- You may need to bite your tongue during your training, but you will not always be a student! Take the good things that you see from the midwives that you respect and store the good ideas, so that when you finally qualify you can work in the way that you feel most comfortable with.

I still have the occasions when the sister on duty comes into the room (these days they only come in if I ask them to, which is good). Some of them are very directive and I think "please don't say that". But, I have to respect them in their navy blue dresses and I do appreciate their support and back-up.

I know, from various conversations, that my practice has not gone un-noticed. I like to think I am chipping away at old practices in my own quiet way.

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Thanks for the advice Shoshana, I will do that!

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So Shoshana how does it feel to be influencing the next generation? from this side its great thankyou.

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Josie
StudentMidwife.NET Founder & Director



MidwiferyWorld.NET our sister site for Senior Students and Midwives is now live, tell your mentors and tutors!

good way of wording it "chipping away at the old practice in your way" funny isn't it how the majority of those who who been in the profession for many years, still practice in such a way- shame, such a shame, eventually I think in the next 5-10 years following retirement of a lot of people, practice will change from this (at least thats what I hope) thats not to say I haven't worked with some fantastic midwives who have been qualified longer than I have been born, which was a few years ago now!!

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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)

It's a bit strange, really. I never signed up to this thread with the expectation of offering support. Quite the opposite! But, you're all so nice, that I thought I'd hang around!

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I disagree. Most of the older generation midwives that have mentored me have been very modern in their practice, advocating natural birth/BF etc and some of the younger ones seem very obstetric and patronising to the women. I think its about attitude and thinking more than generation or generation of practice. People I have been training with are like mini versions of the obstetric midwives already, rolling eyes at primps 'she'll be in theatre by the end of the night' rather than empowering and supported scared women etc its like a culture thing. To fit in with the dominant personalities some will mimic them to be accepted. I know we all have to bite our tongues etc but I have almost seen the cloning develop infront of my eyes over the years with some.

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Josie
StudentMidwife.NET Founder & Director



MidwiferyWorld.NET our sister site for Senior Students and Midwives is now live, tell your mentors and tutors!

sad, its the other way round for me, so I of course disagree!!
The younger/newer midwives have been fantastic to work with, and excellent at mentoring, very evidence based but also quote and advise on anecdotal work of Odent, Wickham Buckley etc..
Whereas I mentioned the purple line, rhombus of michealis, breast stimulation etc.. And I have been laughed at and mocked infront of others, yet the 'newer' (I'm talking the last 1-15 years qualified when I say newer, thus a broad spectrum) mw's agreed with me that they had 'heard or read about it too. I also haven't heard them do directive cheerleading type pushing, maybe its a geographical difference who knows????
But from experience the longer in practice (by majority, not all) the more pompoms they own x

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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)

Oh yes! I recognise this from some of the students where I work. It's sad, because had they had a different mentor, then the way they have developed as a midwife may also have been different.

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I think it does vary from one hospital to another. The hospital where I trained had a "blame" culture and I found many of the midwives unsupportive. If your face didn't fit, then you had a really hard time.

The hospital where I currently work is very different. The staff work well as a team and everyone is supportive. We do have some old-school midwives, but even they are pleasant to work with. Some are more understanding of the women than others. Overall I am much happier working in this hospital than the one where I trained.

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What a great analogy!!!

Its interesting how our experiences have been very different....

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Josie
StudentMidwife.NET Founder & Director



MidwiferyWorld.NET our sister site for Senior Students and Midwives is now live, tell your mentors and tutors!