Thanks to all of you who responded to the announcement asking for interviewee's....

Please copy and paste the questionnaire below into this thread for others to view and draw knowledge from. If you do not wish to answer any questions then please leave them blank or delete them from your questionnaire.

What year are you in?

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

What did you do before you became a student midwife?

Why did you choose Midwifery?

How did you feel on your first day at uni and in practice?

Please share a highlight of being on the course, so far...

Please share a low point and how you got through that...

Do you prefer academic or clinical?

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 in practice? if yes/no please tell us why that is.

Do you feel supported at Uni? if yes/no please tell us why that is.

Do you prefer antenatal/intrapartum/postnatal? and why?

What are your future plans as a midwife?

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

__________________
Josie
StudentMidwife.NET Co-founder & Director

What year are you in?

First year

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

single mum of two
What did you do before you became a student midwife?

Ridng instructor then housewife

Why did you choose Midwifery?

worthwhile vocation, secure. good prospects

How did you feel on your first day at uni and in practice?

terrified and excited

Please share a highlight of being on the course, so far...
Being with women and helping in some small way

Please share a low point and how you got through that...
always getting in the way, and feeling useless. Manage by trying hard, reading and asking questions. Hopefully soon I will not feel this way.
Do you prefer academic or clinical?

clinical, academic has its nice cushy hours though and lots of time for the chidlren
What is your favourite midwifery text book?
Skills for midwifery practice
What is your favourite midwifery literature book? i.e. babycatcher.

Call the midwife by Jennifer worth
What is your shift preference? earlies/lates/long days and what time to they start and finish

hate nights. Long days are hard but preferable. 13 1/2 hours. Start at 07.30 and finish at 20.30pm. I have not had earlies or lates yet.


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

RCM, ARM, midirs


Do you feel supported in practice? if yes/no please tell us why that is.
Only by my colleagues really. My mentor is good though.

Do you feel supported at Uni? if yes/no please tell us why that is.

Not always. The personal tutors are great just difficult to get in contact with.
Do you prefer antenatal/intrapartum/postnatal? and why?

I prefer a mix of all. There are good points to each.


What are your future plans as a midwife?

I would like to be a community midwife when I have worked in the hospital post qualification


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

Midwifery has huge highs and huge lows. But it is such a rewarding and frankly miraculous career that I feel honoured to have been given the chance to follow. It makes you cry and laugh in equal measure, but every second is worth it.




StudentMidwife.NET Founder/Owner

__________________
Lead administrator
Head of student services


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 year are you in?

Second year


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

Single, no kids


What did you do before you became a student midwife?

Alevels, worked part time as a waitress and fun factory team leader

Why did you choose Midwifery?

Not 100% sure.. Was looking at Maths degree's and art degree's in the view of doing teacher.. Failed Maths ASlevel.. So that was that option out.. Looking through prospectouses (sp?) at paramedic courses, saw midwifery, decided to do a bit of research on it and stuck with it!


How did you feel on your first day at uni and in practice?

Very nervous but excited


Please share a highlight of being on the course, so far...

Delivering my first baby.. Caring for women that have said afterwards thank you for there care, makes me smile


Please share a low point and how you got through that...

Failing an assignment in the first year, haven't really gotten over it yet as the resub results aren't due till this wednesday


Do you prefer academic or clinical?

Defo clinical, im not the sharpest knife in the draw so struggle with the academic side


What is your favourite midwifery text book?

Ohhh.. Tough one.. Skills for midwifery practice is a good'un..

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

The hospital I work at only does long day and long nights, no choice of doing earlies/lates etc.. I don't mind either days or nights!


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

RCM and Unison (does that count?)


Do you feel supported in practice? if yes/no please tell us why that is.

Yes, cause I have some FAB mentors!! Especially one who I am now really good friends with, she is brill.. When I grow up to be a big midwife I want to be just like her! lol


Do you feel supported at Uni? if yes/no please tell us why that is.

Yea tis ok.. Personal tutor is always there whenever we need her..

Do you prefer antenatal/intrapartum/postnatal? and why?

Don't really have a preference.. Love it all.. Because its all so different and the care is so different for each area, not only each area, its different for each woman!


What are your future plans as a midwife?

