We’re marking International Day of the Midwife this Sunday by showcasing the work of our Midwives in Hull, Scunthorpe, Grimsby and Goole.

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 across East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire.

You’ll get to know some of the Midwives from Hull University Teaching Hospitals (HUTH) and 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.

Rukeya Miah, Head of Midwifery and Neonatal Services at HUTH, said: “I would like to thank all our midwives and Midwifery Support Workers for all that you do to make the experience for our women, parents-to-be, babies and families the best it can be.

“I would like to pay a very special tribute to you all on the International Day of the Midwife 2024.”

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.”

 

EMMA BUTTERWORTH – MAPLE WARD, HULL WOMEN AND CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

From a young age, Gemma Butterworth knew she wanted a career in midwifery after her own aunt went into premature labour with twins. While her cousin Laura passed away shortly after birth, the other twin Jade, who weighed just 1lb 2oz at birth, survived against the odds.

Gemma says: “I was fascinated with the intensive care and journey of neonatal life. I knew from a young age that I wanted to care for women and babies.”

When she was 18, Gemma studied Adult Nursing at the University of Hull, deciding to go into nursing first to help build her life skills. Qualifying in 2004, she worked in the Accident and Emergency Department for a year, enhancing her knowledge and skills.

Gemma started midwifery training in 2005, became a mum herself just a year later and qualified as a Midwife in 2007, beginning her career at Hull Women and Children’s Hospital. She was a Rotational Midwife, working in all areas of midwifery including the antenatal ward, delivery and post-natal ward, until 2017 when she became one of the Core Midwives on Maple Ward, the hospital’s antenatal ward.

She is now Junior Sister on Maple Ward and also supports her colleagues as a Professional Midwifery Advocate, sharing career or education advice, supporting them with any difficulties they face and helping them find their voice.

No two days are the same for Gemma. “A typical day entails either running a busy induction of labour clinic, co-ordinating the antenatal ward or caring for those having elective caesarean sections,” she says. “Every day is different and can be challenging but I enjoy the variation in roles.”

For Gemma, the best part of her job is supporting families. “It’s knowing that you made a difference in their care – this means so much.”

The hardest part is when a pregnancy doesn’t go to plan and there’s an unexpected outcome.  “Delivering bad news is difficult and heart-breaking,” she says. “But we have an amazing team who are empathetic and strive to give the best possible care in the most difficult of circumstances.”

 

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!”

 

NIKOLA DONNER, LABOUR WARD MIDWIFE AT HULL WOMEN AND CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

To celebrate International Day of the Midwife, Nikola Donner will be raising a glass to all her colleagues who make such a difference to the families they see.

“Our midwives, managers, midwifery assistants, obstetric and anaesthetic team, ward clerks, hygienists, cleaners, caterers, porters – the list goes on,” she says. “Happy International Day of the Midwife, everyone!”

Nikola has been a midwife for almost 10 years and works as a Midwife on Labour Ward at Hull Women and Children’s Hospital.

“If I play a part in supporting and bringing families together in such an important time then I can go home feeling like I did a good job that day,” she says. “It’s such a joy being a small part of families’ stories.”

After three years’ training at the University of Hull, Nikola qualified in 2015.

“Every day is so different. One day I can be in theatre, the next facilitating a water birth to another supporting a family coping with loss. Whatever the day, I am proud to be part of a dedicated team of midwives, midwifery assistants, doctors, housekeepers and cleaners to our specialist teams.”

Nikola also works as a student link on the ward, supporting Student Midwives who come onto the Labour Ward as part of their training and is really optimistic about the new generation of midwives qualifying over the next few years. “We have a wonderful generation of midwives coming though,” she says.

Her advice to anyone considering a career in midwifery – prepare yourself! “It’s busy,” she says. “Some days are hard but if you can give a little bit of yourself to families and care for each family like they are your own, this is the career for you.”

 

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.”