Getting the balance right

This is some balancing act!

This is my last blog post! Can you believe it?  I can’t quite!  Not that I have finished my course that is.  Whilst the rest of the university is winding down for the summer, us midwifery students continue to plough on until September.  I do have two weeks annual leave at the end of July which is equates to my summer holiday.  Not quite the three months than some students enjoy; which is why it is so important to ensure your work and social life is balanced as a midwifery student.

Every university has a student’s union, and the University of Bedfordshire is no exemption.  I remember heading over to the Bedford campus to have a look around the Fresher’s Fair and was overwhelmed by all the different societies and sports teams on offer.  There is something for everyone – no matter your interest or ability level (further details can be found at the Beds SU website).

It can be difficult to commit to a regular activity such as a sport team when you work shifts and personally, after working a 12.5 hour day, the last thing I want to do is an organised activity!  Saying that, the benefits of taking part in extra-curricular activities are numerous.

Get to know your student union

You need time to relax and unwind – to stop being a student midwife.  Working and studying simultaneously can be quite draining, especially if you have had a particularly challenging shift.  Having an opportunity to take part in something which has nothing to do with your course will give you some much needed down time.

Being a member of a society or sports team is another great way to make friends, and you can never have too many friends.  You could also approach the student union about starting your own society with a group of friends – I regret not creating a midwifery society.

Another reason to take part in additional activities is they look great on your CV!  Employers are looking for well rounded people and if they can see evidence of a range of interests and hobbies this will instantly more attractive to them.

Extra-curricular activities are central to the university experience but you also need to ensure you dedicate time to your academic studies.  It is a balancing act; just remember not to try spinning too many plates at once.

Before I close, a little update on my last few weeks and what the future looks like for me; I received a very good grade for my dissertation and am looking into getting it published, I only need two more babies to complete my 40 deliveries and having passed my presentation, I only have a short essay left.

Next stop...graduation!

And finally, I will soon be wearing a blue uniform because I have been offered a job when I qualify. All I have left to say now is ‘Thank you’ for reading this and letting me prattle on each week.  I hope it has been informative/interesting/entertaining in some small way.  If you do decide to apply for midwifery at the University of Bedfordshire (which I encourage you to do), I look forward to meeting you and perhaps being your mentor one day in the future. All the best x

A taste of university life

Details can be found on the university's website

I would always advocate attending an open day at any university that you are thinking of applying to.  These give you an opportunity to visit the campus and accommodation, learn more about the structure of the course and get a feel for the atmosphere – after all, it will become your home for the next three years.  I knew as soon as I came to the University of Bedfordshire that I felt comfortable and liked the staff.  It is also helpful to attend an open day so you can understand and articulate why you want to attend that specific university – a common question in interviews.

I asked my friends why they attended university open days to see if they had any further insight.  These are their words of wisdom;

“I have always believed if you like a place on a rainy day you will be happy there.” Emily

“The open day gave me an insight into how the university worked before I applied.” Anne

Meet current students

“I appreciated being able to talk to the students and get an insight into their experience – lecturers and staff will always be positive; I wanted to know what it was really like.” Alex

“I found it helpful to learn the course structure and the type of assessments which are used so I could see if it suited me.” Daisy

“I was able to meet other applicants who I then contacted on Facebook so I already had friends when I started!” Joely

“I liked looking round the simulation lab – that made me really excited about starting the course.” Mary-Anne

“I went to one open day for a university which I had set my heart on going to, but once I got there it just didn’t feel right.  I am glad I realised that before I had gone through the application and interview process.” Jenny

See the facilities

I have previously written a post with lots of tips about choosing the right university (Where to go?).  I also spoke to my friends about what made them choose the University of Bedfordshire and how they made their decision. 

Many people only applied to institutions which were within a commutable distance from home, whereas others were drawn to the structure of the course.  They looked at league tables (such as The Guardian’s University Guide, The Complete University Guide, What Uni?), prospectuses, student forums, and asked college tutors and family members.  There doesn’t seem to be a magic formula for choosing the right university.  I think it is important to do some research and attend an open day to see if it feels right.  Trust your instincts.  See you next week!

How does it run?

I have just 12 weeks left.  This is an incredible thought.  I have just found out I have a job and next week we should be getting our results of our dissertation.  Eeek, reality is setting in.

Many university courses have already finished for the summer, final exams are being sat and third year students are packing up their things and going home for the last time.  The midwifery course is slightly different however.

but not for the midwifery students!

It was quite a shock to discover that I wouldn’t be getting the three month break that most students enjoy.  It does make sense though – we are training for a profession which has to be available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Typically, my week is split 50% practice, 50% university study.  Instead of having blocks of 6 weeks spent in university, followed by 10 weeks in practice like some universities do, we have always had three shifts of work a week and one day in university.  I have personally found this very helpful as it means I can immediately put theory into practice.  I just know I would forget what a pregnant woman looks like if I hadn’t been at work for 6 weeks – it's bad enough coming back after two weeks of annual leave at Christmas!

