My First Year of Student Midwife Milestones

When I created my Student Midwife Milestone Cards I wasn't sure how they would go. I wanted to make a deck that was different to the others I saw online - something full colour, full art, and more comprehensive than other decks - and I wanted them to be professionally printed in a nice box. I wanted to include emotional moments as well as clinical milestones - and also include cards that you could use multiple times to celebrate things like completing an essay or the first and last day of term. 

So it meant a big deck with 50 cards, and I knew that that would mean that people might see it as expensive compared to other people's, but I hoped that they would appeal to people who are maximalist like me! Even so, it was a bit nerve-wracking to invest in having so many made in the UK, so every time a student midwife has made the effort to tag me when they share and celebrate, it's really meant a lot to me.

In my healing journey I have come to know the importance of celebrating and noticing the good things  - and in a journey as challenging and important as being a student midwife - it really brings me joy to know that my art is a small part of your special moments.

I've been enjoying following along with first-year student midwife Maddy, who documented her first year beautifully on Tiktok (with the help of her card deck)!

From Day 1 car selfies and lecture besties to and celebrating her 33% Midwife milestone, here is a behind-the-scenes look at what Year 1 actually feels like - and why documenting your journey matters.

Q. Thank you for sharing your first year of milestones with us! I'd love to know when you started your journey, and what made you want to be a midwife?

I started working towards my dreams of becoming a midwife in 2023. I completed an access course. It was the birth of my first daughter which inspired me and from that moment the passion to become a midwife never really left me. Nine years later I decided it was time to follow my dreams.

Q. Why did you decide to get Student Midwife Milestone Cards before starting your degree?

I thought they'd be a beautiful little way to capture my journey and something I could look back on. When you are in the thick of it and so busy it's easy to forget how far you've come.

Q. How did having your study tools ready help you get into the mindset for Year 1? And what's in your Midwifery Box now?

Having all my study tools ready definitely helped me feel more prepared and excited to start Year 1. My Midwifery Box is now full of lots of notebooks, plenty of black pens (you can never have too many!) and, of course, my Myles Textbook for Midwives, which has been an absolute essential throughout my first year. The little notebooks are fab for placement days.

Q. How did you feel sitting in the car that morning, and what was it like stepping onto campus for Day 1?

It honestly felt unreal and I was a tad nervous. I'd worked really hard to get to the point of sitting in the car excited to start university and my journey.

Q. I love the photo of you and your cohort friends holding the "I Made My First Friend at Uni" cards in class! That's so cool that you both had the same cards ☺️☺️ How did you find your tribe, and how important has that peer support been during tough times?

I was quite lucky in meeting the girls so early on. Having the same cards was lush. Having the support is absolutely fab cause they know what you are going through and feeling it too and I feel that makes such a massive difference.

Q. How did it feel getting hands-on with equipment for the first time, and what skill did you find most easily and which was most challenging?

Coming from an admin job, getting hands-on with clinical equipment for the first time was absolutely terrifying! I wouldn’t say any particular skill came more easily than the others, as everything was completely new to me.

I did find taking manual blood pressures quite challenging at first during our clinical skills sessions, but once it finally clicked, it all started to feel much more natural and my confidence grew from there.

Q. Is moving from university lectures into a clinical setting a big leap? What was going through your mind on the morning of your very first placement shift? Did it go as you expected?

Yes it definitely felt like a big step moving from university lectures into a clinical setting. I remember being so nervous that morning, especially as I’d never worked in that kind of environment before.

I just kept reminding myself to take it all in, be open to learning and enjoy the experience. My first day on placement was everything I’d imagined it would be, and it really reinforced that I was exactly where I wanted to be.

Q. Putting on your scrubs for shift must be such a special memory! How did it feel wearing your uniform for the first time, and how did you navigate those early placement nerves? Is it comfy?

The imposter syndrome I had putting on scrubs was unreal. It felt surreal seeing myself in the purple scrubs and finally being a student midwife. It was one of those moments when everything I had worked for suddenly felt very very real and yes they are comfy.

Q. What was your first night shift like? How did you prepare for your very first one and what are your top survival tips for staying awake and focused?

I had never worked a night shift before so I was nervous about doing so. But I packed my coffee and snacks, once I was there I was so focused that time went quick. Even though it's night shifts the role never ever stops so you are busy and learning new things.

Academic & Professional Growth

Q. I hear there's a huge academic workload to manage alongside all the clinical elements. How did it feel crossing off milestones like finishing your first university essay and delivering your first presentation? What was your essay about and how did your presentation go?

Coming from an admin background the academic side was an adjustment for me. Finishing my first assignment was a huge achievement. And throughout the year it's made me more confident and aware that I am capable of more than I gave myself credit for.

Q. Laying out your deck of milestone cards (from taking bloods to checking your first placenta) shows just how much you cover in Year 1. Looking at them all together, was there a milestone that took you most by surprise or that you feel particularly proud of?

I don't think I realised just how many milestones I would hit in my first year. So seeing some of them laid out was amazing and made me appreciate how far I have come. I am proud of every milestone and I think the ones in the beginning are the ones I am most proud of because coming with no clinical background made every skill feel like an absolute achievement.

• I took blood for the first time
• I witnessed my first birth
• I checked my first placenta
• My first postnatal visit
• My first antenatal appointment
• My first community visit
• I finished my essay
• I scrubbed into theatre
• I did my first presentation
• I gave my first injection
• My first night shift
• I witnessed a caesarean

Q. Your "33% Midwife" heart cake is so fun! Who baked or brought the cake, and how does it feel to have finished your first year?

I saw the idea and I thought it be such a lush way to celebrate finishing year 1. It was shop bought but Lauren did decorate it making it extra special. Finishing year 1 has felt amazing. On our very first day the university said time will go quick and they were so right. It feels surreal looking back what we have achieved in one year. 

Q. Celebrating your 33% milestone with a sunny park picnic looks like the absolute best reward. What advice would you give to incoming freshers sitting at 0% this September who are nervous about starting their journey?

My biggest advice is take it one day at a time and really enjoy your journey. It is completely normal to feel nervous and overwhelmed. I felt this way some days. Don't put too much pressure on yourself you will not know everything you are there to learn. Ask the questions, take the opportunities and all the experience you can. It does go so quick though so take it all in and celebrate all the milestones no matter how big or small.

Q. How are you feeling about going into second year? And which milestones are you hoping to achieve next?

I am really excited to head into second year. Slightly nervous but the excitement outweighs that. I'm looking forward to building on all the skills I have learnt in year 1. I am excited about developing my clinical skills and seeing how much more I grow over the next year.

"When it feels impossible, remember this: One day, someone will hear the words, "Hi, I'm your midwife today." And those words will be coming from you."