Well, that has been a bit of a break hasn't it!

I was reminded about my blog by a student midwife the other day and I had (honestly) completely forgotten the last time I updated it. And as you know, LOTS of things have happened since 2019.

I thought I might post a little update and this might spur me onto blog again. I enjoyed it a lot when I was a student midwife and newly qualified and it helped me to talk about topics that interested me and a little release for projects I was passionate about. I've never seen myself as a 'blogger' or 'influencer' and the majority of my social media now is on Instagram (@ruth.midwife) as I like the one shot and caption kind of sharing. 

So to no ones surprise - I am still a midwife!

I'm currently in my rotational post and the third rotation of my career - Triage and Induction Ward. I've been here for a little over 15 months and really feel like I've found a good fit with the team I work with and the care I provide. It may seen odd that our Triage ward also manages Inductions of Labour but that's because we aim to provide as many outpatient inductions as possible, and often women we Triage are admitted for induction.

Triage has challenged my decision making skills, team working and ability to assess patients as quickly as possible, especially in more emergency situations. I work with a fantastic multidisciplinary team which helps a lot! The communication between medical staff and midwifery staff in Triage is key and something I believe my hospital is lucky enough to be good at!

I've also dipped my toe (or been thrown head first) into Quality Improvement. In September 2020 I started a project focusing on altered fetal movements and reducing perinatal adverse outcomes e.g. stillbirth for my health board.  Alongside this I completed the Scottish Coaching and Leading for Improvement Programme, a course designed to support healthcare providers completing quality improvement. 

I think I'll write a separate blog on QI and the midwifes role as it has been a big eye opener for me. I always thought I'd like to complete a Masters degree but doing QI alongside my clinical role fulfils that academic/improvement focused part of me!

And then there is… COVID19.

Working during the last year and bit in the NHS has had its challenges. There have been days I've cried during shift and felt like giving up - the constant change in policies and procedures, lockdown, not seeing friends or family, having to treat COVID19 positive patients, the constant swabbing and trying to be a 33 year old single woman all at the same time has been difficult.

But I wouldn't have got through it without the support of my amazing colleagues, undertaking (personal) therapy, mental health support, running and my family. Oh! and getting vaccinated!

So there - a brief snap shot in of my last 2 years.

Is there anything I've missed? If so comment below or tweet me at my new twitter handle @ruth_midwife.

Best,

Ruth x

Instagram: @ruth.midwife

Another year has passed since a fantastic MAMA conference and celebrating IDM with midwives from all around the world.
This year I am on my post-conference high as I sit in my flat engaging on Virtual Day of the Midwife lectures and FB/Instagram Live events and begin to rethink and blog again for the first time in a few months.

I'm just off the heels of another amazing MAMA Conference in Glasgow, Scotland and what else can I say but it is the highlight of my midwifery year. 


This year I was attending as a midwife for the first time and also had a wonderful time catching up with some of the girls in my university cohort, my ex-university lecturers and many, many members of the large midwifery twitter community!



This International Day of the Midwife is themed as Midwives: The Defenders of Women's Rights. How apt, as we continue to discuss how continuity of care is best for women, and giving women the choice of place of birth. Thoroughly inspired by the Angus Birth Team at MAMA Conference who have increased homebirth numbers dramatically in the Angus area over the last 3 years, and continue to provide a well demanded service! Defending their right to CHOICE as a number 1 care provision.

As newly qualified midwife, the defender of women's rights is especially important to me as I begin to find my feet in how I wish to practice and engage with maternity services as passionate Band 5 midwife. My aim is always to mould my care around the wishes of the women and families I meet, to provide evidence based care and to create a positive working culture which supports and encourages my fellow newly qualified and experienced colleagues.

As I began my journey as an NQM, I knew I would face boundaries and issues that would shape and adapt me into a 'good' midwife (another good blog topic coming soon...), however I am slowly realising that we cannot defend women's rights if we are also not defending our own. As NQM entering into different wards and culture I am interested to see how this will develop my skills and also affect my passion for the job.

After listening to Hannah Dahlen's lecture on 'Stop the Fear and Embrace Birth' at MAMA Conference, I am starting to look at my own 'fear' as a NQM and how this may stop me embracing normal birth and confidence as I support women. Blog post coming up on that...


But until then, see me on twitter @Ruth_NQM and Instagram @sagefeminist_

Ruth x

As a newly qualified midwife I am often astounded by the amount of students we have in the wards. As a student I just 'got on' with my placements - working hard to achieve good grades and enhancing my skills and never much paying attention to the number of other students the midwife may have mentored.
Since I only qualified 4 months ago, I don't yet meet the criteria to be a sign off mentor for students however with the increasing number of student midwives it sometimes means I will have a student shadow or work alongside me for a shift and honestly it is fantastic.

As a student I valued the different input from the variety of mentors I had and really enjoyed working with some colleagues and adapted my practice to fall inline with how they worked - a pick and mix of skills and behaviour to shape who I am now as a midwife. Knowing that another student is learning from how I practice and I am influencing their experiences is overwhelming and often extremely satisfying.

I've worked with all three year group students over the past few months and it has made me realise that it is not only our job as midwives to care and advocate for the women and families in our care (family centred care is a BIG priority for me) but I'm also able to provide student centred care where I can support, supervise and allow the new generation of midwives to grow and learn within our working environment.

My main tips for students entering a placement with a new mentors are:
1. Be profession - listen to your mentor and ask questions, do not assume because sometimes that can lead to confusion and ultimately bad care decisions.
2. Speak up if you don't know - there are no silly questions and if you are feeling put of your depth, tell us! We don't want you to have a bad placement.
3. Reflect, daily if need be. On decisions made, the outcomes and most importantly on your feelings.
4. Use other students as learning tools too - active discussion can make you understand more sometimes than the black and white of a textbook.

I'll be applying for my mentorship as soon as I am able and until then I will be asking (sorry!) the students I work with about their experiences and how best I can support them while they are working alongside me, whether it be for one shift or three.

Have many other newly qualified midwives worked with students yet?
What is your opinion?

How do you think the new NMC #FutureMidwife pre-registration guidelines will change to support mentors and students in the future?

Ruth x

twitter: @Ruth_NQM
instagram: @sagefeminist_