What Does a Day in the Life of a Midwife Look Like?

Could you be the next Nurse Trixie Franklin, played by actress Helen George in the BBC drama, Call the Midwife? 

Perhaps, you’re interested in helping bring the next generation into the world. Does this sound like you? The UK are around 5,000 midwives short, so there’s never been a more important time to start your career journey. This blog explores what a day in the life of a midwife looks like and tells you how you can join them with a midwifery degree.  

No Two Days Will Ever Be the Same! 

Do you get bored by the idea of repetition and want a career where every day will bring something different? Welcome to the life of a midwife! 

At the start of a shift; whether it be the morning, afternoon, or night, a midwife rarely has any idea of what to expect. The only thing you can be sure of though, is that every day is another one on the delivery ward; and you can bet that it’ll be a day you never forget! You’ll be entering work unaware of whether the first new-born baby you deliver will be a baby boy, girl, or even twins… but there’s no more rewarding career, that’s for sure.  

You could also be taking over from the night shift at 7am and begin care of a first-time mum who was rushed in overnight in early labour, but gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby. Whether on the delivery ward or working in the local maternity unit, as a midwife you will never be far away from the beating heart of the action. 

The Role of a Midwife Pre-Birth 

Aside from their role in the delivery unit, midwives play an important and consistent part in a woman’s entire pregnancy journey. They provide support at every step of the way. You will be the expert on childbirth, with key responsibilities, including: 

 - Providing full antenatal care, such as parenting classes, clinical examinations, and screenings 

- Identifying women with high-risk pregnancies 

- Monitoring women and supporting them during labour and the birthing process 

- Teaching new and expectant mothers how to feed, care for, and bathe their babies safely 

You could be expected to care for women from a variety of backgrounds, so the ability to clearly communicate in a way that works for everyone is also an essential part of the role. For instance, some women may be homeless, socially awkward, or very young. Alternatively, they could be from cultural or religious backgrounds with different views on pregnancy to yours. As a midwife, it’s your duty to take all these considerations into account to complete your job in the best possible way.  

You could also end up working as a community midwife. This means that a key part of your role will involve developing a strong relationship with the baby’s whole family, not just the mother and child. 

Let There Be Life with a Midwifery Degree! 

Ready to embark on a rewarding journey bringing new lives into the world? 

At the University of Bolton, we can help you on the road to becoming a great midwife with a BSc (Hons) Midwifery degree. It is valued by industry employers, accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council and is offered in partnership with local NHS Trusts. To help you make your decision, let’s look at some of the course highlights you’d benefit from by studying in our positive and supportive learning environment: 

- Upon completion of your studies, you will have the chance to apply for a band five midwifery post at our partnership NHS Foundation Trust  

- Your practical learning experience may range from being in a hospital to being in community environments, giving you a full representation of what it will be like to work as a full-time midwife 

- Our partner NHS Trusts offer experience in a range of settings, such as home births, midwifery-led birth suites and stand-alone birth centres, providing continuity of care and learning opportunities 

- The home of your on-campus studies will be the state-of-the-art £31 million Bolton One building, which gives you access to Clinical Simulation Suites. These mimic an industry environment and allow you to practice and develop your knowledge using real-world equipment and simulators 

Want to find out more about how the University of Bolton can help you become a midwife? Click here to see the full course details. 

For more information, please contact us at enquiries@bolton.ac.uk or call us on 01204 903903. 

#UseYerLoaf… and choose #UniAsItShouldBe!