What's your job about?
Ramsay Healthcare provides comprehensive and compassionate care to women throughout their pregnancy journey, from antenatal, labour and birth through to postnatal care.
A day at work for me can include but is not limited to - drug administration, CTG monitoring, emotional and physical support, routine observations, discharge arrangements, resuscitations, emergent situation management, education regarding breastfeeding, attachment and parent crafting skills.
What's your background?
I completed high school and went straight into a career in beauty and dermal therapy, where a managed salons and clinics for 12 years. I loved being able to help people feel better about themselves on a daily basis. During this time I also travelled the world, across Europe, America, Asia and the Middle East. Whilst I loved my job and colleagues, I always felt like I was destined for more. As a young girl I was always fascinated with pregnancy and babies – My favourite Barbie was Pregnant Barbie, which you could take her tummy off and a baby popped out (I still have her to this day!) When a friend of mine began studying Midwifery, I instantly knew I wanted to follow suit – IMMEDIATELY! I enrolled Midyear (even though ACU didn’t do midyear intake for midwifery.) I applied for another course and worked my hardest to get a high enough GPA to enable me to transfer into Mid as quickly as possible.
One of my earlier placements in my course was at Mitcham Private. I learnt so much in just 4 weeks with them and felt so comfortable there. I built such great relationships with the staff and Doctors that every placement following just didn’t feel right – I always longed to go back to Mitcham where I felt at home! The staff strongly urged me to apply for a graduate position, so I did. When the call came saying that I was successful, I was on placement again at Mitcham. That day I was given my first Ramsay work shirt and despite not starting for another 5 months, I wore it home that very day with so much pride.
Could someone with a different background do your job?
Most definitely! Having a different cultural background can be extremely beneficial in midwifery as we care for women of all cultures and ethnicities. Many cultures have different beliefs surrounding pregnancy and birth and being educated on these differences is very beneficial.
As long as someone is caring, compassionate empathetic and hardworking, it really does not matter what background you are. As long as one can work with and accept other people’s beliefs and help facilitate them where possible – you can be a midwife!
What’s the best thing about your job?
By far the best part of my job is being able to help people become parents, whether it be their first, second or fifth birth – each time is magical. I love being able to help parents through one of the most physical and emotional days of their life and know that I have made that day just a little bit more special for them.
When parents go out of their way to inform my boss that I really made a positive impact on their pregnancy journey, I know I have made the right choice in becoming a Midwife.
What are the limitations or challenging aspects of your job?
Large patient loads, obstetric emergencies and the occasional double shift can be very exhausting – not just physically but emotionally. You definitely do need time to adjust, learn coping mechanisms and have an outlet for your mental health when becoming a Midwife. I knew this job would be physically demanding, I wasn’t quite prepared for the emotional exhaustion from giving every day, but I am learning ways in which to combat this. It just takes time and trial and error.
3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student...
First piece of advice would definitely be “Don’t give up!” At times the study load on top of placements was overwhelming, but you will get there and it IS WORTH IT!
Secondly, apply for a graduate position where you feel the most comfortable. You don’t have to go to the busiest hospital to get the best education. First year is about finding your feet, not about trying to keep up and constantly feeling overwhelmed.
Lastly; If you only got a PASS on an assignment, no worries, P’s get Degrees! Midwifery isn’t only about what you know, it’s about who you are as person too.