We’re marking International Day of the Midwife this Sunday by showcasing the work of our Midwives.
Midwives from NHS Humber Health Partnership will be sharing their stories on Pattie and The Hub today, Saturday and Sunday as we celebrate the fantastic contribution they make to health care.
You’ll get to know some of the Midwives from Northern Lincolnshire and Goole (NLaG) as they offer words of advice to anyone considering a career in midwifery on our social media pages on Sunday.
Nicola Foster, Head of Midwifery at NLaG, said: “I am very proud of our midwifery teams and the care that they give to the women and their families and on International Day of the Midwife this year, I would like to say a huge thank you to all of the midwives working within our maternity service.
“This last year has been challenging in many ways and the team work, kindness and flexibility demonstrated daily is absolutely amazing.”
LOUISE COOPER, COMMUNITY MIDWIFE IN BRIGG
Working as a Community Midwife, Louise Cooper will never forget helping one family following a traumatic first pregnancy.
“One of the most special memories I have is supporting a woman and her family from her booking appointment throughout her whole pregnancy and in a beautiful birth at home, just as she had planned, after a traumatic time in her first pregnancy,” Louise says. “It was great for her and for me to see a woman through her whole pregnancy experience, building a great bond and resulted in a great experience of birth.”
Louise has been a midwife for more than seven years after completing her training at the University of Hull, working at Scunthorpe General Hospital on Ward 26, then on CDS and now in the community.
She decided to become a midwife after the same community midwife guided and supported her through all three of her own pregnancies.
“She got me through some tough times,” Louise says. “I’d always been interested in midwifery and mentioned it to her one day and she said to just go for it, so I did!”
Louise works at Brigg Midwifery Centre in the Antenatal Clinics, dealing with various stages of pregnancy. She also carries out postnatal visits, completing postnatal and baby checks.
Louise, who lives in Lincoln with her three children and two dogs, will be working on International Day of the Midwife this Sunday and she’s hoping to celebrate with cake. And, her advice to anyone wishing to follow a career in midwifery is just this – “If you have a passion and want to do it, do it!”
SCHIRA ARRAND, MIDWIFE IN TRIAGE SERVICES AT SCUNTHORPE GENERAL HOSPITAL
Schira trained at the University of Hull, despite having a baby and toddler at the time, and trained at SGH, working on the antenatal and postnatal wards. She’s also worked in the community and the delivery ward before moving into Triage, assessing those who come into hospital at all stages of their pregnancies.
She works 12-hour shifts, caring for those with antenatal complications during their pregnancies or complications after they’ve given birth to their babies.
For Schira, the best part is working as a team to make a difference. “It’s about being kind, showing empathy and supporting women, parents-to-be and families through a special time in their lives.
“I’ve had so many happy times, bringing new life into the world. “
VICKI BOOTH, MATERNITY MATRON IN GRIMSBY
Vicki Booth started an Advanced Diploma in Nursing in 2000 at the University of Sheffield and when she qualified, she worked as a staff nurse on Gastroenterology. She switched to Ward B1, a gynaecology ward, at Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby, and worked there for six years.
“One day, I had an experience with a patient that required the support of the midwives,” Vicki says. “They were amazing and took charge – I was in awe of them.”
Vicki knew her future lay in Midwifery but wanted to build her nursing experience, moving from Gynaecology to Medical Admissions to enhance her skills. Once her daughters started school full-time, she began a Post-Graduate Diploma in Midwifery in 2013
Vicki worked first as a ward-based midwife before moving into a continuity midwifery role and then into maternity services management.
A typical day is packed with meetings to ensure patient safety and performance remain at the heart of everything her team does. She deals with staff, day-to-day issues affecting maternity services in Grimsby and complaints as well as representing the trust at regional meetings.
“No two days are the same and often, my plans are derailed when issues occur that require my immediate attention,” she says.
Today, International Day of the Midwife, Vicki will spend time thinking of her colleagues, past and present, who have inspired her.
“I’ll be acknowledging the amazing midwives I have the privilege to know and work with every day,” says Vicki. “I want to thank all the nurses and midwives that have inspired me, given me their time and helped shape me.”
