Life of a newly qualified midwife

Day 1 I can vividly remember when I first put on my 'blues' and transitioned from a student midwife to a registered midwife. I barely slept the night before, woke early, had my uniform sitting ready from the night before, new pens, and a new notebook. My packed lunch was ready in the fridge and my bag packed full of essentials.

My essentials bag includes: tissues, paracetamol, clean socks and pants, spare pens, chewing gum, teabags, lip balm, a water bottle, and a hairbrush with emergency hair bobbles around the handle.

Up and showered and a quick cup of tea and I was ready. I began my rotation in the community, this was pre Ockendon but my last placement was in the same team and I'm a community midwife at heart so I was thrilled to be starting there. I arrived at work 30 minutes early, wondering how long that would last.

The nerves walking in through those doors was unbelievable even though I'd done it a million times as a student, up to the week before. I was quite literally a huge bundle of nerves.

During my first weeks my pin wasn't through, so I was given dedicated time to work through lots of e-learning and sort out all my admin stuff. By week 4 I was ready to go. My pin was through and I was ready to start my calls. 

I was a fresh bundle of nerves all over again. Would I remember everything, what if I don't know something, what if I take too long? All these thoughts and more all going through my head. I need not have worried so much. When I got in, the team said take your time with your calls and you have all of our numbers if you have any questions, call one of us and we will help. Talk about amazing team work.

My first day of calls was amazing, I absolutely loved every second. All of my training, all the hard work, blood, sweat and at times tears were worth this moment alone and I would get to be a midwife not just today but for the rest of my career. What an absolute privilege.

Fast forward just over 20 months and my rotations are complete, I've completed a year in the hospital and I'm just awaiting a date to move to the community where I will be for the next few years. I have achieved my band 6 but every day is a school day. I learn at least 1 thing a day if not 5 or 6. I still totally live for being a midwife. It gives me such a sense of pride, the rewards are endless and I cannot wait to start my next journey.