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
