Celebrating 40 Births: Stories, Keepsakes & Gifts for Student Midwives

As a mother and a proud birth nerd, I have so much awe for the people who support women through labour and birth. While I am not a midwife myself, my passion for birth and the journey of motherhood led me to create a shop full of art and gifts to honour the incredible people doing this work.

Whether you are a student treating yourself, or a proud friend searching for the perfect 40th birth gift, see how student midwives share how they celebrated this massive achievement.

Thank you so much to everyone that contributed their photos and words to this post - I have loved seeing your special moments!

Why is the 40th birth such a big deal?

In the UK, student midwives must attend and facilitate a minimum of 40 vaginal births to fulfil Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) registration requirements.

While 40 might sound like a simple number on paper, achieving 40 vaginal births across a three-year degree is significantly harder than it used to be. I see students sharing the pressure of the final year, the lack of opportunities, and having to extend placements for weeks or months just to get those final few catches.

With higher rates of inductions, epidurals, and assisted or caesarean births, finding opportunities to facilitate unassisted vaginal births on shift can be incredibly challenging for student midwives.

When a student midwife reaches their 40th birth, it isn't just a clinical checkbox. It marks the culmination of years of hard work, emotional resilience, and devotion to birth. 

The relief and the exhaustion

When that 40th catch finally happens, the overwhelming feeling so many of you share is pure relief mixed with exhaustion after weeks of pressure.

Zoe shared: "The last seven weeks in particular were intense, trying to achieve those final births and reach this milestone. There were days when it felt like it might never happen - but now, I can finally say I have done it! 40 births!"

"To the midwives, doctors, maternity support workers, students, mentors and every single person who has taken the time to teach me and give me opportunities to learn - thank you."

"Every birth I have been privileged to facilitate has taught me something, and I will carry those experiences with me throughout my career. Four years ago, I started this journey with a dream."

"Now, I'm standing here having achieved something I once wondered if I was capable of. 40 births. And now... the next chapter begins. New job starting in October as a QUALIFIED MIDWIFE."

Mary said: "This photo was taken at 5:30am at the end of my last ever night shift as a student midwife. I had a hard slog getting my births in time to qualify but hit the jackpot and caught 3 baby girls on this final night!"

"I felt elated, exhausted and relieved! I'm now 2 years qualified, 50kg lighter and every new baby I see come into the world is just as special as my 40th!".  

Amy shared the reality of the extensions: "I've not managed to get a job as a midwife yet which makes me feel a bit like a fraud! I've had a couple of interviews but because I can't go much further from where I live due to family commitments options are limited and the massive lack of jobs atm isn't helping."

"Honestly, I felt relieved when I got my 40th catch as I had extended by 13 weeks to get my last few. I was very proud of myself as it was a very long and winding journey to get the end! I celebrated by going to McDonald's with my husband and kids, nothing amazing."

"My husband and my besties bought me gifts and cards which was lovely too!"

Sasha completely echoed this feeling, telling me: "My first words were "finally!" as I worked about 5/6 extra weeks to get my 40 births... zzzzzzz". 

Lauren added: "When I achieved my 40th catch I felt relieved, as at one point it felt completely out of reach, but mostly I felt so privileged and excited to be finally joining the midwifery profession!"

"I caught my 40th baby right at the start of a night shift so the midwives sent me home at 10pm once the immediate postnatal care was complete (I had achieved all my placement hours), so I treated myself to a dominos and an early night!".

Treating yourself: 40 births gifts for the student midwife

If you have just hit your numbers, or you are looking for a gift for a student who has, I have designed a few little rewards in my shop to help mark the occasion.

40 Births Gift Rosettes: These are fun to wear on your last shift, pin to your placement bag, or keep on your desk to remind you of what you've achieved.

Wooden Medals: A natural wood medal that makes a lovely keepsake to hang in your bedroom or study space.  

Button Badges: If you just want a tiny pop of celebration, my 40 Births button badges are perfect for popping straight onto your lanyard.  

Golden Clay Keepsakes: I handmade these Golden Clay Hearts and Golden Baby Hanging Ornaments to give you a special, tactile keepsake to remember your journey.  

Celebrating with the families

It's lovely hearing how students include the parents and the new baby in their celebrations. It is such a beautiful way to honour the family that helped you qualify.

Jennifer shared: "It's the most amazing feeling in the world! It usually comes right at the end of a very long journey of determination, hard work and resilience - and really feels like everything you've worked towards!"

"It somehow starts to all feel real you've done it - and my god it's worth it. The family were really lovely and they knew before she gave birth it was a special birth, and were more than willing to get involved." 

"I told them I had the baby grow and they wanted baby to wear it. I got consent for photos and they were even taking photos with me and of me to put in baby's memory box."

Lucy also gifted the family something special: "My 40th birth was a strange feeling - mixed with nerves, excitement and the feeling of being allowed to help a new family bring their little one into the world!"

"It kind of hit home that this would be the baby to make me a midwife, so I was more nervous than usual. I celebrated with a small blanket I had made as a gift for the parents, and a card to express my appreciation and gratitude to be allowed to help this family bring their new bundle of joy into the world, with a congratulations message too. The family were so kind and let me have some pictures with the baby that made me a midwife". 

Megan shared the pure emotion of the moment: "I was too overwhelmed to take it in. After so long waiting and hoping and so much stress of whether I'd get them in time - I was so relieved and happy!".

Gifts for the 40th baby

Because so many of you want to give the parents a little something, I created some items specifically for the baby who makes you a midwife!

Baby Vests: My "I Made a Midwife" baby vests are perfect for taking photos just like Jennifer did. They make a lovely addition to the family's memory box.  