Our theoretical teaching takes many forms.  We have the traditional lectures, which are like classes at school or college, but we also have seminars which are smaller group discussions about a particular topic.  As so much of what we need to learn is practical, we often have sessions in the simulation labs in which we can practice our clinical skills in a safe environment.  They are fantastically well equipped; we even have mannequins which breathe and blink! 

Fantastic facilities

There are also self-directed study days, and practice based study days run by our practice educators.

There are also many different types of assessments both in theory and practice.  We have essays, written exams, VIVAs (a spoken exam), OSCEs (a practical exam), presentations, case studies and practice assessments.  We also have a checklist of clinical skills which we need to be ‘signed off’ as competent at. 

There is a lot to think about and keep on top off throughout the training, but this is reflective of the responsibility that is involved with the role.  We are encouraged to attend clinical governance meetings and participate in audits, which are all part of the midwife’s role and something which we will need to do when we are qualified.

Another fantastic opportunity we have is the University's annual midwifery conference.  In previous years this has focused on topics such as cultural diversity and sensitivity in midwifery and communication.  I have also attended conferences run by the Royal College of Midwives which has increased my knowledge base and introduced me to a wide range of midwifery specialities.

I have found the teaching to be excellent throughout my course – the lecturers are supportive, passionate and knowledgeable and I feel fantastically prepared to enter the working world of midwifery.  See you next week!

Memories

What do midwives actually do?

My final year has gone by in a flash.  Back in September, the year stretched ahead of me; a dissertation to write and 26 babies to ‘catch’.  Now that I am near the finish line (dissertation handed in, only 5 babies left) I find myself reflecting on the year that has gone and considering everything I have experienced.  This year has been about consolidation of our training so far, but I have also realised how much I still have left to learn.  Being a final year student is a balancing act between becoming an independent practitioner and not running before you can walk.  Whilst it is vital that you learn the clinical skills necessary to give excellent care, it is equally important to discover who you

Although there have been times and situations which challenge me, I have also had the most incredible year.  I was privileged enough to be present at a homebirth - an event which reaffirmed for me that all the hard work and stress is worth it.  It is such an honour to be present when a couple become a family for the first time, and this was even more poignant when it is in their own home.
are as a midwife and this has been something we have focused on this year.

See if you can spot me on TV!

I was also asked to represent the student midwives when the hospital Trust where invited to the live recording of Sunday Night at the Palladium.  It was a great night, full of singers, dancers, comedians and variety acts hosted by Jimmy Carr.  My favourite was the cast of Beautiful who performed some songs from the musical.

Another massive and humbling honour was being nominated for ‘Student Midwife of the Year’ at our Trust.  I am still struggling to think what I have done to deserve the nomination but it is something I will always treasure.

My final highlight is something which every final year student relishes – handing in the dissertation!  I never thought I had 10,000 words in me!  I must say, it looked very professional once it was printed and bound, I was almost sad it just drop it into the assignment box  Almost.

There is no rest for the wicked however; I still have a few assignments and assessments to go before I breathe a real sigh of relief and can put my feet up.  I think this has been one of the biggest challenges for this year, maintaining stamina.  There is so much to juggle when you are a student midwife, I look forward to the day when I can go to work and not come home to write an essay!  All I will have to think about then is the massive responsibility I have as a midwife.  That’s ‘all’!  It’s a good thing I have such an amazing support network of friends, family and colleagues around me.  And pictures like this to make me smile....

I lol'd for approx 10 minutes!

See you next week!

Where to go

Choosing the right university is a massive decision, one that needs careful consideration.  Although the decision was slightly taken out of my hands as the University of Bedfordshire was the only

Decisions, decisions

institution which offered me a place, I remember the heartache and indecision which surrounded my choice to study at Loughborough University.  There are a number of factors to consider; here are just a few tips which may be helpful to you when you are making the decision…

Read the course syllabus and structure
Every university will structure their course and organise their assessments in slightly different ways. With midwifery many aspects are stipulated by the NMC so there is some standardisation, but each course will have its individual nuances which you need to bear in mind.  UoB, for example, have continuous placement throughout the three years of midwifery training rather than block placements.  Look through university prospectuses and look on the university’s website for details.  One of the things which attracted me to Loughborough was the fact that the dissertation was an optional unit!  Needless to say, I did not choose that option.

Attend an open day
The best way to get a feel for a university is to attend an open day.  Usually this will include a tour of the campus and accommodation, which is important because not only will the university you choose become the place you study, it will also become your home for the next three years.  There may also be the opportunity to talk to current students which means you will be able to ask them all the

An easy way to get a taste of student life

important questions you will have.  You will be able to gauge if you can ‘see’ yourself at that university, if there are societies you are interested in, where you will take your grandparents when they come to visit!  I instantly felt at home when I attended open days at Loughborough and Bedfordshire, something I didn’t experience at some of the other universities I looked around.

