The University of Salford Midwifery Society Magazine Semester 3
This semester’s edition concentrates on student mental health.
This semester’s edition concentrates on student mental health.
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The Future Midwife
The University of Salford Midwifery Society Magazine.
Spring 2021
Wellbeing tips for
a great night’s sleep
Mental Health
This edition of the
Midwifery
Society Magazine
focuses
on mental health.
IT’S OK NOT
TO BE OK
2nd year student Sian
reflects upon a
challenging
1st year
Studying midwifery
whilst living with
mental health
challenges
Academic Hints
and Tips
Aromatherapy
and Midwifery:
A review of the
Society’s Online
Aromatherapy
Workshop
Starting University
during a Global
Pandemic
The Midwifery Society 2021
As we come towards our third trimester, the midwifery society would
like to thank all of our society memebers for your support and
understanding throughout the difficult circumstances that this year
has presented.
As the year draws to a close, we would like to offer a warm welcome to
the new upcoming committe and society members. We hope that you
enjoy being a part of this fantastic society as much as we have.
Meet the Committee
Emma Mahon
Co Chair
Nicola Laughlin
Co Chair
Lorna Richardson
Social Media
Marie Layne
Secretary
Stacey Mollineux
Treasurer
Nicole Rajan- Brown
Wellbeing
Caz Zitha
Photographer
Hello and welcome to the second edition of our society magazine!
This year as a society we have tried our best to be as engaging as possible
even in these strange times of lockdown and restrictions. We have managed to
hold our first annual awards (which we hope to do again!), the first issue of the
magazine was released and was a great success, we’ve had meditation sessions
led by our well-being officer Nicole Rajan-Brown online, we faciliated an online
aromatherapy for childbirth course as an RCM accredited module, which had
great feedback and finally the bereavement workshop ‘Growing in confidence’.
Thank you all for filling out feedback forms your ideas will be taken forward into
future events! We started this year with so many plans for the society which had
to be changed due to COVID 19, but we are so proud of what we have achieved
and how you as members have supported us.
It is now time - believe it or not - to elect new committee members for the
upcoming academic year, this is usually done early to allow a good handover and
ensure everyone is ready. If you are interested in becoming a committee member,
please contact either of the co-chairs with an expression of interest.
As this is the last time, we will write to you as co-chairs we wanted to wish you
all the best of luck with your continued studies and good luck and best wishes to
all the third-year student midwives who will qualify this year. We hope you have a
happy, safe, and fulfilling career!
Finally, just to say it has been a whirlwind of a year and whether you had just
started in first year - new to midwifery training or in the senior years we have all
had a tough time, but we’ve made it!! I hope you all find some time to reflect on
the last year at some point soon and don’t forget help is always available - so
don’t struggle alone!
Stay safe everyone
Emma and Nicola!
Welcome letter from your
Co-Chairs
.
Editor’s Note
Nicole Rajan-Brown- 2nd Year Student
Mental Health. We all have it, yet it is still an area that we
struggle to talk about, struggle to put at the front and centre of our
wellbeing. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic placing an increased
emphasis on the importance of wellbeing, stigma still exists. Alongside
the magnifying glass on these discussions, maintaining resilience,
sometimes at all costs, is often the culture promoted within the system
in which we work. As midwives, we focus so strongly on holistic care.
Yet, for as long as societal stigma remains, the social barriers remain,
there will be families refraining from disclosure.
This edition of The Future Midwife
delves into wellbeing, from a
student, midwifery workforce and a
service user perspective. I encourage
you to reflect on what you can do to
promote your own mental wellbeing,
as well as the steps you can take
professionally to break down the
barriers promoting mental wellbeing,
for both maternity workers and the
families who access our care.
Let’s talk about mental wellbeing.
If you, or someone you know, are struggling with your mental
wellbeing, there is support you can access free of charge.
The University of Salford Counselling Service offer free,
confidential services to all registered students via AskUS.
Student Minds - www.studentminds.org.uk
Samaritans - free phone 116 123 or www.samaritans.org
Mind - 0300 123 3393 or www.mind.org.uk
CALM - 0800 58 58 58 (5pm – 12am) or www.thecalmzone.net
Rethink Mental Illness – 0300 5000 927 (Mon-Fri, 9.30am – 4pm)
or www.rethink.org
If you or someone else are in crisis or immediate danger, call 999
or access A&E.
Contents
Page 4-5 Editor’s Note- Mental Health
Nicole Rajan- Brown
Pages 6-7 Contents
Pages 8-13 Feature Article- One student’s experience of studying
whilst living with mental health challenges.
Anonymous
Pages 14-17 Aromatherapy and midwifery- A review of the
Society online RCM acredited aromatherapy workshop.
