Prenatal Care A midwife will monitor the health and well-being of expecting mothers and their babies during pregnancy and identifying risks and complications. They will perform a range of screenings, test and check-ups to ensure mother and baby are thriving. In addition they provide emotional support and addressing parents concerns and alleviating anxieties.
Labour and Delivery During labour and delivery, midwives acts as hands-on support in providing pain management techniques, including breathing exercises and relaxation methods. They are trained to handle natural births, and collaborate closely with obstetricians to ensure the mother and baby’s safety if any complications arise.
Postnatal Care Following the birth of the baby, midwives will assist with breastfeeding guidance, monitor recovery of the mother, and provide infant care advice. They will additionally look out for any signs of postpartum depression, ensuring mothers get the help they need and be a pillar of support for the new parents.
Community and Home-Based Care Many midwives will carry out home visit after birth or work in healthcare settings, which allows them to provide personalized care. This is vital for mothers who prefer a more natural and familiar environment.
Health Advocacy Midwives advocate for women’s health rights, which include supporting informed choice and provide respectful care. They will often educate communities about reproductive health, promoting healthier lifestyles and improving maternal and neonatal outcomes.
I graduated with a degree in midwifery in 2015. My day varies from week to week. Some days I am in hospital maternity unit providing labour care and other days I am running my own clinic conducting visits in the early postnatal period. I also run antenatal classes supporting and preparing parents-to be regarding labour and birth, breastfeeding and caring for their new baby. I am proud of what I do and what I have achieved as my A-level grades weren’t high enough. But I worked hard, and I am doing the job of my dreams – empowering women everywhere, witnessing the transition women go through during pregnancy, birth and postnatal period. Being a midwife does come with its challenges, but it is exceptionally rewarding!
I have wanted to be a midwife since my baby sister was born when I was 9 yrs old. When I grew up I took my first steps studying biology and 3 other Subjects at A-Level. I got a place at University and qualified in 2017. The course was challenging but I learned so much spending time with the midwifes. I work in a private maternity hospital. My shift starts at 7am. First we start with a handover from the night team healthcare professionals, where we are updated on the mums and their newborn baby that we are looking after. My shift usually start with observations and antenatal/postnatal checks and the rest of the day will be varied maybe giving pain relief, supporting caring for the baby and breastfeeding. Documentation is a very important in everything we do. To become a midwife you need to be caring, confident and knowledgeable.
I work 'home birth shifts', where we are on-call for any mums-to-be planning on home births and act as a health visitor visiting new mums and babies for postnatal care. Sometimes I go to delivery suites as a maternity support worker for our hospital colleagues. I love the continuity of care and support in the community and family planning center, from early pregnancy through labour and postnatal care. Seeing the family return years later with another pregnancy is just wonderful. I also work as a mentor and love working with the students introducing first year students to midwifery. I have signed up for a diploma course in aromatherapy to further offer this as an alternative to pain relief in labour. Childbirth has come a long way from being a purely clinical practice.