Think about location and transport links
This is a very practical consideration but one which will serve you well.  I always wanted to study somewhere which was far enough away from home so I wouldn’t go home every weekend, but was close enough to get back if I needed to.  I often fight the temptation to just pop home to enjoy my mum’s cooking and familiar surroundings when the homesickness sets in, but I have learnt that it is important to stick these times out and put some foundations down. Also, a two hour journey is just long enough to put me off if I have had a busy week, but not too long to get back for special events (or a mummy hug!).  You also want to think about whether you like to be in the city or prefer a small town; one of the things which put me off studying in London was the thought of working in a big city hospital.  Also think about what the transport links are like.  Being based in Luton was fantastic for me in my first year as I didn’t drive and the bus service is excellent. 

Talk to family and friends
Ultimately the decision is yours, but it is also useful to get the opinion of friends and family if you are really struggling to settle on a university.  It would be more beneficial if they have accompanied you to an open day, but even if they haven’t they may think of something you haven’t.   My mum, for example, googled the train journey home from Luton and fretted that I would have to cross London.  I think she had forgotten I had lived and worked in London for nearly two years!

Graduation - the ultimate goal

My final piece of advice is to look at student experience league tables as these offer an invaluable insight into what it is like to be a student at the universities you are considering.  There is no flashy marketing involved, just honest opinion from the people who are where you will soon be.  See you next week!

Almost there!

Where is this man's oscar?!

Well the ‘D-day’ has finally arrived. Would you believe it, I was actually ready, despite pouring a fresh cup of tea over my laptop three days before the deadline!  Final word count; 10 997 words (30, 744 if you include all the appendices).  Now all I can do is wait for the results…something no student enjoys. 

Now my dissertation is out of the way, I can concentrate on filling in the gaps of my clinical skills.   I have eight babies to catch (but having two on one shift was a bonus), about 50 learning points, 7 clinical assessments, a presentation. Writing it like that makes it seem like a lot, but is hard to see anything as a challenge on the same day as you submit your dissertation.  I could probably climb Mount Everest today.  Probably. Maybe not.  I do feel like Jack from Titanic though….the “I’m the king of the world!” moment, not the freezing to death that is. 

Probably not the train she was thinking of

 One of our lecturers described our training as a train journey; in the first year you are leaving the station, excited about the trip, wanting it to gather speed so you can reach your destination.  Second year you go into a tunnel called ‘general placements’.  It goes dark and you feel like it will never end.  You start to wonder why you even started the journey in the first place. And then finally, third year; you start to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  But then it seems to be hurling towards you and you start to question whether you want to leave the comfort of your carriage.

Then there is small matter of getting a job.  My stomach lurches every time I get an alert from NHS jobs.  It makes the last three years of training very real and although sometimes I can’t wait to write RM after my name, at other times I think I would like to stay in my white student uniform for ever.

Interview tips; I must remember to shave

I have my first interview in mid June, so have been brushing up on obstetric emergencies and neonatal resuscitation. I have found running through these with a group of my friends on the course has been the most successful way of doing this.  Interviews for midwifery jobs also include a maths test so I have been practising my mental arithmetic.  I also have to choose an interview outfit.  A very important decision there!

I will let you know how I get on in my interview and my dissertation.  I’m now off to my cousin’s wedding, what a lovely end to a successful week!  See you next week!
 

Bad day at the office?

We all have tough days

We have all had those days when we wonder why we are doing the job we do; when nothing seems to go to plan and it all turns to skittles.  In midwifery, it could be something simple like missing a vein when trying to take blood or something much more serious and tragic.

It takes an enormous emotional input to be in a caring profession.  Self care is vitally important to ensure you can give the very best to the women in your care, because if you constantly give without putting something back into yourself, you will soon run empty.

Oreo cookie icecream is a must

Here are my top tips for coping with those bad days at the office:

Treat yourself
Eat chocolate, watch your favourite film, listen to your favourite music, go for a run – anything that will release endorphins.  The first step is to boost your mood. This can start on your journey home
from work, turn the radio up, open the windows and let the wind blow the shift away.

Reflect
Don’t wallow, but think about the experience; what happened, how did it make you feel, what was good or bad about the situation, what have you learnt from it, what would you do differently if it happened again.  Every experience is a learning opportunity, even if it is “I will never do that again”.

Share
Find someone you can talk to, and cry with if need be.  Debriefing a serious incident is as important for you as it is for the parents, as it helps you to make sense of the situation and will aid your

We all need a help! button

reflection.  Remember, you have a responsibility of confidentiality and cannot share personal information of patients, but having another person to talk to will stop you rerunning it over in your mind.