Stephanie Casey
Pages 18-21 Starting University during a Pandemic. A reflection.
Shoshana Lewis
Pages 22-23 Book Review- The Secret Midwife.
Caz Zitha
Pages 24-25 Wellbeing Tips for a Restful Sleep.
Emma Mahon
Contents
Pages 26-29 Academic Hints and Tips.
Marie Layne
Page30-31- Member’s Contributions
Page 32-35 It’s ok not to be ok- 2nd year student Sian reflects
upon a difficult first year of her midwifery degree.
Sian Marie Hampton
Pages 36-37 Key Dates.
Page 38- Get Involved.
Nicole Rajan- Brown
Editor- Nicole Rajan-Brown
Assistant Editor- Stacey Molineux
Design- Caz Zitha
Feature Article
Living and studying with mental health issues
One student’s experience of studying midwifery whilst coping with
multiple mental health illnesses.
I am a student midwife. I am a long term mental health “sufferer”.
I was diagnosed with clinical depression at 13 and generalised
anxiety disorder at 21. I’ve dealt with bouts of teenage bulimia,
adult agoraphobia and, most recently, an informal diagnosis
of adult attention deficit disorder. I’ve pushed through infertility
battles and miscarriages. Despite all of these things, I am stable,
high functioning and committed to following my dream to become
the best midwife that I can be.
I refuse to be ashamed of any diagnoses or for taking medication.
When providing support to other people
I
refuse to with their own mental health problems, I
be ashamed tell them what I tell myself: you wouldn’t
of any
feel guilt or angst if you had a thyroid
disorder or diabetes or kidney problems.
diagnoses
The brain is an organ and each organ has
or for taking their own set of illnesses. It is how you
medication. approach the illness that matters.
Maybe it’s controversial, but I simply accept my mental health
for what it is. I don’t feel like I’m currently in a position where I
can battle it out and get “better”. I’ve had clinical depression for
more than half of my life, it’s now a chronic thing for me, it’s my
normal. Maybe I could fight it and maybe in the future I will. But,
right now, I choose to use my energy to focus on what I can do
to get around the limitations of my mental health, in ways which
facilitate my learning.
For example, I know that I can struggle to concentrate on heavy topics for long
periods of time and that means I need to mentally drift away occasionally, so
I make sure to revisit material over and over again to ensure I’ve not missed
anything important. For revision, I need to start early. I break things down
into bite size chunks and make posters to cover the common areas of my
house in, so that I can subconsciously absorb information without feeling the
pressure of dedicated revision time.
I can find it hard to sit and write my assignments, so I break it down into
stages. Research, notes, planning. Writing it takes the least amount of
time but the most amount of mental effort. And I have to allow myself to get
distracted. I have to be able to drift away for half an hour so that I can come
back with fresh eyes.
Because of the current
covid-19 pandemic, we haven’t
attended university in person
for a while, but in lectures I
usually need a fidget spinner
or something to keep my
hands busy. Somehow having
an outlet for nervous energy
means I better absorb and
concentrate.
I thoroughly enjoy attending my
clinical placements, especially
hospital based placements. I
love the environment, to be
forced to be so busy that I
simply don’t have time to think
about anything else. Quieter
shifts are harder... a lull in the
buzz can feel quite draining to
me, so if I’ve made sure that
there’s nothing physical for
me to do then I keep busy by
reading what I can. Induction
guidelines, neonatal care
pathways, patient leaflets
about anything and everything.
B
ut... behind
closed doors,
I’ve seen and heard
so much negativity
and ignorance from
qualified midwives
Hospital shift patterns seem to work better with
my mental health because of the days between
to decompress, reflect and otherwise mentally
untangle what happened on my shifts. I find
community-based clinical placements much
harder, but this is largely something that is
personal to each student. I have friends who much
prefer the 9-5, five days a week, of community
midwifery, and others who feel they thrive on three
8-8 hospital shifts.
I don’t tend to disclose my mental health to
midwives that I’m working with, and I’ve never
seen a woman be treated differently because
of their mental health, and I’ve never seen a
midwife be unkind or disrespectful or dismissive
to a woman’s face regarding any mental health
concerns.
But... behind closed doors, I’ve seen and heard
so much negativity and ignorance from qualified
midwives about maternal mental health. Postnatal
depression tends to be supported, other mental
health issues... not so much.
Why is she even continuing with the pregnancy if
she’s so depressed now that she can’t cope with
the kids she’s got?” ... “I don’t see what she’s got
to be anxious about.” ... “Anxiety is just a label.”
... “We didn’t have all these problems when I first
started. They’re just fashionable now.” ... Stigma.
