Personal Statement: My Career in Midwifery and Helping People

I am eager to pursue a career in midwifery because I want to work in partnership with women throughout one of the most meaningful events of their life. Midwives are advocates for women who provide unbiased information to empower mothers to make informed decisions in regards to their own care. Midwives have an all-encompassing role which extends to the wider community with the potential to address inequalities and improve maternal and family health. I have always been drawn to helping people but I never knew what career path to take until recently.

My first contact with the profession came by chance. During my free time as an au pair in Italy, I volunteered on the maternity ward at a local hospital for 4 months. In between changing bed sheets and cleaning, I spent time with the midwives who run the low-risk pregnancy clinic and I was inspired by their devotion to enhancing maternal wellbeing. A memorable highlight was witnessing a newborn’s first feed and feeling incredibly honoured to be able to share the beautiful moment with the mother. This eye-opening experience solidified my ambition to pursue a career based around woman-centred care.

As a mature student, I am pursuing midwifery as a new career and I have a passionate commitment to study. My past studies demonstrate my capacity to succeed academically as I have obtained an Open degree with the Open University. Online learning required me to adopt a proactive attitude to self-study. I developed time management skills as I learned to prioritise and work to deadlines. I believe I am well suited to this course as the blended structure of theory and hands-on practical placements will provide an invaluable and transformative learning experience. I am excited to take on the academic challenges of this course and develop practical skills when I embark on clinical placements. I am re-sitting GCSE Maths which I am confident I will pass.

To expand my insight of midwifery I have attended a monthly antenatal group which has enriched my knowledge of the antenatal, intrapartum and post-natal period. I enjoyed interacting with parents-to-be and hearing about their pregnancy journeys. This has been an invaluable experience as it has made me realise the importance of the role of the midwife in providing individualised continuity of care as well as recognising the physiological, psychological and cultural needs of women and their families.

I regularly read publications on the Royal College of Midwives website and I also subscribe to the British Journal of Midwifery Magazine which has given me an in-depth understanding of the complexities of pregnancy. I plan to shadow midwives at a local hospital in the coming months where I hope to observe how NHS midwives work within multidisciplinary teams.

Working in customer service environments has equipped me with many qualities I believe will help me succeed in this course. I have learnt to adapt my communication style to people of varying backgrounds and I am able to confidently deal with difficult situations. Throughout my travels to Australia and au pairing in Italy, I have adapted to different cultures and languages which has increased my confidence and decision-making skills. In my free time I enjoy long-distance running and I am currently training for my first marathon which I am determined to finish.

By completing a degree in midwifery, I intend to gain the knowledge and abilities needed to exemplify excellence in midwifery practice. I aim to provide safe, compassionate and effective care resulting in the best possible childbirth experience for women and their families. Although midwifery is a highly rewarding profession, I am fully aware of its demanding nature and lifelong obligation to learning. I am dedicated to ongoing study and will embrace all learning opportunities available to me. As I gain further expertise I hope to specialise in perinatal mental health and provide specialist care to society’s most vulnerable women.