Remember the good experiences
It can be very easy to get into a negative mindset.  The best way to break this cycle is to focus on better times; remember your first delivery, the best feedback you got from an essay.  I believe the bad experiences are made worse because they happen so infrequently, so remember to look at all the positive things which have gone before.

Tomorrow is a new day
Move on.  Practice in light of what you have learnt from your reflection, but don’t get trapped thinking it is going to happen again.

Its all worth it in the end

Hope this has helped. See you next week!

Two weeks to go!

My face when I realised the time!

Today’s blog is very late, I apologise.  I have succumbed to the dissertation and was completely distracted.  As time tends to do when you need more of it, this week has slipped through my fingers.

As the title suggests, there is only a fortnight before the big ‘D’ day deadline. But of course, there are a number of other things to juggle alongside the small matter of 10,000 words.  Many of the third years, myself included, have been placed back on delivery suite in order to ‘catch’ our remaining babies.  Out of the 40 personal deliveries we need to qualify, I am currently on 30.  We all gather in the office at handover, working out who has priority, batting back the keen first and second years.  Every day, we look just a little more desperate!

International Nurses Day was also this week.  We celebrated at our hospital by having a nursing and midwifery conference and awards ceremony.  I was shortlisted for Student Midwife of the Year and

Because loser doesn't look as good

received runner up to my very deserving friend…and housemate (that wasn’t awkward over the breakfast table)!

One of the speakers at the conference discussed end of life care, which I listened to keenly as it is a subject similar to that of my dissertation.  He told us ‘The Starfish Story’ adapted from a story by Loren Eiseley.  For me, the story completely described my philosophy of care. Sometimes, the enormity of the role I am about to undertake is too much – there is too much responsibility, too much paperwork, too much pain.  How can I make a difference, have any influence?  But as the story below beautifully expresses, even the smallest act, for just one person can make an immense difference.

My new favourite story

We are going to be looking at our philosophy of care a lot more over the coming weeks at university.  It is important to remember why we want to be in this challenging and demanding role, as well who we are doing it for.  Although I originally applied for this course because I thought I had the right personal qualities to be a midwife and I was interested in the subject, I have come to respect what an honour it is and strive to do my best for the women who have given me the privilege to support and travel with them though their pregnancy and journey into motherhood.

Just a short one this week because, unfortunately – my dissertation hasn’t yet learnt how to write itself. See you next week!

Accomodation

One of the first decisions you will need to make once your place at University is confirmed is where you are going to live.  If, like me, you move away from home to study one of the options open to you is halls of residence.

I lived in halls for my first year both times that I went to university.  It made sense to me, and was relatively hassle free.  There are a few adjustments to make, as there always are when you live with someone (see my previous blog post Flat Pack Furniture and Flatmates) but the benefits are numerous.

Fancy new halls at UoB

Location, location, location
Most halls of residence are in the centre of town or very close to the university campus which makes navigating a new city easy.  I lived in halls next to the campus so I could be out of my bed and in lectures within 40 mins!  Very handy as you become used to the student lie-in!  There was also a bus stop 50 yards from the front door which was perfect for the early morning starts on placement.

A sense of identity
By living in halls you instantly have a group of people who you have something in common with – you all live together.  The first few weeks away from home can be daunting and homesickness is not unusual – I know I experienced it, and still do sometimes.  My top tip to beat the blues is to surround yourself with noise; turn the radio on, watch a DVD, or get together with some friends.  And this is so easy when you live in halls.  There is always someone around to share a cup of tea or cook dinner with. 

Being a grown up is hard!

All bills included
One of the horrible things about growing up is budgeting.  Living in halls takes some of the stress out of it as there is just one outgoing – your rent.  This covers water, gas, electricity, internet and all the other things that eat away at your student loan.  The only additional expense you will have is food, washing and a TV licence.  It makes the transition to independent living a little easier.

Finally, I have a few tips for living in halls:

• Designate male and female bathrooms – most apartments are co-ed and separating bathrooms will reduce arguments.
• Discuss a cleaning rota – it may not be something you want to stick rigidly to, but, it will ensure everyone does there bit.
• Buy some flipflops – you can wear them in the shower and around your room.
• Decorate your room – lots of pictures and bright colours.  Use white tac so it doesn’t cause damage, but it will make your room much more homely and warm.
• Get some earplugs – if you are working nights (which you will as a nursing or midwifery student) there will be times when you need to sleep when everyone else is awake.
• Keep a toilet roll in your room – just in case!

This is how I look after a run of night shifts

See you next week!

Take 2

My new theatre

I am often met by surprise when I explain what my career was before starting my training.  It does seem quite a jump to go from theatre to midwifery, but with half of my family working within the NHS, the change has always seemed more natural to me.

