It's back! The Channel 5 docu-series following a group of Midwives from the Highlands of Scotland undertaking rural midwifery at it's best.
This season they've introduced new group of midwives working in North East of Scotland in Peterhead - which is where I had my third year community placement!

So maybe, slightly biased review coming up. Especially as I working with some of the midwives and involved in the setting up of the renovated Midwife-Led Unit.

For that reason I'm going to do a slightly shorter review of the first three episodes with a little pros and cons list.

PRO's

• It is so great to visit each of these women's unique story and see their choices and requests being discussed in an open and honest way with the midwife
• The midwife-mother relationship remains a strong theme in the series
• Midwives praising the continuity of carer they can experience
• Showing elective c-sections as a CHOICE for women and no shaming
• Outlines the geographical issues women have in the Highlands of Scotland

I'd love to hear people's views on the how as I have had positive feedback from friends of mine who have experienced maternity care in Scotland. Also, perhaps how this show compares to One Born Every Minute?

Tweet me @ruth_stmw

Ruth x

Here's a picture of me in the Peterhead birth room, Moonlight.

Last week was the Royal College of Midwives 2017 conference for both midwives and student midwives. Held in Manchester the conference was over two days with a range of fantastic speakers and exhibitors.
I originally booked my space when the conference was announced through RCM Magazine 'Midwives' and couldn't believe how fast tickets went - well, it was the first year that the conference was FREE!
From my previous conference experience at MAMA conference 2017, I had such an amazing, interactive, interesting time, met some idols, and heard speakers on topics which made me think about how I develop my practice  - I knew the RCM Conference would be one not to miss!

Since getting involved with Sheena and Anna Byrom on All4Maternity and becoming editor of the up and coming supplement to The Practising Midwife  - 'The Future Midwife' (for aspiring and future midwives) I was also attending the conference for the LAUNCH of All4Maternity.

Conferences outwith Scotland tend to take up more time travelling but this year with the conference being in Manchester I was able to fly direct and stay with my sister who lives in Manchester!
Heading to conference alone was also particularly nerve wracking but I knew I'd be meeting people at the conference so was excited too.


Day One - What a day! I attended nearly all the Student Conference events that were running concurrent to the Main conference programme. It was so well organised and the speakers were intuitive to us as students and future midwives. I especially enjoyed the talks on 'Are you naturally resilient?' and 'The Three Years are coming to an end..what now?' - definitely beneficial to myself as a third year future midwife!
I also had the opportunity to attend a fringe session on Perinatal Mental Health, which has been a passion of mine, as I've just completed an assignment on the topic in regards to public health. It was interesting but it made me realise that when the speakers were not midwives or in maternity care, sometimes they just spoke about their research - rather than discussing the issue and how it can be addressed in maternity care; which was what I was hoping to get from it.
Finally I met and spent some time with the wonderful Sheena and Anna Byrom at the All4Maternity.com exhibitor stand. It was so much fun - and so exciting to meet two midwifery idols of mine, Sheena and Anna have influenced my interest in midwife, from before I became a student, by reading their work (especially Roar Against The Silence). So to be part of this team was something like a dream to me! The passion from these midwives and the others in the editorial and #InItTogether team made me feel proud to be entering into a profession dedicated to Sharing, Learning and Caring, for everyone.
I also got to meet fellow blogger and tweeter and RCM student rep Charlene Cole, who is also one of the editors of the Future Midwife Journal. Social media can really bring people together!

Day Two - I did not attend the conference party, but heard how great it was from others! Day two was spent catching up with fellow Scottish Midwives and one of my University lecturer's. I got to attend the programme for the Main Conference. The RCM decided to run the student and main programme concurrently over both days and this really benefited me as a student as I got to attend all the student conference then the main conference the next day. Hearing from midwives on developing students learning and attending more talks on PNMH had my brain full of ideas by the end of the day. I also managed to head along to the student discussion on media; where I met Hana Pauls from OBEM, and gave me a new spin on the tv show and how women and midwives are represented in media. The final speaker at the conference was poet Hollie McNish who read some of her poetry and prose based on her pregnancy, birth and life as a new mother (you may be familiar with her poem on Breastfeeding in a public toilet). This was an amazing end of the day.
Again I spent time with All4Maternity community and met some other twitter buddies! (Finally the third editor of Future Midwife Journal Ali Brindle - who won the 90 sec idea on day 2, #zeroseparation follow the hashtag on twitter!)