Erm.. I want to work in the hospital.. Possibly emigrate somewhere (?Ireland?) But it depends on my circumstances by then, could be settled with a partner etc.. Who knows!!


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

Hmm.. Wisdom? I don't think I have any lol.. Ok.. Serious head on.. I'd say to take every oppurtunity thrown at you, no matter how scary it might seem at the time, you might not get the oppurtunity to do/see it again!

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Duel X

2nd year student midwife

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.

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3rd year Student Midwife

What year are you in?
1st year

Whats are your personal circumstances?
i.e. married/kids/single etc
I live with my partner carl and our 2 children (age 4 and nearly 3)


What did you do before you became a student midwife?
Nothing really, finished school, went to college- dropped out...had my daughter and thats when i really thought seriously about midwifery but never thought i was intelligent enough to do it, then i had my son and thought stuff it im going to give it a go, so went and did an access course.

Why did you choose Midwifery?
It was having my own child that made me think about it. If i hadnt had children i really dont think i would be doing it now!

How did you feel on your first day at uni and in practice?
On my first day of uni i was just really excited, i knew a couple of the girls that were starting with me thru sms so that made it easier i think.

Please share a highlight of being on the course, so far...
Iv only been on the course 6 wks but we do quite a few active workshops as our learning process and i think they are fab..

Please share a low point and how you got through that...
I havent really had a low point YET.....

Do you prefer academic or clinical?
Havent been out on clinical placement yet so will have to let you know..(i start placement this wk)

What is your favourite midwifery text book?
I have Myles textbook which i think is brilliant, and skills for midwifery practice..

What is your favourite midwifery literature book? i.e. babycatcher. Havent read one (naughty naughty)...but quite a few of the girls on my course really enjoyed babycatcher.

What is your shift preference? earlies/lates/long days and what time to they start and finish
I start my placement doing nights, 8pm until 8am.

Are you a member of a midwifery organisation? i.e RCM/ARM/LLL Not yet

Do you feel supported in practice? if yes/no please tell us why that is. N/A
Do you feel supported at Uni? if yes/no please tell us why that is. Yeah, it is very self directed at our uni but i know the lecturers are there if we need them.

Do you prefer antenatal/intrapartum/postnatal? and why?N/A

What are your future plans as a midwife? After iv been qualified a few years and hopefully been in a job and got some experience i am very interested in becoming an independant midwife, i went out for a day with an independant midwife and really enjoyed it.

Share your wisdom.... what would you like to pass on to other students/wanabes? I think always ask questions when you can, and write things down....Enjoy the course, i know there will be hard times but remember its what you want to do so try to enjoy it.

What a fab idea this was Josie.....

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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)

What year are you in?
4th year
Whats are your personal circumstances?
i.e. married/kids/single etc
Engaged for many years and mum of one, she's 4 1/2

What did you do before you became a student midwife?
Ha ha always makes me laugh this one, I worked in an abbatoir aswell as every other pub/shop/factory in the area (over many years though!)
Why did you choose Midwifery?
Due to positive and negative experiences in pregnancy, different midwives I aspired/or didn't aspire to be like, and nursing had always interested me until then
How did you feel on your first day at uni and in practice?
First day at uni, was exciting yet scary and very surreal I couldn't believe there was me the thick northener in uni, who on earth did I think I was. And in practice, I was on community, clinic very first thing with 2 very qualified midwives slightly intimidating and once again surreal, palpation was amusing to me as I felt well nothing much really, taking bp? I heard nothing! So Urinalysis was my highlight!!!
Please share a highlight of being on the course, so far...
Ha ha what apart from Urinalysis? Well I suppose when my mentor wrote lovely things on my report and added her own little comments on how we gelled and debriefed one another after traumatizing delivery, lovely lady she is.

Please share a low point and how you got through that...
Low point was 3rd year all medical and none midwifery stuff, nurses on wards constantly telling me I wouldn't see a delivery on the ward fnar fnar sooo hilarious and original, also a really bad experience on delivery the other week I'd rather not discuss, needless to say I wrote straight to my tutor to offload asap and discussed with previous v.nice mentor that helped immensely

Do you prefer academic or clinical?
I think most would say clinical to this however some lectures I do find fascinating, such as mental health, drugs liason and epilepsy have been brill.