Judgement. And I suppose in a way, I get it. It’s
incredibly hard to understand mental health issues
if you’ve not personally experienced them. But do
you really have to understand to empathise? Do
you have to understand to be compassionate? Do
you have to understand to be kind?
I started this degree because I care so much about improving people’s
experiences of maternity care. I wouldn’t be putting myself into debt and
putting my family through the stress of the degree if I wasn’t passionate about
midwifery. But it almost seems sometimes that we care so much about the
people we are supporting that we forget to care about ourselves. University arms
us with mindfulness techniques, we have “wellness wednesdays” and there is
a counselling service that we can access, but at times there still seems to be
that same lack of compassion internally. Needing a mental health day should be
as accepted as a day off for a migraine, but it still isn’t seen that way, because
needing a mental health day means you can’t cope with your course and studies,
right?
The thing is, depression and anxiety both stop you from reaching out, they
frighten you into silence because you become convinced that your voice and
your struggles are so insignificant that nobody is going to care. But it’s going
to be our job to care, and we can’t care for others if we’re not caring about
ourselves too. It isn’t healthy for the workforce and it isn’t safe for birthing
people to have an exhausted, burned out care giver.
Reflective Trigger:
How do you react to
discussions in the staff
room?
If you require support with your Mental Health please contact visit the
University’s AskUS page, where signposting to relevant services is available.
Midwifery asks so much from you, even as a student you have
the same shift pattern & workload as a qualified midwife, plus
reading, plus assignments. It’s hard and it’s necessary and we
know that. But as the next generation of midwives, maybe we
can work together to change the stigma from the inside out.
We can be compassionate towards our colleagues and we can
speak up when we hear those ignorant comments about mental
health. It feels degrading to sit in a room and listen to people talk
so negatively about mental health when you have mental health
issues yourself. The subject of your opinions can’t hear what
you’re saying, but your silently & secretly suffering colleagues
can: they can hear your negativity, your derision, your scorn,
and it isolates them, further chipping away at what little support
they felt they did have in the work place.
So in 2021, let’s actually support one another. Let’s stop
being so derivative in the staff room about other people. Let’s
flood the world with so much love and so much compassion that
mental health problems become just another illness.
I am a student midwife. I have mental health problems. I take
medication. I am not ashamed. And one day, I will be an
amazing midwife, not in spite of my mental health issues, but
because of them.
Midwifery Society Aromatherapy
Workshop 2020
The history of midwifery is fascinating. Women in the 16th century were
classified as witches, simply for possessing the skills to help bring new
life into the world and utilising concoctions of common plants and herbs
to treat gynaecological problems (Ehrenriech
and English, 2010). In contrast with the past,
present day midwives can be any gender,
are highly educated in all things pregnancy
related and are highly regarded in society,
even if most of their work does seem to occur
once the moon is high. Whilst the reputation
of the midwife has changed significantly over
the years, the skills required to help guide a
labouring person through pregnancy remain mostly unchanged. This is
perhaps owed to a practically unchanging human physiology.
Midwives now take great pride in providing care that is personalised,
humanistic and aims to meet the needs of each birthing person as best
as possible. Additionally, Midwives work towards a professional set of
guidelines known as the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s (NMC) Code
of conduct, which states that care should be safe,
effective, professional and individual to people’s
needs (NMC, 2018).
A good rapport between midwife and
birthing person is integral to the provision
of individualised care. Some birthing people
want silence, whilst others may prefer loud music; some want to stand
whilst other may kneel; some may cry out in pain whilst others go in
on themselves (Myles, 2014). There is no wrong or right way to labour.
However, having a midwife who is trained in alternative therapies
can provide extra support. This may help both the labourer and the
practitioner to enjoy a respectful and comforting birth space.
Similar to the midwives of the 16th Century, practitioners today also
have the option to make their own ‘potions’, working with common
herbs and plants in the form of essential oils and aromatherapy.
Whilst this is not for every pregnant person, many find the scents and
particularly the massage aspect extremely useful with gentle touch
techniques helping to alleviate common pregnancy complaints such
as nausea, discomfort and anxiety (Moberg, 2011). Knowledge of
essential oils and their use is particularly valuable when advising and
empowering pregnant people on how to alleviate common symptoms
safely.
Not all midwives are trained in this skill and it is not something that
can be used following self-teaching. Therefore, when the University
of Salford’s Midwifery Society arranged the RCM accredited
Aromatherapy in Childbirth course to their members, it was extremely
popular amongst the students.
The course was provided via online
learning due to the current pandemic,
however, it included pre-recorded videos
by an aromatherapist and a midwife.
