How I overcame self-doubt to become a midwife

My first steps into the world of work

At school, I was very creative and focused on art and design. I ended up studying social sciences at university and focused on areas that interested me, like gender issues, Scottish politics, and economics.

After graduating, I worked in several roles and spent some time travelling before settling in London. There, I became a training and development coordinator at a major cruise line. I trained call centre staff in customer service and sales. It was a great place to work with plenty of perks!

The moment everything clicked

Up until that point, I never really knew what I wanted to do. My life took another turn when I got married and had my first baby. From then on, something just clicked, and my curiosity about the midwifery role grew.

I volunteered in a maternity unit while attending night classes to study Higher Human Biology. I was suddenly ready to learn and even earned my first-ever A! Volunteering gave me a real sense of the hospital environment, and it solidified my desire to become a midwife.

Ignoring my doubts

Throughout my life, I was given lots of well-meaning career advice, but some of it was less helpful than others. At school, I was told I couldn't be a graphic designer, and later, people told me that midwifery was too hard to get into. All of that did put me off at times, and I had moments where I thought about giving up on my dream.

My husband offered the best advice of all when he said, “If you want to do it, just do it and see what happens.” I’ve learned that if you want to do something, you should just go for it and not let anyone else tell you that you can't. Every job I’ve had has helped shape the midwife I am today because all experience is good experience when you’re learning.

Supporting the future workforce

My secondment as a practice education facilitator allows me to work as a bridge between universities, colleges, and clinical practice. I decided to branch out to try something a little different, and it’s been a great way to develop new skills while staying connected to a profession I love. I support both nursing and midwifery students during their placements to help create positive learning experiences.

This role also helps qualified staff feel more confident when they’re acting as practice supervisors or assessors for our students. No 2 weeks are ever the same for me because I spend my time visiting clinical areas and linking in with different universities. Some days are very people-focused while others involve planning meetings or responding to concerns, but there's always lots of variety.

Advocating for my colleagues

I’m also a Royal College of Midwives (RCM) steward, which means I represent my colleagues and student midwives in the workplace. I feel lucky to be part of a midwifery community that advocates for specialist roles and clearer career progression. My work with the RCM helps me support our maternity support workers so they feel confident and well-supported while at work.

Knowing that my work helps shape the future workforce and ultimately improves families' experiences makes me feel very proud. I strive to make sure that the people in my care have choice, control, and a sense of continuity. Being a midwife means being an advocate and a shoulder to cry on, or someone to laugh with, when things get tough.

The reality of being a midwife

One of the most common things people say is: “Aw, that must be such a special job—you get to cuddle babies all day!” While a baby cuddle is lovely, the reality is that we are often busy with risk assessments, clinical observations, and documenting absolutely everything. A big part of the job is learning to stay calm on the outside, even when a lot is going on.

It’s not just about the babies; it’s about supporting a person through the most transformational time of their life. Watching someone become a parent is powerful, and there is no other job like it. I make the care we provide as person-centred as possible because every individual is someone’s loved one.

Why I’m proud to work in the NHS

I’ve been very lucky to work as a community midwife in my local area, which is a role I absolutely loved. One of the most special parts of the job is seeing the families I’ve supported over the years as their babies grow up. It makes me proud when mums introduce me at school parents' evenings as “Clare, my midwife,” because it reminds me of our lasting impact.

I aim to be the professional I would want to look after my own family, treating everyone with kindness, dignity, and understanding. My midwifery colleagues make me smile because they are some of the most compassionate and supportive people I have ever known. We laugh together during the hard days and support each other through the tough moments.

My top 3 tips for your midwifery career

• Don’t doubt yourself—You don’t need to fit a certain mould or have a perfect academic pathway to become a midwife.
• Do your research—Make sure you have a clear understanding of what the role involves, and be passionate about creating compassionate care.
• Just take the first step—As the saying goes, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Lao Tzu

Midwifery is open to people from all walks of life, and if you want to support families at an important time, it's worth exploring.