I had a few fears about returning to university for a second time.
Initially, I was reluctant to admit that I hadn’t made the right decision the first time.  I have always been the sort of person to agonise over the decisions I make.  I cried when I had to choose my GCSEs, scared that my teachers would no longer like me if I didn’t choose their subject.  In retrospect this is completely ridiculous, but for a 14 year old the overwhelming fear that the choices I made in that moment would dictate my future was a very real one. 

So when I realised the theatre wasn’t the right world for me, it took me a while to adapt to this. I knew I wanted a career, not just a job, so I was never looking for a quick fix.  It was however quite a

Its not easy to get on to a course!

commitment to agree to complete another three year degree.  Being a student again also wasn’t massively appealing; I had a nice life in London, earning a good salary and going to the theatre whenever I wanted so the prospect of limited funds, deadlines and assignments wasn’t something I was looking forward to.  It wasn’t long however, until I remembered all the brilliant parts about being a student.

I love learning, and from speaking to my friend who was half way through her training, I was absolutely fascinated about the process of pregnancy and birth.  There was also the opportunity to make a new group of friends, something which I am always open to.  Making friends at university is completely different from making friends at school – at school, you are friends because you are in the same form class, or you sit next to each other in Biology, but in higher education, you are brought together by a shared passion and interest.  In my experience, it leads to closer and longer lasting friendships.  It did cross my mind that I would be the eldest in the group, but I soon realised that midwifery attracts people of all ages and backgrounds.

The joys of being a mature student

I also had to consider that midwifery was a completely new subject for me.  I had not studied any science since my GCSEs, some seven years previous!  I also hadn’t always wanted to be a midwife in the same way I had always longed to be on the stage.  My move to midwifery was a considered decision, looking at my interests and personality strengths.  Although I had the bizarre experience of applying through UCAS at the same time as the students I was teaching, returning to study was one of the best decisions I have ever made.  I have never looked back.

I can hear the bells!

My friend is getting married tomorrow.  I am currently dashing back from Germany to be there, and I am so excited.  She is the second of this particular group to get married and as well as having the

I do...want to do this!

honour of watching her getting hitched to the love of her life, it also means an opportunity to catch up with the girls.

I refuse to believe I am old enough to get married, although many of my friends are determined to prove me wrong.  Of my two groups of friends from Loughborough University, we have had 6 weddings, 4 children and 8 homes bought!  It seems like it is just me lagging behind still as a student.

It’s funny where life takes you.  When I left school at 18, I didn’t know what I wanted to do.  I went to university because I always knew that was what followed A-levels, rather than having a game plan in place.  I studied Drama because I was passionate about it, and had a smidge of talent.  It was very daunting therefore when I left university the first time because I didn’t know what I wanted to be! 

The most optimistic part of me wanted to pursue acting.  I had dreams of being snapped up by a casting director as I walked down the road, but of course, this hardly ever happens.  So, I started working as a teaching assistant because I couldn’t find any other work and really enjoyed it.  I then had an opportunity to move to London for three months as my friend was going travelling and wondered if I wanted to take her room in the flat.  I had saved enough money to cover the rent so I decided to take her offer up.

Spot the Drama student

 A few weeks after settling into city life, I contacted the National Youth Theatre, of which I was a member, asking if they wanted any help, stuffing letters, making tea, that sort of thing.  They emailed me back and soon I was working as an expenses paid intern.  This was followed with an offer of a job working within the Creative Learning department and before I knew it three months had turned into two years.   The friend whose room I had taken came back and, along with her now fiancé (husband tomorrow!) lived in the lounge until they found a place of their own.

I was starting to think however, that a job in the Theatre wasn’t right for me.  Although I helped to run the Access to Higher Education course the NYT ran, much of my work was office based and I was beginning to get cabin fever.  I love a spreadsheet as much as the next geek, but I knew my future was in something more practical. 

It was either teaching or something medical.  I applied for Midwifery after being inspired by an old school friend who had recently started her training and the rest is history as they say.

It’s never too late to embark on a new career.  See you next week.

We're all going on a (belated) Easter holiday!

As you read this, I will be (hopefully) sunning myself by a pool in Germany because I am off on my hols!  Not that it will all be relaxing and sightseeing for 1) I have a chest infection and 2) I am taking my best friend 'Dissertation' with me.

Celebrate!

I am determined to be cheery though.  I have had my nails painted and I am going to spend two weeks thinking of anything other than the 10 births I have left to catch.

As a midwifery student, our terms don’t fall in line with the majority of the university.  There is no three month summer vacation for us!  It was most strange going to work as a second year on a Friday and then as a third year the following Monday last September.  I still haven’t got used to being referred to as a senior student. 

