The story behind the idea...
and why I want to share what I've learned with you
No one trains for a career like midwifery expecting to leave it within a few years. They do it because they want to make a difference and find meaning in their work. Yet, that's exactly what's happening - midwives are burning out at rates never seen before. And I know why, because I am one of them.
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Despite going into the profession as a confident mum of two with plenty of life experiences under my belt, I was not prepared for how challenging and consuming midwifery was. It affected ALL areas of my life from the very beginning - my energy, my thoughts, my emotions, my family, my friendships.
I'd expected hard work and long hours. I'd expected to miss birthdays and holidays and to jump out of bed in the middle of the night. What I DIDN'T expect was to work 12 hours without a break, or to be permanently exhausted, or to feel heartbroken at what the system was doing to women, what it was doing to birth. I didn't expect to begin experiencing mental health issues for the first time ever, or the chronic pain condition I developed.
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I REALLY didn't expect what happened next.
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Less than three years after qualifying, I entered the darkest, most difficult time of my life. As I describe in my book, Overdue, I eventually had a breakdown and left the NHS.
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It was a long, complex process to figure out how and why it happened, and to begin the deep inner work to heal those wounds. And it wasn't just about what being a midwife did to me, but also about the areas of my life and the parts of myself I'd been seriously neglecting.
Because as much as I'd like to blame the difficulties of the job for everything that happened to me, the truth is that I was already on the road to burnout by not looking after myself or my needs, constantly putting everyone and everything else first. Working as a midwife in the NHS wasn't the sole reason I ended up in that position - but it was the catalyst.
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Now, I want to share with you what I've learned along the way so that you don't have to go through that experience too. You deserve to be physically healthy, mentally well, emotionally safe, and professionally fulfilled in your role as a midwife - and I can help you achieve that in The Hive.
What The Hive is about...
and how it can help you
In a system as big as the NHS, it's easy to feel like just another worker bee. But in this membership we don't do conformity - we are hive-boss queens! Become a member and receive full access to our WhatsApp and Facebook communities, where you will find support and resources relevant to midwives at all stages - students, those doing their preceptorships, Band 6s, independent midwives, and beyond. You will also gain access to prominent guest speakers from the maternity world, information about additional study days and training, and social events where you can get to know other community members better. ​
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We cover a range of topics in the community including: professional autonomy, clinical skills, rotating to different clinical areas, being an effective advocate for women and birthing people, navigating office politics and staff relationships, creating emotional safety for yourself, and setting healthy boundaries at work and home to prevent burnout. Empowerment, knowledge, and support are in abundance here, giving you the tools to thrive in all areas of your life.
What's included and how you will benefit
Your membership includes two live group coaching calls every month - facilitated by Amity - where we celebrate wins, discuss challenges that have come up in practice, and use self-coaching techniques to manage mental health and personal challenges too. Because being a midwife is more than just a job that you can put out of mind at the end of the day - it is deep, meaningful soul-work that impacts every aspect of your life.
One of the calls each month will be with the entire membership, so that we can all learn from each other through our varying perspectives. And it's not only the more experienced midwives that have wisdom and knowledge to share - students and more junior midwives have just as much to contribute and add value and strength to the community. Your second coaching call each month will be done in sub-groups - students, Band 5, or Band 6 - so that you can get more in-depth on issues specific to your role.
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Being part of The Hive is not only an investment in your professional development and a good way to protect against burnout, it is an investment in yourself and your future.
WhatsApp Community
Get support on the go and find links to relevant news stories, training days, campaigns, etc.. With regular voice note tips and reflective prompts from Amity, and the opportunity to connect with other midwives in your shoes.
Facebook Community
This is where you'll find supplementary coaching resources and can post longer, more complex scenarios that you want support with. We use self-coaching and assertiveness techniques to give you the confidence to tackle any challenge.
Coaching Calls
Live group coaching calls will take place twice a month online, at varying times. Can't make it? No problem! Submit the question or situation you want coaching on in advance and watch the recorded replay in the Facebook group.