What is your favourite midwifery text book?
ooh thats a toughy, I would say Myles as its good value for money but also drugs formulary for midwives

What is your favourite midwifery literature book? i.e. babycatcher.
Gotta be spiritual midwifery
What is your shift preference? earlies/lates/long days and what time to they start and finish
MM nights as the teaching is fab on nights, and all midwives seem to bake cakes lol they are 8pm-8.30am 3 in a row is enough to finish me off though, I also do long days, same in reverse, but have the option or earlies/lates also. Its good at our trust as we do our own off duty to coincide with mentor, so we make sure between us we're not battling for women
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.
I would say overall yes the midwives are very good, if you tell them your worries they are very good for offloading and understanding however golden rule-DO NOT GOSSIP WITH THEM!!!
Do you feel supported at Uni? if yes/no please tell us why that is.
Once again overall yes, but do not feel like they are realistic at times as to problems with mentorship allocation/finding a qualified mentor to complete assessments
Do you prefer antenatal/intrapartum/postnatal? and why?
Toughy antenatal, I've not done that much on the ward but community a/n I really like I feel its an area needing the most support, intrapartum well what can I say I get nervous tummy and never go for a wee hardly while I'm on there lol but I do love it, and postnatal is just soooo busy and sooo many women are high risk I think its the most stressful.
What are your future plans as a midwife?
To emmigrate to NZ and eventually set up as an independent mw, maybe with mysupersalami lol x
Share your wisdom.... what would you like to pass on to other students/wanabes?
Reflect, it helps me loads, if I've had particularly pos/neg experience I come home and type in a frenzy, helps me to look back and appreciate my learning curve. Just don't bottle things up and discuss fears oh and don't be afraid to ask the 'stupid' questions I always do and have found they sometimes end in the best of discussion and debate-oh and one last thing DO NOT DO AS I DO and leave work till last minute xxxx

This is brilliant stuff!!! Thanks for answering the questionnaires, I think when I have a bad day I will come to this thread and take in all the enthusiasm for midwifery and all the words of wisdom and feel loads better

__________________
Josie
StudentMidwife.NET Co-founder & Director

What year are you in?
Year 3

Whats are your personal circumstances?
Me, the IT bloke, 2 kids and a cat

What did you do before you became a student midwife?
Desk jobs, in employment law

Why did you choose Midwifery?
Because there is no other job worth doing

How did you feel on your first day at uni and in practice?
Nervous, a spare part, a bit useless and elated

Please share a highlight of being on the course, so far...
Taking 3 hours to do my shopping cos of bumping into mums Ive looked after who offer me a cuddle with their baby.

Please share a low point and how you got through that...
Life got in the way recently and I talked to my tutors and they did and said all the right things.

Do you prefer academic or clinical?
Equal, I love the academic side and reading and learning but I love the contact with women and every day being different

What is your favourite midwifery text book?
The Pocket Formulary

What is your favourite midwifery literature book?
'The light in the window' about a convent that took in pregnant single mums in the 50s in Ireland.


What is your shift preference?
I like them all

Are you a member of a midwifery organisation?
RCM

Do you feel supported in practice?
Depends on my mentor and the area of practice Im in, but on the whole, yes.

Do you feel supported at Uni?
Definatley

Do you prefer antenatal/intrapartum/postnatal? and why?
Atm Im loving antenatal, but then I love whatever placement Im in!! LOL


What are your future plans as a midwife?
Id like to teach eventually

Share your wisdom.... what would you like to pass on to other students/wanabes?
Dont keep it all in

__________________
Josie
StudentMidwife.NET Co-founder & Director

What year are you in?
I`m a third year degree student

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

I am married with two chidren, James aged 11 and Elizabeth aged 9


What did you do before you became a student midwife?

Civil litigation - Personal injury claims


Why did you choose Midwifery?

I always wanted to be a midwife but better than expected A level results sent me down another career path. In 2002, my Mum died and I realised how short and precious life is and so decided to try and become a midwife. Five years later I am three months away from qualifying. When I moved into my house, my dad remembered having been in it before. It transpired that the district midwife had lived in my house in the 1950`s and my Dad had been sent to get her when his mother was in labour with Dad`s brother


How did you feel on your first day at uni and in practice?