Overall the amount of information from the conference that I gained was invaluable in regards to the student conference, and added to my areas of interest from the main conference. I also managed to walk away with 10+ pens and lots of freebies (which is kinda what it's all about).
I think the conference being free was a good move by the RCM and organisers, especially for students as sometimes conferences can seen as inaccessible and only available for registered midwives or researchers. The speakers perhaps need to be looked at as some were promoting products/research and not sharing best practice or creating debate about policy and practice which I thought the conference would involve.


An invaluable experience. But now I'm really looking forward to MAMA Conference 2018 in Glasgow!

Ruth x
twitter: @ruth_stmw

Off to student conference sessions!

Look at these amazing lights!

With the all4maternity team!

Myself, Hannah Tizard and Anna Byrom

all4maternity twitter buddies

Me and Hana Pauls from OBEM

So now you know a little bit about my journey to midwifery, here is how I was inspired to apply for my course. Hope you enjoy!

I sometimes feel a little shame when I talk about how the Channel 4 TV show 'One Born Every Minute' encouraged me to begin my midwifery application.
But this was my only source of midwifery care that was readily available for most lay people.
Multiple Facebook statuses later about how I wished I could 'quit my job and become a midwife' followed by family and friends commenting how they thought I'd be great at it (again, their reality of midwifery care being OBEM) and I began researching courses in Scotland.

I now know that seeing midwifery in the media for the lay person can be empowering for future midwifery students. Yes, the reality portrayed on the show is not real. Yes, it is not a true reflection of working and training of a midwife BUT! the stories told by the women and families, the ability to be compassionate, the interest in the anatomy and physiology of labouring women DOES inspire future midwives to seek midwifery as a career, myself included.

Before applying I joined a well known chat site for potential student midwives, and even met girls on my course on there. I found the information invaluable, and daunting.

Honestly, I had no idea what 'holistic' care was, why people talking about a 'fundus' and not to mention where the hell was I going to get work experience with a full-time managerial job?
After a mad google search I decided my best bet to get started was to buy an anatomy and physiology textbook for midwives (this one from amazon) and to log into as many midwifery groups on Facebook and twitter that I could (I'll be doing a separate post on these).

One thing I knew would make or break it was my UCAS personal statement, and one bit of advice I pass onto those who wish to apply is; if you are applying for a Midwifery degree, talk a lot about midwifery in your personal statement, about how YOU have a passion for the profession.

My added bonus was my previous degree and job which meant I was offered an unconditional place at my chosen university first time round (after an interview), but I understand for some it can take a few attempts to get accepted. I didn't get into the other two universities I applied too (I limited myself to the three in Scotland) but I made sure I discussed my skills in relation to midwifery in the interview I was asked to attend.

An interview can be daunting no matter what it is for, and I found I felt very nervous before hand, even though my previous job had me interviewing others. I just hadn't sat on the other side of the table in a while. I knew above all else, I had to be myself. I really thought about why I was there, and what skills I already had to bring to the profession. This is a good starting point for those who have an interview ahead - how do you already fit the 'job' criteria? And focus on that.
For example:
Team work
Communication
Working in busy environments
Coping with stress
Asking for help
Thirst for knowledge
Ability to adapt and change

Hopefully some people will recognise these characteristics in themselves and realise work experience is not always how people get university places. Experience is invaluable and try to get this if you can, whether it be shadowing a midwife or working part time in a service profession e.g. care home.
I adapted my full time job to show how I can be versatile and use these skills in healthcare context, experience doesn't have to be in maternity services.

I think I've waffled on enough for today's post. Please ask questions and comment below, I love feedback!

Until next time,

Ruth x

twitter: @ruth_stmw
#GetYourTweetOn