The course is split into seven modules
and allowed the user to progress through
these sections at their own pace, accounting for the fact many students
were on placement and have other commitments. Additionally, the
online format gave the student the option of revisiting any modules for
consolidation of learning.
There were many elements discussed in the course (six essential
oils: Lavender, Peppermint, Spearmint, Mandarin, Clary Sage and
Frankincense - sorry, no Eye of Newt or Frog’s Breath! - carrier oils
and hydrolats). Each module taught the student about appropriate
uses, contraindications and safety of each oil, in addition to how
much was needed for it to be effective and safe. A task was given
following each module’s teaching, including using lavender in
the bath, self massage and correct labelling of oil blends. To truly
embed knowledge, a quiz also needed to be completed. Practical
skills taught within the course included pressure points, compresses
and massage, all fantastic skills to offer a pregnant person and
allows the practitioner to work holistically within the labour setting.
The final elements of the course were practical assessment using
student’s own video recording sent to the course leaders, and a final
assessed multiple choice exam.
As well as being taught about aromatherapy in childbirth,
the course reinforced other principles of midwifery, pivotal
in providing excellent person-centred care, such as the 6 C’s
(care, compassion, competence, courage, commitment and
communication; NHS England, 2016), as well as two more very
important C’s: choice and consent.
Of course, not every midwife is trained in aromatherapy, as it is not
a core element of midwifery training, and it is not something every
pregnant person will want. Not every midwife possesses the same
skillset and having a variation supports a strong midwifery team.
There is a magical element to using natural resources to potentially
ease a multitude of pregnancy ailments. It is fantastic the current
students have been so keen to enhance their skill set prior to
completing their degrees. The more skills midwives possess, the
greater the chance of providing the best midwifery care possible.
Starting University During
A Pandemic!!
1st year student Shoshona Lewisreflects upon
begining her midwifery journey during a global
pandemic.
Coronavirus, lockdown, pandemic, quarantine and social distancing
were some of the global buzzwords of 2020. In contrast, my confirmed
place at the University of Salford altered my vocabulary to include
words associated with university, remote learning, and of course,
all things midwifery. So, whilst 2020/2021 will be remembered as
the year of the pandemic, I will always remember it as the year I
embarked on my journey to becoming a midwife.
The prospect of starting university can be scary, but starting a three-year
degree in the midst of a pandemic presents a whole new set of challenges.
During our online induction, it was announced that the majority of
teaching in the first semester would be taking place on Collaborate.
Consequently, I faced the reality of attempting to get to know my tutors
and the rest of the cohort, via a videocall. Moreover, I had to learn to
navigate Blackboard quickly, ensuring I didn’t accidentally miss any
lectures or important announcements. Of course, that was not the only
challenge. It became apparent when teaching began at the
end of September that connectivity issues were going to be
an ongoing issue. The sight of a message proclaiming ‘WIFI
issues’ became very familiar during lectures. Admittedly,
my motivation was significantly threatened when my own internet
connection failed. Watching the futile attempts my laptop was making
to reconnect was agonising. Fortunately, every Collaborate lecture was
recorded, so it was easy to catch up when these obstacles arose.
In the absence of a formal routine, consistent social interaction, and
many people self-isolating throughout the first lockdown, it became
evident that looking after our mental health was particularly important.
However, when September arrived I realised I was facing a personal
challenge of my own – loneliness. Initially,
the situation seemed ideal. My parents
were working and my siblings were finally
back in school, I would finally get the
peace and quiet I had started to crave
during the lockdown.
I
was
constantly
aware
of how
physically
alone I was.
an empty room; in an empty house.
But the reality
of being alone
for most of the day began to take a toll on my
mental health. Although the lectures provided
interaction and stimulation, I was constantly aware
of how physically alone I was. Instead of catching
someone’s eye and supressing a giggle when a joke
was made, I found myself laughing out loud – in
The breakout rooms felt awkward, wondering if the other participants
could actually hear me or if I was literally just talking to myself. Whilst
I’m not the most sociable person, I’ve always preferred talking to people
in person rather than online, but remote learning prevented this.
Unfortunately, the isolation and lack of faceto-face
peer support caused my anxiety to
spiral. I found myself questioning my ability
and understanding of new topics and skills.
Am I ahead or behind everyone else? Am
I the only one who doesn’t know what Left
Occipitoanterior means? Was I the only one
who’d never heard of a sphygmomanometer?
My feelings of loneliness and anxiety mixed together with the pressure
of completing various assignments, including the stressful Inter-
Professional Education project (IPE), left me utterly overwhelmed.
