson (?spelling)

What is your shift preference? earlies/lates/long days and what time to they start and finish
Nights - 1915 - 0745

Are you a member of a midwifery organisation? i.e RCM/ARM/LLL
RCM - lapsed ARM member - will have to send a cheque...

Do you feel supported by your supervisor of midwives? if yes/no please tell us why that is.
No - due to a personality clash following an experience as a student and having been allocated this person as a new supervisor. I do have a great team of supportive colleagues though. I keep meaning to request a change of supervisor, but am worried about the politics of doing this...

How do you keep up to date with evidence based practice and how easy do you find it to implement this into your care whilst working within the constraints of local protocols?
I read everything I can get my hands on, and chat with colleagues and students about new developments. I can usually incorporate new things into my practice, but it does depend on what it is - for some women we are still meant to use active management/partograms etc which does not have a firm and appropriately applied research base so for some women it is more difficult to practice in a way which is both evidence based and complying with local guidelines. Ah, the joys of being a midwife....

What are your future plans as a midwife?
To be a better one!
I have tentative hopes of a lecturer practitioner post in the future, but I want to be really good at what I do first - there's nothing worse than a teacher that doesn't know what they're talking about or who have no idea of the reality of the job!

Share your wisdom.... what would you like to pass on to other students/wanabes?
Never be afraid to ask - it's better to look a prat than to make a big mistake.
Don't ever, ever forget who the most important people in the room are.

Describe your ‘day in the life’ of a hospital based midwife
The shifts vary so much that this is virtually impossible to do - one of the great things about the job (and the worst things about the job!) is that you never know what you're going to find when you walk through the door.

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Love Dory xxx
Just keep swimmin', just keep swimmin'....

Have you just been offered a place? If so and you want a mentor please post in post this forum (also post here if you would like a mentee)

What does being a hospital based midwife involve?
I work in a unit with approx 3500 deliveres a year. I work mainly on the antenatal and postnatal ward,and do a minimum of 1 shift a week on labour ward and 1 shift every month in Antenatal Clinic.

How long after qualification did you become a hospital based midwife and did you work in any other areas of midwifery previously?
I qualified in August 2005 and began my job in September 2005.

How does the role of a hospital midwife differ from those working in the community, a birth centre or within an independent practice?
We see more high risk women, and compared to Independent Practice, we obvisously have our own policies and protocols we have to stick to.Also work shifts, and i never work on call.

Whats are your personal circumstances?
i.e. married/kids/single etc
Just got a boyfriend of a few months :o)

What did you do before you became a hospital based midwife?
I went straight through school, did my A levels and straight to uni. I've wanted to be a midwife since i was about 12 so i knew which path to take and how to acheive it.I was a saturday girl in Wilkos while i was at school,and also did some voluntary work at the local hospital's Bereavement Centre which was fun and got me lots of experience of working in a hospital environment.

Why did you choose Midwifery?
As i've already said, i wanted to be a midwife since i was about 12. I don't really know-none of my family are medical or work in nursing or anything like that, i remember watching a video of a baby being born when i was at school and by the end i was the only person in the class still watching, i thought it was amazing.

How did you feel on your first day in practice, after qualifying?
**** Scared! Especially as i moved trusts from the one i trained in.

Please share a highlight of being a hospital based midwife, so far...
Most of it. Seeing women who i cared for during their last pregnancy is pretty cool, you know you didn't put them off for life!!!!

Please share a low point and how you got through that...
Major Obstetric Haemmorhhage scares me, and i had a horrendous Shoulder Dystocia. I don't really know how i get through it,most of the time i just go home, have a cry and go back the next day.

What is your favourite midwifery text book?
After the above- Emergencies around childbirth!!

What is your favourite midwifery literature book? i.e. babycatcher.
Babycatcher!

What is your shift preference? earlies/lates/long days and what time to they start and finish
I don't mind. But our shifts are Early- 0700-1500
Late- 1330-2130
Night-2110-0730

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

Do you feel supported by your supervisor of midwives? if yes/no please tell us why that is.
Yes very. I had to write a statement about a case i was involved in not long after i qualified. She was very supportive and helped me through it.

How do you keep up to date with evidence based practice and how easy do you find it to implement this into your care whilst working within the constraints of local protocols?
I read a lot,subscribe to a couple of journals. Also just talking with other members of staff helps.Sometimes the protocols get in the way,although hopefully there will be big change with the new NICE guidlines on their way...

What are your future plans as a midwife?
At the moment i'm very happy as i am. I want to do my mentoring course so i can properly teach students,which is something i enjoy, but hope one day i'll become more involved in the mental health side of things as its something i've always been interested in.

Share your wisdom.... what would you like to pass on to other students/wanabes?
The other two who answered before me said the same-don't be afraid to ask.

Describe your ‘day in the life’ of a hospital based midwife
Differs every single day. One thing thats always the same is that you don't get your proper breaks.... :o)

Thanks Dory and Kell, really appreciate you taking the time to answer the burning questions!!

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Josie
StudentMidwife.NET Co-founder & Director

Anymore Rm's wanting to share?

xx

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I do plan to post on here, at some time. But, for now, I am thinking over the questions....!

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Here you are:

What does being a hospital based midwife involve?
Working a combination of early, late & night shifts.
Working on antenatal & postnatal wards, delivery suite and hospital antenatal clinic.
Working as a member of a team.