At university last week we were discussing labour ward management.  We had to imagine we were the coordinating midwife and had to assign our staff to the various women who needed care.  There were a few heated discussions as we all tried to decide who was best placed to go into each of the rooms – I heard phrases like, “well, we wouldn’t do it like that in our Trust”, “you can’t ask a student to do that!” coming from all the tables.  It was one of those annoying tasks where there is no right answer, as long as you can explain why you have done what you have.  It made me certain of one thing though – there is no way I want to be a senior midwife on labour ward!

One of my favourite things is to imagine where my friends will go with their careers.  There are some who are perfect for the wards, others more suited to labour ward.  There are a couple of people I can

I've often been likened to Miranda Hart

foresee specialising in a certain client group.  For me, community is where I have always wanted to be.  Although I love delivering babies, what I prefer is building a relationship with a woman and her family as she journeys through her pregnancy and then meeting their little bundle of joy when they get home.  It is always so rewarding to witness a woman as she grows in confidence and becomes a mother.

Throughout your training you will be able to witness the whole spectrum of midwifery; it's so exciting when you discover where you want to practice.

Bis bald!

Mentors

One of the biggest apprehensions I had when starting clinical practice, aside from my lack of clinical skills, was the relationship I would have with my mentor.  I didn’t identify this as a concern during the application and interview process.  It wasn’t until the first day of my course when we were discussing our hopes and fears in groups that it seemed to be a recurring theme. 

I hadn’t really considered it until this point.  Not that I was completely naive – at no point did I think I would be left alone to deliver a baby, I just didn’t then rationalise this would mean working with a midwife.  Or that there was a chance we wouldn’t get along. 

Mentors; guiding the way

Not to boast, but I am quite a likable person.  I have over 300 friends on Facebook I’ll have you know! Of course there are certain people who I would choose to spend my time with, but there aren’t many people I can’t have, at least a working relationship with.  So, you can probably understand why I was confused as to why all my new classmates were so worried about meeting their mentor.

As far as I was concerned, midwives have to be nice, right?  It's part of the job description surely.  Why was everyone so intimidated by them?  However, as the induction process continued, I started to get more and more fixated on this as yet faceless person who I would be shadowing. 

The lecturers made us aware that are mentors would be watching us from the very moment we started working with them.  If that sentiment isn’t enough to send shivers down your spine, I don’t know what is.  We heard phrases like assessment, grading, cause for concern, and very little about the nurturing and guiding relationships I have come to know from my mentors. 

For that is what mentorship is all about.  True, they are marking your performance and assessing you against set criteria, but they are also moulding and shaping you into a midwife of the future.  Each midwife works in a slightly different way, and as a student you have the unique opportunity to soak up all these styles and create your own from the best of each.  I know for a fact that I still carry out my postnatal checks in exactly the same way as my first community mentor.

Learn from them you will

It is also important to consider what it must be like for the midwife to be followed around by the questioning and scared novice you will undoubtedly be as a first year.  And still as a third year, come to think about it.  Everything that you do, they are accountable and responsible for.  That is a lot of trust for them to have in someone they have only just met.  Perhaps they should be more scared of the students than the students are of them!

As I am nearing graduation, I have been thinking a lot about the sort of mentor I will be.  I hope I am half as good as the mentors I have had throughout my training.  See you next week.

Happy Easter

Could this be any cuter?

I love this time of year. Not only is it my birthday next week (8th April in case you were wondering) but also because spring has finally sprung.  Or so I thought; judging by the wind and rain we have had over the last couple of days you would think it was still winter.  But no, the evenings are getting lighter, the daffodils and tulips are bringing some much needed colour to our gardens and there is blossom on the trees.  Despite crème eggs being available on Boxing Day, it has finally become acceptable to start devouring them.  And as they are eggs, it is only natural that you do this a dozen at a time!

I'll take my Diet Coke with a side of hunk!

Did you give anything up for lent?  I abstained from Diet Coke, so I already have a can chilling in the fridge to drink at 8 am on Sunday.  I’m not very good resisting temptation but I haven’t touched a drop of the carbonated nectar for a whole 40 days!  I am so proud of myself.

I’ve said it a thousand times this week, but I can’t believe it is April already!  Where is this year going?  There are only 159 days left of my course, and more worryingly, only 56 until the dreaded ‘D’ day.  Last week at university we had an interview preparation day…I was so nervous, it was almost like I was interviewing for a job there and then. 

As a midwife, interviews for jobs involve a range of activities.  Of course there are the usual “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?   What would you say are your biggest strengths and weaknesses are?” type questions.  There is also a maths test and an interpretation of fetal heart monitoring (a CTG), as well as neonatal resuscitation and an emergency scenario.  Everything that we have been learning over the past three years has been preparing us for these interviews, but looking around my classmates, I know there were thinking the same as me – “I’m not ready for this.  I don’t remember anything!”

Oh Michael Scott!