Ironically, it was the somewhat unwelcome IPE project - where we had
to make a poster, together with five other students across the Health
and Society school, featuring “10 top tips for starting university during
a pandemic” - that helped me overcome my personal challenges the
most. Taking responsibility for my group had left me singlehandedly
researching, visualising, and creating the poster. But it was a blessing
in disguise. When looking at various websites to help me think of tips
for my poster, I realised that I was discovering the solution to my own
problems. The most beneficial tools I found included: joining social
media groups. I’d been added to my tutor group’s
WhatsApp group which had already proved to be
a brilliant source of academic and social support,
but I decided to join the Facebook group with the
whole cohort. This helped me feel more included,
and ultimately less alone. In addition, I followed
the advice to participating in group activities,
which allowed me to interact with my peers in a
less formal environment.
This
helped
me to
feel more
included and
ultimately
less alone.
Additionally, I made the effort to exercise daily,
which enhanced my mental and physical health. The more I incorporated
these tips and tools into my daily life, the more I felt my mental health
and motivation improve.
One of the highlights of my first semester,
was the opportunity to come into
university and use the simulation suite. In
addition to practising the skills we’d had
the theory for, I was finally able to put faces
to the names (and profile pictures) of my
peers. Overall, these sessions were very
beneficial and boosted my self-confidence.
Especially when I refined and perfected my
technique for the clinical skills. However,
nothing compared to the elation I felt when
I successfully performed these skills on my
first placement.
After 12 weeks of online lectures, my community placement
began in January. I worked with a fantastic team of midwives
and helped to provide care for many lovely women. A much
needed reminder of why I chose midwifery in the first place.
During my placement I was able to widen my experience
and expand my capabilities. I’ve also realised I’d gained some
valuable lessons in resilience and self-motivation that I can
add to my repertoire of skills I will need as a midwife. I believe
that my experiences will enable me to help women overcome
similar feelings of loneliness and isolation they may encounter
throughout the childbearing continuum.
I
look
forwards to
the future
Lastly, I appreciate all the effort, support, and
encouragement from the first-year personal
tutors. They have kept us on track, despite
all the challenges we’ve faced throughout the
first semester. I look forward to the future and
hope to continue to learn and grow from every challenge I face.
Carolyn Zitha- 2nd Year Student
Book Review
The Secret Midwife
Anonymous
The Secret Midwife is a first hand account of an NHS midwife and
her experience of working within the pressures of an understaffed,
under funded NHS.
Little did I
know that
2 days later I
would be in a
state of panic
Ironically, I chose this book as a bit of light
hearted, weekend reading, a little treat to myself
after completing an assignment draft. Little did
I know that 2 days later I would be in a state of
panic, questioning my life choices and googling
alternative careers.
The book discusses the many pressures which
midwives working within the NHS face. We all know about the
understaffing, the lack of funding etc. As students we are not
exempt from this and we soon become aware of what to expect
once our placements begin. However, what caused my panic when
reading this book was the author’s experiences of facing court
cases, with a lack of support from senior management and a lack
of accountability for the staffing pressures. Things which students
may not really think about as we are not yet working under our
own pin. I came away fearing that the career I had enthusiastically
embarked upon was akin to entering the lion’s den of court cases,
blame and mistrust. But then, once the initial fear had subsided, I
began to critically think about what I had read.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Secret-Midwife-Death-Truthabout/dp/1789462525
One thing that I began to think about was accountability. By choosing to remain
anonymous, this author isn’t accountable for what they are saying, it cannot be
contested, challenged or questioned. For me this is problematic, as there are many
accusations, accounts of poor practice and bad management within the book which
may or may not be entirely accurate. We don’t know without the other parties
right to reply. When reading this, or any personal account, it is important that we
remember to remain objective.
But the biggest thing for me and the accountability for this book as the author’s
indignation and viewpoint that they were hauled to court over forgetting to write
the time on a sheet of paper. As a student, this made me terrified. What future did
I have in midwifery if I could be accused of poor care and lose my pin because I
forgot to write a simple thing like a time on a piece of paper? But then I thought
about it. I thought about what it means to be a professional and what it means to
be accountable.
According to the NMC 2018 report, 13% of NMC fitness to practice hearings were
due to poor recording keeping. The author glosses over the issue and implies that
it was tiny, insignificant detail. In actual fact it was a crucial piece of information
that had huge implications. As student midwives it is so
important that we understand the importance of being
accountable for our practice and accurate, detailed
record keeping is certainly something that needs to be
in the forefront of our minds, all the time.