How long after qualification did you become a hospital based midwife and did you work in any other areas of midwifery previously?
I have always worked as a hospital based midwife.

How does the role of a hospital midwife differ from those working in the community, a birth centre or within an independent practice?
On the plus side, you see lots of women with a wide range of needs, some straight forward, some complicated. This means you keep up to date with skills in all areas of midwifery. You are also never alone and know your colleagues are nearby to give support, as needed.
On the down side, you are slightly limited by hospital policies and protocols, even if you do not totally agree with these.

What’s are your personal circumstances? i.e. married/kids/single etc
Married, 2 boys, born 1994 & 1996.

What did you do before you became a hospital based midwife?
Nursery Nurse, working in schools.

Why did you choose Midwifery?
It was during a 3 month placement on a maternity ward, as part of my NNEB training that I made the decision to apply to train as a midwife. I got on really well with the midwives and was fascinated by their job. It seemed so much more fulfilling than Nursery Nursing.

How did you feel on your first day in practice, after qualifying?
Aghhhhhh!

Please share a highlight of being a hospital based midwife, so far...
I really cannot think of any one incident to share. For me, caring for women in labour, supporting them 1:1 and helping them to have a positive experience is always a highlight.

Please share a low point and how you got through that...
The low points are when delivery suite is soooo busy, I have a problem and there is no one to turn to (because everyone is busy in other delivery rooms.) At these times I feel very alone. It does get easier, with experience. You have to draw on your training and experience to date, and trust that you do know what to do.

What is your favourite midwifery text book?
Myles Midwifery

What is your favourite midwifery literature book? i.e. babycatcher.
Sensitive Midwifery

What is your shift preference? earlies/lates/long days and what time to they start and finish
I like the variety of shifts. They all have their good and bad points.
Early: 7am-3pm
Late: 1.30pm-9.30pm (may soon be revised to 2pm-10pm)
Night: 9.10pm – 7.30am

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

Do you feel supported by your supervisor of midwives? if yes/no please tell us why that is.
Yes, very. My supervisor is also the delivery suite matron, so I see her regularly at work. I have an annual Supervisory Review, but I also know that I can chat to my supervisor at any time. Her office door is nearly always open. I have found my supervisor to be encouraging and appreciative of my work. She has given me several opportunities to share my skills and knowledge (gained through my work with the NCT) with other midwives.

How do you keep up to date with evidence based practice and how easy do you find it to implement this into your care whilst working within the constraints of local protocols?
I subscribe to professional journals, use the internet, attend study days, use online resources and chat with other midwives. My work with the NCT is a great help in keeping up to date too.
Where I work change happens slowly. I am patient in trying to implement change. I endeavour to model good practice and chat about how things could be different. I am currently on a working group to implement new policies for care of women in normal labour, in accordance with the NICE guidelines.

What are your future plans as a midwife?
I see myself practicing at the same hospital for quite some time. I am very happy there. There is talk of a midwife-led unit being built onsite. If this were to happen, I may apply for a post there in the next few years.

Share your wisdom.... what would you like to pass on to other students/wanabes?
Never forget how significant you are to the women that you care for. You may not remember them, but they will certainly remember you, your words and your actions, for many years to come.

Describe your ‘day in the life’ of a hospital based midwife.
This depends on where I am working, and what shift.

On the ward:
Early: take report; sometimes I am in charge; allocate or be allocated to who I am caring for; scan through the notes; introduce myself to the women I am caring for; do the drugs round; take observations; help with giving out breakfast; spend the morning doing antenatal / postnatal / neonatal checks, taking blood samples; supporting women with breastfeeding and parenting skills; liaising with doctors / social workers / physio’s / sonographers etc.; answering the phone; if I’m in charge - supporting other midwives on the ward; ensuring HCA’s know what their duties are; give out lunch; take admissions and make discharges throughout the shift; keep a closer eye on any women or babies I am particularly concerned about; document on all care given during the shift; hand-over to the next shift.
Late: Similar to above, 2 drugs rounds; (don’t need to do neonatal checks or antenatal checks); complete any work not done by the morning shift; the wards are generally busier, due to visitors.
Night: Take report; introduce myself to the women I am caring for; do drugs round & observations; switch off lights and settle the women down for the night, as much as possible; the remainder of the night is spent meeting people’s needs, as required, helping with breastfeeding and taking new admissions; document all care given; hand-over to the day shift.

Delivery suite (same routine, whatever shift): take report; take over care from previous midwife and be introduced to the woman I am caring for; care for this women, usually 1:1 for the duration of her stay on delivery suite, or for the duration of my shift; document all care given; take on care of new women, as and when required; hand-over to next shift.

Theatres: start on the ward; greet woman who has come for elective section; do full antenatal admission; liaise with doctors and theatres, to ensure all is ready for the section; accompany the woman to theatre; in theatre my role is to care for the baby; complete paperwork; accompany the woman and her baby back to the ward.

Antenatal Clinic: either accompany doctors during consultations, making phone calls, liaising with the ward, day assessment, community as needed; arrange blood tests, scans, further appointments. Or for a booking appointment: talk to the woman 1:1 and obtain her history; take bloods; answer her questions; discuss screening tests.

Thanks for reading!

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Quick PS to my last answer. You may, if you're lucky, get a break at some point during the shift!

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