Midwife Mondays 154: The end of my training & saying Thank you

I can’t quite believe I’m able to say this, but I’ve finished – I’ve done all my training and I’m now officially a trained midwife – just waiting for my final degree classification and my registration now!
I get my registration through from the Nursing & Midwifery Council at the end of September and as soon as that comes through I can start work.

So, I guess now is the best time to let you all know that I have a job! I actually interviewed at a few places and got my first job offer back in April, but I wanted to wait until I finished to let you all know.
I have a full post on my interviews and the application process next week for all you wondering as I’ve had LOADS of questions, but right now, I just need to celebrate finishing!

I’ve got several weeks off now, in which we are packing up and moving house, as well as spending a week down in Cornwall with family and looking at some wedding venues (eek!) – trying to make the most of some down-time before we start new jobs and all the rest. It’s going to be a busy time, and probably quite intense, but frankly I can’t wait!

It’s been an amazing journey, I’ve learnt more than I could ever have anticipated and I’ve loved it so much more than I ever thought!

It’s really important to mention that this is not something I would have been able to do on my own; there have been so many people who have helped me throughout my training and I want to take this opportunity to say thank you;

To all the women I have cared for, whether you were at your first booking appointment, in labour, postnatal or anything in between, thank you. So much of this training is learning by doing and each and every woman I have cared for has taught me so much and helped shape me into the midwife I am going to be.

To the midwives I have worked with, who have been mentors to me, guided me through my training and taught me how to manage each and every situation that has come my way, thank you. They say you become a “soup” of your mentors, and all I can say is that I end up as a soup of the midwives I’ve worked under, I’ll be a very lucky woman, and a very bloody good midwife!

To the lecturers at the university, whether you have taught me one lecture or fifty, thank you. You have taught me all the solid facts that support my practice. You have shown me how important it is to know the basics through and through and to look back at the evidence for everything. You have supported me when times have been tough and have taught me so much – I just know that learning from you and being supported by you has set me up perfectly for such a rewarding and challenging career.

To my family; my parents, sisters, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family & friends and to M’s parents, brother, and the rest of M’s family, thank you. You have all supported me and believed in me, even at times when I didn’t really believe in myself. You have told me you are proud of me, and that you know I can do it. Your support and love means the absolute world and I can’t tell you how important it has been in this challenging journey.

To my wonderful friends who have understood when I’ve been rubbish at texting back, or when I’m not available to visit as often as I’d like, thank you. You’ve been there for me, and reassured me, and I knew throughout that no matter how crap I was at staying in touch (it’s just not the first thing on your mind after your third night in a row!) that you’d be there if I needed you, and that, now I’ve finished, you’ll still be there for me and ready for a serious gin and tonic to celebrate!

To everyone who has followed my journey throughout my training – on here, on twitter, on instagram, on facebook or in person, thank you. I’ve loved sharing this journey and the challenges & achievements that have come with it. You’ve given me the drive to make the most of every single opportunity that has come my way, and whether you are mums, dads, midwives, students, students-to-be or just interested in my journey, it means the world that you have chosen to follow my story.

And finally to M, my other half, my partner in crime, the most-wonderful man in the world, and now my fiancé, thank you. I honestly have no idea how I would have managed this course without you. You have tested me until the small hours the night before exams. You have encouraged me and made me countless cups of tea when I’ve had written work to do. You have made me dinner every night after long shifts. You have been my rock; there with a hug every time I walk in the door, ready to wipe my tears after tough shifts and celebrate after good ones. I can’t put it into words – your love and support has meant the world and I genuinely don’t think I would be the midwife, or the woman I am today without you. You are my other half and my best friend – and I can’t wait for the next step in our adventure!

Thank you!

And for those of you already asking, this won’t be the end – the blog will keep going. I’ll explain more in another post, but I’m not planning on letting it all go now that I’ve finished training – you’ll still get regular updates from me as I transition into being a working newly qualified midwife! Eek!

Thank you all for everything – I genuinely can’t quite believe I’ve got to this point! I’m actually going to be a midwife!

Image by Courtney Hedger Image by Danielle MacInnes

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