I am glad that I read this book, however, the only reason
for this is that it had made me think about the importance
of accountability and professionalism when working as
a midwife within the NHS. If any students have been
put off studying midwifery by this book or are feeling
frightened about what working within the NHS might
look like then please discuss this with someone. Whilst
In actual
fact it was a
crucial piece
of information
that had huge
implications
there are many truths about the trials and issues or working within the NHS
amongst the words of this book, and many of the stories might have truth within
them, the overwhelming balance of the text is designed to be controversial and
frightening. But without the author taking ownership of these claims, we cannot
and should not read them as factual events at all.
Wellbeing checklist for
Emma Mahon– 3rd year student midwife and co-chair of the
society
As this edition is focused on mental health, I thought it would
be worthwhile to share some tips for ensuring you have a
restful sleep. These tips work whether you are on a university
block or doing shift work. I have struggled with sleep myself,
so I follow these simple steps: I hope that even one of these
tips helps one of you get a restful night sleep as we all know
how hard it is to work or study the next day if we are feeling
tired.
Before I go to work or start my university day, I make sure I make my bed
(my grandma taught me this and it helps when you go back to your room
and its tidy). I also set out my pyjamas on the bed ready for the evening (or
morning if on nights).
To start my night-time routine, I have a shower or a bath, this does not
have to be long, but I feel like I am washing or soaking the day away. Since
doing the Aromatherapy for Childbirth course I like to use essential oils in
my bath to help me relax.
I try and remember to moisturise as working at the hospital makes my
hands dry.
Next, I set my clothes out for the next day, make sure my bag is ready
and prepare my dinner. If all this is done, I find I am not thinking about
whether I have got my uniform out of the washing machine for the next
day at 2am in the morning!
a restful night’s sleep
I aim to set a bedtime routine on my phone, my phone automatically mutes
all notifications, and this helps with not only spending some time away
from social media but the blue light from your phone is stimulating and
can prevent restful sleep.
I aim to set a bedtime routine on my phone, my phone automatically mutes
all notifications, and this helps with not only spending some time away
from social media but the blue light from your phone is stimulating and
can prevent restful sleep.
Herbal tea is next on my list. A calming one with no caffeine such as lavender
or camomile will help you get in the right place for sleep.
Once I am in bed, I try to think about one good thing that happened that
day and write it down either on paper or on your phone. I try and end the
positive comment and how it made me feel. This positive comment can be
anything for example, today I went for a walk and got plenty of fresh air –
this made me feel refreshed.
I dim my light in my bedroom and read a chapter of a book. I am currently
reading ‘Untamed’ By Glennon Doyle.
When I eventually feel my eyes getting heavy, I switch off my light and
hope to get a restful sleep. Roughly eight hours a night is the recommended
amount but if I do wake during the night, I use relaxing music from You
Tube.
Academic Hints and Tips
By Marie Layne, 3rd Year and MidSoc Secretary
Although this might
sound obvious, it is vital for your
learning that you attend all lectures.
You will need to try to concentrate during
lectures too! Not always an easy task,
especially when working from home but the
online teaching sessions are your primary
source of learning during this course. It is also
beneficial to actively engage with any group
work you are asked to do during online
teaching sessions, sharing knowledge
and ideas within a group is
another way of enhancing
your learning.
Attend
lectures
It is a good idea to keep your work organised. Figure out a way that works
best for you – this may mean having a separate file for each semester, or
different colour coded files for theory modules and clinical modules. It
is very easy to lose track of where that all-important information is if you
do not have it well organised. Get into the habit of this early if you can –
spending a little time organising your work will make life easier when it
comes to writing assignments.
Organise your work
Time management
There is no denying that this course is intense. You will find
yourself having to study alongside attending clinical placements.
This is challenging, especially when it comes to balancing your
time between placement, completing assignments, and still
making time for yourself and any personal commitments you
have. Think carefully about how you can manage your time; it
is a good idea to use a diary or calendar to plan the times you
will allocate to studying. Set yourself achievable targets – it is
so rewarding to be able to ‘tick off’ your progress as you achieve
these targets. You will need to stay determined to stay on plan,
however, do not be afraid to alter your plans. Time management
is not about writing a timetable at the start of each semester and
sticking to it. It is about constantly re-evaluating and prioritising
what needs to be done and planning your time accordingly.
You will receive
feedback on all your assignments.
Feedback is the lecturers’ way of helping you to
gain even better marks on future assignments. Read
all the comments carefully when you receive feedback, then
feedback
Use
read them all again when you are planning your next assignment.
This is a good way to improve your academic writing. Always take
advantage of the opportunity to send in a draft of
any work you are doing. Receiving feedback on a draft can make a world
of difference to your stress levels as you write your assignment, this will
guide your writing and provide some peace of mind that you are on
the right track. Don’t forget to make use of the resources available
from the library to support you with academic writing; there is
lots of really useful information available online from the
library, including referencing guides.
