If you have a caring personality and love the idea of working with pregnant women and helping to deliver their babies into the world, a career in midwifery is a no-brainer. Once you’ve earned your credentials and begin working, no two days will be the same. There will, however, be a certain amount of stress and pressure to ensure each baby is delivered safely.
There are all kinds of skills you will need to possess in order to fulfill your midwifery duties. However, you must pay close attention to your own health and wellbeing before getting started. During your midwifery course, here are some of the best ways to keep your physical and mental health in check.
When it comes to working as a midwife, you need to be alert and aware of your surroundings throughout your shift. If you rock up to work feeling rundown and exhausted, you may not fulfill your duties correctly, which could have serious consequences for your patient and her baby. No matter what, getting a good night’s rest is one of the best things you can do, both for yourself and those you’re helping.
If you struggle to drift off at night and stay asleep, there are many things that can help. Getting yourself into a sleep routine, turning off electronics, and having time to relax and unwind before hitting the hay can go a long way in aiding sleep and helping you feel refreshed and ready for anything.
During your time as a midwifery student, you need to fuel your body with the right foods to keep you supported and focused. Many students make the mistake of gorging on junk food, which leaves them feeling lethargic. While you may get an initial burst of energy, you will soon feel groggy and lose focus. Therefore, incorporating plenty of fruits and vegetables into your diet and sticking to a healthy diet is key for success.
Before qualifying as a midwife, you need to be aware of how much time you’ll spend on your feet. No matter how long your shift is, there will barely be any time for you to sit down and rest your legs, so you need to be in the best shape possible before going into the working world. During your midwifery course, try and use this time to your advantage and start exercising.
Regular physical activity is not only important for boosting cardiovascular health and decreasing stress levels, but you will also build stamina which will be a huge help, especially during long shifts. Whether you enjoy running, swimming, playing sports, or going to the gym, you’re sure to find an activity that keeps you motivated.
Every patient you care for as a midwife will have different wants and needs. While some expectant moms will listen to what you say and take everything on board, others may be more difficult to manage. If your patient isn’t listening to you, this can naturally be frustrating and cause your stress levels to rise. One of the key skills needed to succeed in midwifery is the ability to work well under pressure and not take things to heart.
Getting a hold of your stress and managing it effectively will allow you to perform your role without too many problems. There are many relaxation exercises you can try out that will clear your mindset and allow you to focus on something else. Whether you enjoy deep breathing exercises, or you’re interested in guided imagery, make sure you find an exercise that relaxes you.
Once you’ve committed yourself to your midwifery course, it’s understandable that you will want to achieve the best grades possible. While your number one focus should be on your degree, that’s not to say you can’t have some time for yourself. If you spend every waking hour on your course, this will cause you to burn out which can decrease productivity levels and make it difficult to get stuck back in. Above anything else, make sure you factor in time to do the things you love. Whether it’s seeing friends, taking up a hobby, or having a break to stretch your legs, you need to have some kind of social life alongside your learning.
You must have a close support network around you during your midwifery course. No matter how prepared and confident you feel beforehand, there are bound to be modules and areas of the course you have difficulty with. When faced with an obstacle, stress levels can rise, so it’s important to have friends and family around you to speak to when things get tough.
Knowing you have your loved ones by your side from start to finish will allow you to vent when you need to. What’s more, you may find one of your inner circle has been in the same position as you before, meaning they may offer words of wisdom to help you succeed in nursing school.
If you have tried all of the above and found that you’re struggling to cope on your midwifery course, you should never suffer in silence. Instead of letting things get to you, make sure you schedule an appointment with your doctor. Speaking to a healthcare professional can instantly take the weight off your shoulders. If you don’t feel comfortable speaking to family and friends about your problems, having a doctor to talk to may be more beneficial.
When working as a midwife, there will be many responsibilities and duties put on your shoulders, meaning it’s vital that you’re in the right frame of mind from the beginning of your shift until the end. All the tips above should be carried with you from nursing school to the working world, helping to ensure you’re looking after yourself along the way.
There are all kinds of skills you will need to possess in order to fulfill your midwifery duties. However, you must pay close attention to your own health and wellbeing before getting started. During your midwifery course, here are some of the best ways to keep your physical and mental health in check.