But of course we were ready.  As soon as we started running through the emergency situations or looked at the CTG we knew the answers.  Neonatal resuscitation felt like a muscle memory; like a dance learnt long ago.  What seems more daunting now is the question, “So, why should we choose you?”  Apparently my suggestion of “I can bake really nice cakes” won’t cut it.

So now all I have to do is get my CV and personal statement ready so I can upload them when the adverts are posted.  I have my NHSjobs email alerts all set up and have been filling my online baskets with an array of interview outfits.  Plenty of things to keep me from writing my dissertation; lovely!  See you next week!

A week in the life of a student midwife

Friday
Instead of going to university today we had a directed study day based around the Morecambe Bay Investigation.  It didn’t make for very pleasant reading.  If you haven’t read it, I would encourage you to do so.  It would be a fantastic thing to discuss in any interviews you may have.  For me it reminded me of the importance of multidisciplinary working and effective communication.  Professional relationships can be a tricky thing to negotiate, especially in the high pressure environment of the labour ward.  The most important thing is to ensure the woman remains at the centre of everyone’s focus and this will hopefully ensure a positive outcome for everyone.

Saturday and Sunday
My weekend started with work; the final session of antenatal education.  It was brilliant once again.  I learnt so much about how a baby’s brain develops.  For example, I didn’t realise that a baby could recognise its mother by smell from birth, by sound at 10 days old and by sight at 3 months.
After this, I made my way to the outskirts of London to spend a couple of days with an old friend.  We watched some (terrible) films and drank lots of tea.  She is 6 months pregnant so she had lots of questions and I was able to share with her what I had learnt in the morning.  It was delightful.

Monday
Back to work, and I was in clinic all day.  Back-to-back appointments can be quite draining but it also gave me an opportunity to practice my clinical skills in abdominal palpation, fetal heart auscultation, blood pressure reading and taking blood.  I am getting to grips with planning care and what happens at each appointment, but there is a lot to remember.
I am so looking forward to the day that I have my own clinic.  I have always felt most comfortable working in the community; I enjoy seeing the women throughout their pregnancy and building a rapport with them.  It is also wonderful to have a cuddle with their new baby when they come home!

Tuesday
Another clinic today, but mostly for postnatal women which meant different clinical skills to practice.  Newborn blood spot tests, infant checks, weighing and breastfeeding support to name just a few.
After work, I rushed back home to get changed and then met a friend to go to the cinema.  We saw Will Smith’s new film- Focus.  I really enjoyed it, and not just because of the numerous topless scenes!

Wednesday
Although I was on a late shift, my morning was filled with a course meeting.  As I am set rep I have to go to various meetings from time to time.  Today’s meeting was a forum for the set reps to bring any concerns or questions to the teaching team.  It’s wonderful to have such an open interaction with the staff and to know they value our opinion so much.
The meeting ran a little late so I raced (whilst keeping to the speed limit of course) across town to meet my community mentor.  I had the most amazing shift and it was the perfect ending to my community placement.  I am looking forward to returning to delivery suite next week though, and getting my remaining 11 births!

Thursday
Finally, a day off!  After sleeping in and cleaning my bathroom, I sat down to work quite a lot later than I had hoped.  I am starting to make some headway with my dissertation but not enough to own up to my word count!  I was very grateful for the fantastic library resources available at UoB today.  My first literature search brought up over 6000 results!
This afternoon I popped into town to get a birthday card for my step-mum and have dinner with a friend before coming home and doing some revision for our interview preparation day tomorrow.

See you next week!

Learning from the students

For the past three weekends I have been attending the antenatal classes we offer in Luton.  The course explores all aspects of labour, birth and life with a new baby.  It has been fascinating meeting this group of women and their partners and learning from them. 

It is very easy to follow our own agenda as midwives; focusing on the advice we need to give and the clinical features we have to monitor.  It is far too easy to forget that the parents will have their own motives when accessing maternity services.  They come with their own unique experience, understanding, hopes, fears and questions.

Although, as I am coming to the end of my course, I have a solid knowledge base, talking to these parents I realise there is still a lot more to learn.  I had forgotten, for example, how difficult it can be to change a nappy on a squirming baby.  For some of the couples in the group, their child will be the first contact they have ever had with a newborn.  It must be an extremely daunting prospect knowing you are completely responsible for caring for this little human.

Being a midwife is so much more than delivering babies.  It is supporting a woman as she makes the exciting and terrifying journey into motherhood.  One of the simplest ways we can do this is through antenatal education classes.

It makes sense that the better prepared you are for something, the better the outcome will be.  For example, when you take an exam at school, you will often do a mock paper in advance and your

teacher will explain the format of the examination.  They can’t tell you what the questions will be, but they reduce the stress you feel by removing any other uncertainties you may have.  Imagine you had to sit your last ever A Level examination and you didn’t know where it was taking place or what you would have to do.  Understandably you would not do well.