Academic Hints and Tips
By Marie Layne, 3rd Year and MidSoc Secretary
Do
not be afraid to ask any
question you might have. You will have
heard the saying “there’s no such thing as a silly
question” countless times, yet we do not always find it
easy to ask questions for fear of how this comes across. Asking
questions, and having them answered, means that you have
gained some knowledge that you did not previously have – so ask
away! Ask questions of your lecturers, your practice supervisors, the
multidisciplinary team, your peers… basically anyone who might have
some information that you want. It is a good idea to have a pocketsized
notebook with you during clinical placements, you can use
this to jot down any questions you have so that you can ask them
when there is an opportunity. This notebook can be filled
Know your
learning
style
with information gained during placements and many
midwives have said they found their notebook to
be invaluable even after qualifying.
Organise your work
Ask questions
Identify your learning
style – how you learn best.
Then use this to your advantage
when researching and planning for
assignments as well as preparing revision
notes for exams. For some people, this
means using colour and highlighting written
text, for others it means using diagrams or
charts, while others may prefer to record
information and listen back to it.
There is no right or wrong way,
just work out what works best
for you.
Read, read, read!
Reading is the perfect way to further your knowledge and to
deepen your understanding. You will have to research and
include references for your assignments, so you are already
aware of the need to read. Read more! Students who read
widely tend to gain the best grades. The lecturers can tell if
you have read widely around a topic as it will be reflected
in your writing. Reading can also improve your academic
writing style, as you immerse yourself in the wonderful
world of academic literature you will become familiar with
this sort of writing and will adjust your style towards it.
In
order to study
effectively, you must take care
of yourself. If you feel at your best you
are more likely to work at your best. During
times when you know you are more likely to feel
the pressure of assignment writing or exam revision,
try to eat well and to stay hydrated. When you can, plan in
some time to treat yourself in a way that suits you. Perhaps
a pampering session, a candle-lit bath or baking a cake. A
walk outdoors can help to clear your head, and ensuring you
get enough sleep will help you perform well as you tackle that
academic work. Bear in mind your end goal - if it all feels tough
or overwhelming at times, take a few minutes to visualise
how you will feel once you achieve your aim. This could be
imagining yourself pressing ‘submit’ on Turnitin when
you finally finish your assignment, or it could mean
imagining how you will feel when you qualify and
pull on that blue uniform for the first time.
Take care of you – you, the future
midwife.
Self care
Member’s Shout Outs, Stories and
Talents!
Thank
you to the
obstetrician who was
patient in theatre when
the balloon of catheter I was
inserting slid out the urethra,
then giving me the space to
try again, this time placing it
correctly. It supported a great
learning opportunity and
confidence builder
for me
Nicole Rajan- Brown 2nd year student
Thanks to all of
the lovely staff at
RBH M5 ward, who
once again have made me
feel so welcome and one of the
team. I can’t wait to come back as
a third year to complete my
training. You’re all fab.
Thanks Caz x
Hey Amanda,
Just a little thank-you from me...
My journey had just begun,
I was hoping it would be fun!
Worried and anxious, unsure what is to come. I look back now, it's clear that response
was
quickly given the shun.
far from
The introductions were made, Amanda was her name. I knew straight away she was
lame!
First things first let's grab a coffee - Same done! Yes I thought, the lottery I had won!
I was learning from the best, even though she got little rest.
You taught me Sbars, observations, placentas and the rest, even at times when you
were
extremily stressed.
9 assisted deliveries, often fast and wet, what moments these were, I'll never forget.
Thank-you for being so kind and caring.
Thank-you for showing me the way it's meant to be.
Thanks on behalf of all those ladies you help push through, oh so lucky they are to have
you!
Finally, thank-you for being that mentor, the one that I had only dreamnt for.
Xx
Codie Wadsworth- 2nd year student
We need your input. We are looking for pictures, poems, artwork, stories,
shout outs, anything at all, let’s share and celebrate our midwifery journeys
together. Please send these to Ussumidwifery@gmail.com
It’s ok not to be ok
2nd year student Sian Marie Hampton, reflects upon her midwifery
degree so far and reminds us all that strength comes from the journey.
Well, where do I start? I apologise in advance about my writing
and hope it makes sense. The joys that my dyslexia brings when
trying to articulate myself!
I write this at my table; looking at my essay plan and trying my
hardest to work my way through it and prepare for yet another
essay. I’m sat with my mind boggling as always. Constantly
wondering; is this right? Am I portraying my point? Have I
understood what I am to do correctly? Then I realise I’m not
alone, as I notice my WhatsApp groups pinging away. We’re all
in similar situations, trying our best to get through this degree.