Get a Good Night’s Sleep
When it comes to working as a midwife, you need to be alert and aware of your surroundings throughout your shift. If you rock up to work feeling rundown and exhausted, you may not fulfill your duties correctly, which could have serious consequences for your patient and her baby. No matter what, getting a good night’s rest is one of the best things you can do, both for yourself and those you’re helping.
If you struggle to drift off at night and stay asleep, there are many things that can help. Getting yourself into a sleep routine, turning off electronics, and having time to relax and unwind before hitting the hay can go a long way in aiding sleep and helping you feel refreshed and ready for anything.
Eat Healthily
During your time as a midwifery student, you need to fuel your body with the right foods to keep you supported and focused. Many students make the mistake of gorging on junk food, which leaves them feeling lethargic. While you may get an initial burst of energy, you will soon feel groggy and lose focus. Therefore, incorporating plenty of fruits and vegetables into your diet and sticking to a healthy diet is key for success.
If you’ve looked into the online nurse midwifery programs at Baylor University and decided that remote learning is best for you, you will be left to your own devices in terms of what you eat. This means you need to hide any treats out of sight and save them for special occasions. Instead, filling your refrigerator with plenty of healthy snacks and foods will serve as a constant reminder to stay on board.
Make Time for Exercise
Before qualifying as a midwife, you need to be aware of how much time you’ll spend on your feet. No matter how long your shift is, there will barely be any time for you to sit down and rest your legs, so you need to be in the best shape possible before going into the working world. During your midwifery course, try and use this time to your advantage and start exercising.
Regular physical activity is not only important for boosting cardiovascular health and decreasing stress levels, but you will also build stamina which will be a huge help, especially during long shifts. Whether you enjoy running, swimming, playing sports, or going to the gym, you’re sure to find an activity that keeps you motivated.
Practice Relaxation Exercises
Every patient you care for as a midwife will have different wants and needs. While some expectant moms will listen to what you say and take everything on board, others may be more difficult to manage. If your patient isn’t listening to you, this can naturally be frustrating and cause your stress levels to rise. One of the key skills needed to succeed in midwifery is the ability to work well under pressure and not take things to heart.
Getting a hold of your stress and managing it effectively will allow you to perform your role without too many problems. There are many relaxation exercises you can try out that will clear your mindset and allow you to focus on something else. Whether you enjoy deep breathing exercises, or you’re interested in guided imagery, make sure you find an exercise that relaxes you.
Do Something Fun
Once you’ve committed yourself to your midwifery course, it’s understandable that you will want to achieve the best grades possible. While your number one focus should be on your degree, that’s not to say you can’t have some time for yourself. If you spend every waking hour on your course, this will cause you to burn out which can decrease productivity levels and make it difficult to get stuck back in. Above anything else, make sure you factor in time to do the things you love. Whether it’s seeing friends, taking up a hobby, or having a break to stretch your legs, you need to have some kind of social life alongside your learning.
Speak to Friends and Family
You must have a close support network around you during your midwifery course. No matter how prepared and confident you feel beforehand, there are bound to be modules and areas of the course you have difficulty with. When faced with an obstacle, stress levels can rise, so it’s important to have friends and family around you to speak to when things get tough.
Knowing you have your loved ones by your side from start to finish will allow you to vent when you need to. What’s more, you may find one of your inner circle has been in the same position as you before, meaning they may offer words of wisdom to help you succeed in nursing school.
See Your Doctor
If you have tried all of the above and found that you’re struggling to cope on your midwifery course, you should never suffer in silence. Instead of letting things get to you, make sure you schedule an appointment with your doctor. Speaking to a healthcare professional can instantly take the weight off your shoulders. If you don’t feel comfortable speaking to family and friends about your problems, having a doctor to talk to may be more beneficial.
When working as a midwife, there will be many responsibilities and duties put on your shoulders, meaning it’s vital that you’re in the right frame of mind from the beginning of your shift until the end. All the tips above should be carried with you from nursing school to the working world, helping to ensure you’re looking after yourself along the way.