The same applies for labour and birth.  Many women are scared of the prospect of giving birth because they don’t understand what will happen to them.  They may have watched One Born Every Minute and expect that their labour will neatly fit into the edited one hour programme they have seen on channel 4.  This is not the case.  They expect it to hurt and that they won’t be able to cope with that pain.  This is also not always true.  Usually when we are in pain, it is because we are not well and our body is telling us that something is wrong. In labour however, the body sends out hormones which act as a natural analgesia.  If the woman can understand the process her body is going through, instead of being scared of being in pain, she can embrace it and realise that it is helping her to meet her baby.  With the correct preparation and belief in her amazing body, a mother can do wondrous things.

I am so grateful for the opportunity of being a part of the journey for the couples I have met in antenatal classes and thank them for reminding me of the importance of the softer skills of midwifery.  See you next week!

Flat Pack Furniture and Flat Mates

Last weekend I moved once again.  In my 27, nearly 28, years of life, I have lived in 11 different houses, with 30 different people (not all at the same time).  I have lived with family members, strangers and friends and I can tell you this – you don’t really know someone until you live with them.

Student Village

My mum tells me when she dropped me off at university at the tender age of 18, she cried because she was scared I wouldn’t make any friends.  Hopefully, this isn’t because she thinks I am a social pariah but more because I didn’t know anyone.  I must admit, when I waved her goodbye I sat on my bed and wondered if I had made the right decision.  Then there was a flurry of knocks on my door and a second year student came bursting in. Her name was Katie and she soon became a close friend - which is fortunate, because we shared a bathroom. 

I loved living in student accommodation when I did my first degree.  I had an immediate group of friends, all doing different courses to me and whom I went on to live with out of halls.  So it felt only natural to do the same when I started at the University of Bedfordshire.  I wasn’t familiar with Luton so living in student accommodation right in the centre of town was extremely convenient whilst I was finding my feet.  I also didn’t drive at the time so was relived to discover the university, bus routes and shopping were all in easy walking distance.

One of my favourite passive aggressive notes

 There is a knack to sharing a house or halls of residence with other people as other people’s habits will drive you up the wall if you let them.  Door slamming, milk stealing, hair in plug holes, late night music blaring – I have lived with them all.  You have to remember, it is only temporary.  There are also massive positives; another person’s DVD collection to raid, someone to make you a cup of tea when you are hung-over, someone to help you put together your flat pack furniture as you try to make a room, a home.  As long as the benefits outweigh the negatives, stick with it.  If not, move on.

Flat mates are a staple of university life.  Hopefully you will be as lucky as me and make some life long friends.  See you next week.

Housemates for three years, friends forever

Wanted: more time

I would like to borrow Bernard's watch!

I can’t quite believe we are in March already.  I’m sure time travels quicker the older I become!  I have been told many times that my final year will go past in a blink of an eye, and I am starting to realise the truth in this cliché.

According to the countdown app on my phone, I have 187 days left of my degree.  This fact terrifies and excites me in equal measure.  I am also reliably informed that there are 84 days until my dissertation deadline.  *Please excuse me for a moment of mad panic.*

I have been considering my dissertation topic since I first put in my UCAS application.  At that time, I was interested in choice of birth place as my nephew had recently been born at home.  Then when I started my course, and especially after being a patient myself, I become fascinated by communication within healthcare, particularly between clinician and service user.  As it turns out, I am doing neither of these topics for my dissertation. 

Everyone has moments which completely change their perspective on life.  For me, one of these was the first time I cared for someone whose baby had died.  I remember feeling completely inadequate and ever since then bereavement care has become a passion of mine.  It seemed only natural therefore for this to be the topic for my (mini) tome.

Grumpy Cat feels my pain

My biggest stumbling block when it comes to writing is that I am a perfectionist.  If something doesn’t flow flawlessly, I delete it. This makes the thought of writing 10,000 words extremely daunting. Consequently, I have spent a lot of time formatting my title page and searching for literature.  Now, I need to put pen, or curser, to paper. 

By no means do I have all the answers when it comes to writing an essay, but 6 years of academic writing has taught me a few lessons;

Read the question thoroughly
Highlight the important words in the question – this will give you focus in your writing.

Dissertation = an excuse for new stationary

Start with a detailed plan
Write down all your ideas and start to put it in an order.  This will probably change as you start writing but it will ensure you don’t forget anything you wanted to say.

Begin early
It is possible to pull an all-nighter and write a 2000 word essay the day before the deadline but it is not advisable.  It will never be your best work.

Leave time for proof reading
There will come a point when you can’t see the mistakes any more.  When this happens, you will need a set of fresh eyes in the form of a friend or family member.

No doubt I will discuss my dissertation in a future blog post.  Hopefully I will have made more of a dent in the word count when I do!  Until then, see you next week.