Midwifery Personal Statement

I believe that Midwifery is undoubtedly an influential part of the society we operate in; contributing significantly to the individualised care of childbearing women. Midwives not only provide care to women at a pivotal time in their life; but also support them during an empowering transition from woman to mother. I believe that I have the personable skills, attention to detail and professional attributes that will successfully enable me to guide women through this life changing experience. Midwifery allows you to interact with women from a variety of different ethnicities and backgrounds, which in turn calls for a necessary level of respectful understanding of cultures and the impact this has on the way pregnancy and birth is perceived. It is for these reasons that I wish to pursue a career in midwifery.
My personal health needs and experiences have required me to have direct contact with professionals from the obstetric and gynaecological team; this has further developed my interest in the midwifery profession. It has been since then that I have been fascinated with midwifery and the independent study of pregnancy, birth and the postnatal care of women.
An area of particular interest to me is that of infertility and assisted conception.
It is reported that one in six of all couples are affected by infertility whilst trying to conceive, of which 25 percent go on to receive support from assisted techniques (Joels and Wardle 1994). In these instances midwives need to have sufficient knowledge of the physiological and psychological factors associated with pregnancies resulting from assisted conception. I believe that my previous experience as a counsellor will also enable me to requisite reassurance and facilitate the control of fears or anxieties which may have been gained during the conception process. This along with positive encouragement will enable couples to enjoy the beauty of pregnancy and realistically prepare them for life as
parents.
I am currently studying my Access to Higher Education Midwifery with emphasis on human anatomy and physiology. Returning to education has enabled me to utilise my existing organisation and communication skills, whilst providing me with foundation of knowledge that I can apply to my future studies and better prepare me for the demands of higher education. My previous experience within the social housing sector has helped me to develop the transferable skills a midwife should possess; such as the ability to convey emotional intelligence in difficult or sensitive situations and adaptability whilst working amongst multi professional teams in varying settings. I hope to one day demonstrate my sustainable passion for midwifery and contribute to the continuity of individualised care for child bearing women in the 21st century.
Over the past 6 months whilst volunteering at my local hospital on the postnatal ward, I have had the opportunity to gain a realistic understanding of the nature of midwifery and observe the importance of respecting the individual needs of the women and their families. This experience has also highlighted the necessity of recognising immediate care needs of both mother and baby; paying close attention to the rapid physiological changes that take place throughout pregnancy and birth. I have witnessed first-hand the importance of immediate assessment of both physical and emotional conditions and the need for timely intervention to prevent detrimental long term consequences for both mother and baby. For me this has proved to be an invaluable and extremely beneficial experience, reaffirming my desire to become a midwife and contribute to the continuity of compassionate midwifery care.