We all took this path and worked hard to become a part of it; now
working even harder to fulfil those goals. The further we go, the
ever more determined we become to qualify.
To those who do not know me, I am currently a 2nd year student
midwife who was originally in the 2018 cohort. However, I am now
retaking part of my 2nd year. I am not ashamed or embarrassed to
tell you this. This is not a rare factor. Life in general can be very
chaotic and my last year was certainly unique. There were quite a
few personal dramas going on at home which made learning and
performing academically even harder than I find already. And
then the biggest curveball of all happened - COVID. It well and
truly made things so hard for so many and I had a decision to
make; do I step off, opt in, or opt out? With one failed assessment
already on my mind for the academic year, I made the decision I
thought was best for me - I opted in. I adore clinical placement
and this, I admit, is where I learn best. The online uni was by far
more of a struggle for me. I was home-schooling a 5-year-old and
had a very active 2-year-old at home, I was juggling many balls.
It was not the best of times. As a result, I failed another assessment, but
astoundingly passed my VIVA. I was proud that I passed my clinical
grading, which gave me a confidence boost as it had started to wane; it was
the proof I did know what I was doing. And I truly adore it.
As you can probably surmise, I had to retake part of my 2nd year after
failing 2 assessments and would not be able to progress with those I had
began my path with to 3rd year. I had to wait. So, feeling downbeat and
absolutely devasted, I spoke to my dear friends and I wished my wonderful
cohort of strong women all the best for 3rd year. I know each and everyone
of them will make such a difference to those lives they touch. As for me, I
took time to recharge and prepare myself. I became stronger and things at
home became better; I had moved forward and could see a new, better path
forming. I worked with my support tutor to help improve my academic
skills and took the time to read and carry on with my learning. This was
not what I had planned, but things happen for a reason and I trusted in
that.
Upon my recommencement I started with a new cohort who kindly
welcomed me into their group. And yes, straight away came the essay - the
one thing I dread! But knowing I’m not alone in this makes it easier - we
are all second-guessing our abilities, whether we have a learning disability
or not. We’re all simply trying our best and in these times of COVID.
Online lectures and home schooling it is hard. Whether you have children
or not, this degree is hard and its ok to admit that. At the end of the day,
we never truly know what each student is going through. We all go through
different things in life and should be there to understand and cheerlead for
one another.
So, what I want to share with you all is this - even when it doesn’t
go as planned, its ok. Don’t worry. You’ve got this and you can get
through whatever is thrown in your path. But remember to talk and
share your worries, because you’re not alone. Take time to care for
yourself, you are important. Know how truly amazing you are. And
always, always be kind – we’re all just people trying to do our best
both in normal and Covid times and life is hard. But we’re so much
harder. We’re student midwives.
And to all of you out there, the amazing 3rd years who I started my
journey with; go get them, you strong, amazing women! I know you
can do this.
To my new cohort of 2nd years, hello! We’ve got this and we’ll get
through it, its such a fast journey but we can do it, we’re stronger
than we know.
And to all those 1st years… enjoy this journey, whether it goes to
plan or not. Don’t stress, you’re on this path because it’s what you
wanted to do. So, look after yourself, work hard but always remember
you’re not alone.
As the ever-present saying goes: “ITS OK TO NOT BE OK.” There
is always someone there for you, reaching out that hand to hold.
Take care.
Key Events
27th March Passover start
2nd April
4th April
5th April
13th April
23rd April
5th May
Good Friday
Easter Sunday
Easter Bank Holiday
Ramadan Start
St. George’s Day
International day of the Midwife
13th May
16th May
31st May
Eid ul Fitr
Shavuot
Spring Bank Holiday
7th June Start of semester 3
20th July
Eid ul Adha
10th August Muharram/Islamic New Year
30th August Summer Bank Holiday
Get Involved
We hope that you’ve enjoyed this edition of The Future
Midwife. If you’d like to get involved, we would love
to hear from you. Whether your talent lies in editing,
design, writing reflections, artwork or poetry, get in
touch at ussumidwifery@gmail.com or through our
social media channels.
We’re looking for some passionate students to get
involved in making our wonderful magazine! Want a
commitment that will fit around your placement and
university work.
Expand your CV, and develop skills to include in your
PDP.
· Editorial assistant
· Design and artwork assistant
· Content administration
Interested? Send us no more than 100 words about
why you’d be perfect for the role and e-mail it to
ussumidwifery@gmail.com
If you would like to get involved in the Midwifery
Society, you can join on the Salford Student’s Union
Website for just £5 for the year. This semester,
events for members include aromatherapy for childbirth,
yoga, meditation and more!
We look forwards to seeing you soon!
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