September 2019
Started growing into midwife shoes.
I started my midwifery training at Robert Gordon Universtiy.
On day one (in a stroke of genius) I wore a Harry Styles jumper, causing confusion when I introduced myself as Stewart.
January 2020
Tuesday the 28th – to be specific.
I attended the birth of my very first baby.
I spent the majority of the time holding the soon-to-be-mum’s hand – if only I could get my gloves on quick enough.
March 2020
Pandemic, placement panic and PPE.
The world shut down, but babies kept arriving.
With no hospital placements for myself and fellow students, I joined one of the only other workforces left.
Adaptability level: unlocked.
August 2020
Back to the job I loved, eventually.
I started in a community midwifery team in Aberdeen and learned so much.
Antenatal clinics, postnatal visits and going on-call.
Shoutout to midwife L.H. for teaching me everything I needed to know about being a great community midwife.
January 2021
First time back in hospital since the pandemic.
This placement, admitedly, was the first time where I considered if midwifery was really the profession for me.
I’m not alone in looking back on this period as scary, isolating and lonely.
I’m so glad that I managed to push through.
April 2021
My very first time on-call.
A lovely young couple, whose pregnancy I had booked during my community placement, asked if I could come to hospital to look after them.
I unashamedly shed a few tears while I made them tea once baby was safely born.
July 2021
Off to Inverness for my first placement away from ‘home’.
In hindsight, it’s not that far away. But at the time it felt like it.
A summer spent amongst some amazing scenery and nights on the labour ward, developing my skills.
December 2021
A taste of quality improvement.
By far my favourite module of my degree. What might sound boring to some – research, data and presentations – got me excited about my career.
I presented my project and passed – but it still sticks in my mind.
April 2022
Back on labour ward, for a bit longer this time.
More labour care. More babies. Far more learning curves.
Learned how to document like a ‘real’ midwife and even started applying for jobs.
Almost there.
August 2022
On my travels again.
Working alongside a wonderful pair on midwives in a rurual community.
In my final year of studies, I performed my own clincs and home-visits, organising my workload as an extra member of the team.
I even featured in an online video explaining the contents of my placement bag.
September 2022
Graduate’s Ball!
We did it (almost)!
Although I still had some ‘make-up time’ to facilitate all the births I needed – that certainly wasn’t going to stop me celebrating with my friends and colleagues.
November 2022
Accepted my degree.
Threw up my graduation cap.
Registered with the NMC.
Started my new job in the triage ward.
First baby caught as a qualified midwife.
Truly unforgetable.
January 2023
Getting to grips with the job and learning to overcome the over-stimulating environment that is a busy triage ward.
Fell in love with the job all over again.
I became a tech-whizz on the patient triage phone surrounded by a fab team.
Trained in RGU. Made in Triage AMH.
May 2023
I had the privillege of being invited to the Royal College of Midwives Awards as a guest of the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
Celebrating the best in innovation, improvement and learning that midwives have to offer.
Very proud to see RGU’s own winning their own award.
August 2023
The first rotation.
I struggled with the change having loved my first post so much.
But over time, and supported by an equally amazing team – I began to warm to the idea of being ‘a lbour ward midwife’.
January 2024
Making moves and going global.
After months of paperwork, medicals and money spent – I finally got my working visa approved for New Zealand.
An exciting moment at the very beginning of my career – although it would mean saying goodbye to everything I knew.
April 2024
A bitter-sweet farewell with family, friends and colleagues.
My grandad having a conversation with one of the labour ward senior charge midwives – worlds collide.
Flying to the other side of the world.
And yes, it takes FOREVER to get there.
May 2024
Adjusting to life on a ‘hish-risk’ ante/postnatal ward.
Welcomed by a lovely team and encouraged that my skills would remain with me wherever I am in the world.
Distance from home never gets easier.
No matter how prepared we may feel, we never really know what’s around the corner.
September 2024
More change.
Rotation to labour & birthing suite.
I was outwardly stressed about returning to intrapartum setting, but was soon relaxed by great colleagues.
I was reassured by my ability to provide care first and figure out the details later.
March 2025
Enjoying a greater work-like-balance in New Zealand, working my shifts around tropical holidays.
I also started playing around online and creating some fun, education-style posts for my instagram.
In the same spirit as my earlier instagram posts – if nobody reads them, fine, I enjoyed making them.
May 2025
Encouraged to become part of the faculty providing PRactical Obtetric Multi-Professional Training (PROMPT) in Auckland.
Really refreshing experience to see how the course is delivered and help participating colleagues reflect and debrief after scenarios.
A Midwifery Blog 