I was blinded by science on the first day and then all the admin stuff with starting uni. On my first day on placement I was in theatre five minutes after starting my shift knew nothing about being sterile and caused chaos.


Please share a highlight of being on the course, so far...

My placement area practice team midwifery and so I was able, through a series of unconnected conincidences. to deiver the baby of the first woman I ever booked in for maternity care. It was very satisfying.


Please share a low point and how you got through that...

I found second year very difficult. I got through it by prozac, wine and my best friend. Since I began undertaking confidence cases, I have had every obstetric emergency possible. I get through that my taking help when it is offered and not being afraid to ask.


Do you prefer academic or clinical?

I like university to doss about in and the 9 - 4 weekday only routine but I really enjoy placement when I don`t have any assignments to do


What is your favourite midwifery text book?
Good question - Stables and Rankin Physiology of childbirth

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

I discovered that my grandmother was a handywoman from reading `A Midwives tale.`


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

Shifts are 7.30am - 8.30pm and night duty 8.15pm - 7.45am. I live quite a wau from the hospital so I don`t like earlies and lates. I prefer nights. I love labour ward on nights


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

I`m in the RCM and the ARM. I`m also a member of the Tufty Club


Do you feel supported in practice? if yes/no please tell us why that is.

I have a tremendous mentor who has never made me feel stupid even when I have made the most monumental mistakes. I am very well supported


Do you feel supported at Uni? if yes/no please tell us why that is.

Decined to answer on the grounds of confidentiality


Do you prefer antenatal/intrapartum/postnatal? and why?

I love labour ward


What are your future plans as a midwife?

To consolidate the skills I have gained over the last three years. I would like to become involved in research into the third stage of labour, which is my passion in intra-partum care


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

Take every opportunity that you are offered as a student.

__________________
Gillian

Third Year Student Midwife

What year are you in?

~*~Technically, my first

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

~*~ Married for 5 1/2 years, three boys, ages 5, 3, and 1

What did you do before you became a student midwife?

~*~ I was a nurse working in several different nursing homes here in Kansas, worked in a prison in Texas.

Why did you choose Midwifery?

~*~ Fell in love with pregnancy and birth during my labor & delivery rotation in nursing school. Chose this route because I don't want to be in the allopathic model of care.

How did you feel on your first day at uni and in practice?

~*~ No uni for me! There aren't very many schools for traditional (direct-entry) midwives here in America, so I'm taking a correspondence course for the bookwork, and will find a preceptor for the clinical bit.

Please share a highlight of being on the course, so far...

~*~ I love having all my midwife books to read Seriously, I can read Holistic Midwifery for hours and be very entertained!

Please share a low point and how you got through that...

~*~ Right now, my low point is not being able to find a preceptor. It's very hard in this area, and most of the mw's are getting ready to retire, so that makes things critical

Do you prefer academic or clinical?

~*~Oh, definitely clinical!!

What is your favourite midwifery text book?

~*~ Holistic Midwifery by Anne Frye

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

~*~ Hmmm....probably Spiritual Midwifery by Ina May Gaskin

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

~*~ Well, there will be no shift for me since we don't work in hospitals, on call it is! That's fine, I'm prepared for it (but when I was a nurse, I loved second or third...)

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

~*~ No

Do you feel supported in practice? if yes/no please tell us why that is.

~*~Not actually sure what you're looking for here, maybe I should read other's answers *blush*

Do you feel supported at Uni? if yes/no please tell us why that is.

~*~ Well, in my course group, there is a wonderful group of women and I love them. It's the best place for info because we're all going through the same thing. And Lisa (the program creator/director) is a very active part of the group, which is very helpful

Do you prefer antenatal/intrapartum/postnatal? and why?

~*~ Intrapartum and I don't know why to be honest...

What are your future plans as a midwife?

~*~ I would love to open a free standing birth center in my town. We don't have any locally and it would be perfect

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

~*~ Just go for it. If it's what you've been dreaming of, get in there and get started. Don't wait around, we need lots of midwives!!

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Sasha, Doula, Mama, Wife, Student Midwife

Three little wild boys and one soldier husband