Cards for Baby: I've also made 7 designs of "I Made a Midwife" cards that you can write a heartfelt message on and give to the parents on the ward, and engraved wooden medals to give as gifts.

I've made 'I made a midwife' clay keepsakes with gold gilding and a cork base for student midwives to give as a token gift to their 40th baby.

Sharing the achievement with colleagues

Sometimes the magic comes from the environment and the colleagues who have supported you for three years.

Katie told me: "It's actually a year ago now for me, this was taken at the end of a very busy night and my last birth was really wonderful. It was on the birth centre and she progressed quickly, just enough time to get in the pool, there was the birth centre midwives but also the triage midwife there."

"It was a beautiful birth and so relaxed and it felt nice to be surrounded by colleagues who I had worked alongside for years to watch me finally finish my degree, for me it was a perfect birth to finish on!"

Saranya shared her journey as an international nurse: "Achieving my 40 births was more than completing a requirement, it was a dream I had worked so hard to achieve. As an international nurse, I was determined to become a midwife so I could provide high-quality, compassionate care, helping women feel safe, respected, and empowered while making their childbirth experiences beautiful memories."

"This journey tested my strength, but I refused to give up. Celebrating this milestone with my colleagues and family was one of the happiest moments of my life. Those 40 births were proof that my hard work, dedication, and determination had finally paid off. I believed in my dream, and I made it happen!"

Miri shared: "Getting my 40th birth was chaotic as I had to go back and forth between women but as soon as I delivered my 40th baby it was a breath of fresh air, an 'I finally did it' feeling".  

Showing your support: cards, tokens & gift sets

If you are a friend, mentor, or family member looking to congratulate a student, these are for you.

Cards for the Student: I offer "40 Births" cards and keepsake tokens so you can write them a lovely message about how proud you are and pop in a little gift.

Gift Sets & Bundles: I put together 40 Births Bundles where you can combine keepsakes, rosettes, and cards into one  celebratory parcel to send them.

You'll also find handmade clay baby magnet ornaments on my shop with gold gilding, which I hoped could make a special keepsake to remember the 40th baby.

Reflecting on the privilege

Above all, I imagine every student would say how much of a privilege it is to be in the room.

Eloise shared: "Thank you to all of the families that have allowed me the privilege to support them over the last 3 years. I am also extremely grateful to the team at WSH who have guided me through my training with such incredible knowledge and patience every step of the way. I'm looking forward to the future ahead as a newly qualified Midwife."

"The 40th birth feels like a massive milestone, and the three years leading up to that day are full of every emotion possible. For me it was a day full of excitement for the future, relief that all the hardship and sacrifice was worth it but mostly proudness that I had managed to overcome so much to get to this point."

"Facilitating the birth of a baby is an incredible honour, and to think that I have been lucky enough to do it for 40 beautiful families already, the people I have met along the way have taught me so much about myself and the midwife I aspire to be. Whilst training it can be very easy to get caught up in self-critique but achieving this milestone has enabled me to celebrate my achievements and look back at the positive impact I have made".  

Eden said: "Delivering my 40th baby was the most magical and emotional experience. Throughout my journey, I had times where I wanted to quit and where I never felt good enough. When I reached this milestone it reminded me of who I am, why I do what I do and how privileged I am to be a part of such a beautiful journey. I went home after my shift and was greeted by my family who were full of smiles and were so excited as it felt like such a long time coming."

Kerian told me: "Reaching 40 births was such a meaningful milestone in my journey toward becoming a midwife, and I celebrated with a "Midwife in Bloom" graduation party surrounded by my loved ones!".  

And finally, Kirsten shared how she marked the moment: "When I facilitated my 40th birth it was a strange feeling, sitting and reflecting on how far I'd come and I'd finally hit that pivotal moment in my training. I didn't really celebrate but I did buy myself a 40th birth rosette from Womb To World to display at my desk!"

To every single student midwife reading this - whether you are just starting to count, or you are anxiously waiting for number 40 - you are doing incredibly important work and giving a huge gift to this world. I think you're all amazing.

Gift-giving etiquette: should you give a 40th birth gift?

I received a request to make 40th birth baby vests, and when I asked for feedback in a student midwife Facebook group, I got some very strong (but mixed) feedback! Some felt it was obnoxious, cheeky and presumptuous, while others thought it was a lovely keepsake and when they gave one the family were very pleased.

Some students pointed out that birth is the family's moment, and that the priority must always be the mother and her baby. Also concerns about interrupting skin-to-skin contact or it being presumptuous to give something the baby has to wear. I really valued those perspectives and it was good to hear that the mother's experience is being valued and prioritised.

Because there was negative feedback, I didn't make any vests for a while. But then when I started building up my collection of 40 births keepsakes and gifts, I thought perhaps I'd offer a few vests and then it would be up to the person whether that feels right for them to buy one.

I tend to think that a gift is always a nice thought... and if someone doesn't want to put the vest on their baby then they don't have to? It depends on the way the gift is given. Especially if you've had chance to get to know that midwife through your pregnancy journey. What do you think?

For mothers & families

If a student midwife supported you during your baby's birth and hit their 40th milestone with you, a small token or card is a wonderful way to say thank you.

For mentors, peers, and loved ones

If you are a mentor midwife, a fellow student, or a proud family member, giving a keepsake is a fantastic way to validate all the hard work they have poured into their training.

Where to find 40th birth keepsakes

I design and handpaint a dedicated collection of 40 Births Keepsakes specifically created for student midwives to track and celebrate 40 births. If you have suggestions for more please let me know!

Thank you so much to everyone that contributed their photos and words to my blog. I have loved seeing your special moments.