SENIOR STAFF MIDWIFE VICKI MORGAN
Senior Staff Midwife Vicki Morgan originally qualified as a nurse at the University of Manchester in 2013. However, after having her own twin daughters, Vicki wanted to be a midwife and qualified with a degree in Midwifery at the University of Hull in 2016.
Based at Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby, Vicki is prepared for any and every eventuality.
“There’s no such thing as a typical day in midwifery,” she says. “Literally anything can happen.”
She finds joy in seeing new families begin or expand and relishes the time she spends with the families who come into hospital. And she never forgets the families who undergo bereavement, helping them through the most traumatic time in their lives.
She’ll be celebrating International Day of the Midwife socialising with friends and had these gems of advice for anyone considering a career in midwifery.
“Be prepared for hard work and you’ll need to show dedication to the role every day but the reward is you’ll get a career that you love, that makes a difference to so many people.”
ACTING MATRON CLAIRE BROTHWELL, SCUNTHORPE GENERAL HOSPITAL
Acting Matron Claire Brothwell has been part of the NHS for almost 30 years, working as a nurse in Leicester before undertaking a degree in midwifery at the University of Hull.
She’s held a range of nursing and midwifery roles over the years and uses her wealth of experience to lead her team, ensuring they can develop skills to deliver the highest possible standards of care.
“Providing safe care and a good experience is my ultimate motivation and driver in my work,” says Claire, who works in Maternity Services at Scunthorpe General Hospital.
As part of her day job and newly appointed to her role as Acting Matron, Claire attends daily safety briefing and ensures continuous improvement in patient care, putting the experience of patients at the heart of everything she does.
She is determined to be visible to all members of her team in clinical areas, stepping into a clinical role whenever and wherever required to maintain patient safety.
“I work with my management team and clinical teams, communicating with them and supporting clinically as required to maintain patient safety,” she says.
She enjoys all aspects of maternity care and will be making sure her team in Maternity Services celebrate International Day of the Midwife. “Being a midwife has enabled me to care for families and be part of their pregnancy journey,” Claire says. “I remain passionate about being a midwife and feel privileged to be in the profession.”
Debbie Perrin, Community Midwife in Grimsby
With four grown-up children and three grandchildren, Debbie Perrin became a midwife eight years ago, fulfilling a childhood ambition.
Debbie started working as a health care assistant and studied for her degree in midwifery at the University of Hull. She worked in Hull for five years as a rotational midwife and has been a community midwife in Grimsby for two years and nine months.
She’s got great advice for anyone thinking about becoming a midwife. “Don’t hesitate,” she says “It’s an honour to be with people at this time in their lives and it’s such a rewarding job.”
No two days are the same for Debbie, working in the community to deliver maternity care at all stages of pregnancy from antenatal care to post-natal support and initial baby checks.
While the worst part of the job is when a pregnancy doesn’t go to plan and a family suffers bereavement, the best part happens every day.
“It’s building rapport with them,” she says. “Working in the community, we get to provide a certain level of continuity of care and support so we get to know them and their families at the different stages of their journey.”
On International Day of the Midwife, Debbie will be enjoying a well-earned day off.
Amy Farrow, Continuity Midwife in Grimsby
A high point in Continuity Midwife Amy Farrow’s career so far is caring for a woman through her surrogacy journey.
“The atmosphere in the room was second to none – such excitement, love and joy,” Amy says. “Caring for the parents and their newborn baby was delightful. It was a pure privilege.”
Amy wanted to become a midwife after having her own three children and qualified in 2020.
She worked on Jasmine Team before joining Poppy Continuity Team in 2021, building up relationships throughout the stages of pregnancy as they attend their appointments at Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby as well as in a community setting in the town one day a week.
“Working in the continuity team, I get to build rapport with women and their families, setting them at their first booking appointment, throughout their pregnancies and then as a family once their babies are born,” she says.
Amy, who will be on shift today as we mark International Day of the Midwife, advises anyone considering a job in midwifery to “do it. She says: “Studying is hard work but worth it.”