19. Midwifery Matters! - #Intentional coffee with Sarah-Jane Pedler and Gaynor Armstrong

Wild Card - Whose Shoes?

In today’s episode, I’m bringing together 2 people who are literally meeting for the 1st time.

A world-exclusive #IntentionalCoffee podcast! For those who are old enough, think Cilla Black …

My podcast guests have never previously seen each other or spoken in any way. But they share a passion for midwifery and I think they’re gonna ‘gerralong’.

Gaynor Armstrong, Director of Midwifery, UHCW in Coventry and Sarah-Jane Pedler, Lead Professional Midwifery Advocate (PMA) in Cornwall will tell you why MIDWIFERY MATTERS.

Their passion for their chosen career/ vocation shines through. Why is being a midwife the BEST job in the world, even in these difficult times? No two days are the same. Every family, every birth is unique. Being there as mums & families welcome their new baby; being remembered for the rest of their lives. The SKY man says so! 😊
Lemon light bulbs 🍋💡🍋

• #IntentionalCoffees are fun & bring great people together!
• These are not unprecedented times – Charles Dickens’ wisdom puts the pandemic in context!
• #MatExp IS a movement for midwifery – let’s tell the international Federation of midwives!
• There are different ways into midwifery – second careers are possible!
• #NoHierarchyJustPeople - you can influence change at any level
• We need culture change and sustainability
• Move away from a culture of stoicism - NHS staff shouldn’t be expected to grind themselves into the ground
• Harness cross-generational learning – a mix of fresh eyes & the wisdom from long experience.
• Midwives have opportunities to stay fresh – to try out new directions
• Stay in touch with your WHY, your purpose
• Top tips to stay positive & energised – find your tribe! We are stronger together.
• The pandemic has been tough for all – let’s support each other. Not us and them between staff & ‘service users’
• Shine a light like Florence Nightingale but look after yourself & colleagues too.
• Coping with pressure - we all need headspace
• Ask “how are you?” – listen to the answer
• Communication includes involving people – let them help with the solutions
• Collaboration is key
• Coproduction is strong – Whose Shoes is ‘brilliant!’
• Change can be difficult – even when the change is good
• Unlock new knowledge through ‘lemon lightbulbs’!
• The new Fab NHS Stuff #MatExp campaign page offers a fantastic way to share all the good stuff – let’s use it!!
• No more reinventing the wheel!
• Be generous too - SHARE!
• Tap into individual passions
• Teamwork is beautiful
• It is rewarding to see others succeed
• Cornwall is beautiful too!

Relevant resources
FabNHS Stuff - #MatExp #WhoseShoes campaign page
Whose Shoes - overview
Talking to fab Professor Lesley Page about humanising birth.
Magic Mates - my episode on the Obs Pod with #FabObs Flo. Check out the whole podcast series, it’s brilliant.
#IntentionalCoffee - here

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I tweet as @WhoseShoes and @WildCardWS and am on Instagram as @WildCardWS.
Please recommend 'Wild Card - Whose Shoes' to others who enjoy hearing passionate people talk about their experiences of improving health care.

Chapters

1. 19. Midwifery Matters! - #Intentional coffee with Sarah-Jane Pedler and Gaynor Armstrong (00:00:00)

2. A world exclusive - an #IntentionalCoffee podcast! Introductions. (00:00:40)

3. "It was the best of times. It was the worst of times ..." (00:04:44)

4. A movement for midwifery - well, there's an idea! #MatExp (00:05:10)

5. Different routes into midwifery - more flexible than you might think! (00:06:48)

6. Wanting to influence change - you can do this at any level! (00:10:29)

7. Sustainability. Culture change. (00:12:54)

8. Care for the carers (staff) - you can't pour from an empty cup. Staffing levels are key! (00:13:40)

9. Fresh eyes and the wisdom and experience which comes with years - harnessing cross-generational learning (00:14:48)

10. Linking back to my conversation with Prof. Lesley Page - humanising birth (00:15:51)

11. Learning from ALL feedback - "why Whose Shoes is brilliant!" :) (00:17:17)

12. Such a special job - the PRIVILEGE of being a midwife (00:17:59)

13. Relationships - continuity of carer (00:18:22)

14. The SKY man says THANK YOU!! (00:19:29)

15. Service to the community. So real and rewarding! (00:20:49)

16. Flexibility and variety - no two days can EVER be the same! (00:21:30)

17. Keeping fresh - so many opportunities to develop and specialise (00:22:37)

18. Stripping back the layers - and re-finding your purpose, your WHY (00:23:10)

19. How do you stay positive and energised when things are difficult? (00:25:08)

20. 'Find your tribe' - we are all stronger TOGETHER (00:25:28)

21. WELLBEING. A Whose Shoes event to explore wellbeing. Moving forward from tough times in the pandemic, juggling personal lives and fears, alongside work (00:26:00)

22. Florence Nightingale - shining a light, showing the way with others helping us stay strong (00:26:40)

23. Coping with pressure. Headspace is vital to health and wellbeing. (00:27:10)

24. Key conversations with colleagues. "How are you?" Listening. (00:27:32)

25. Good communications. Being real. Sharing the challenges - and what is happening to address them with the team. Getting people INVOLVED. (00:27:51)

26. Collaboration - central to maternity care, at all levels (00:29:10)

27. Coproduction with women and families - they do it SO well in Cornwall ! (00:29:28)

28. BIG changes for staff to cope with - even when it is good stuff. (00:30:38)

29. Sparking lemon lightbulbs through conversations - Whose Shoes approach strong in Cornwall, and has been for years.!) Unlocking new knowledge (00:31:40)

30. Connect with others - share the good stuff. (00:32:55)

31. A practical example - working outside guidelines? There is a 'The Obs Pod'episode! (00:33:36)

32. Maintain energy through making new friends. Magic mates to sound off to! ;-) (00:34:28)

33. NEW! Launch of the #MatExp Fab NHS Stuff campaign page. Now we CAN collect and share the good stuff! (00:35:20)

34. OUR channel. 10 'starters for ten' - Join us and add YOUR fab stuff! (00:35:53)

35. Be generous! Don't start with a blank sheet. See what is out there. And be generous in return. (00:36:22)

36. Let's all share #MatExp #WhoseShoes 'fab stuff'! A fresh way of thinking in the NHS. #NoHierarchyJustPeople (00:37:29)

37. Intrinsic motivation - tapping into what individuals are passionate about. (00:39:00)

38. TEAM work is beautiful - and the satisfaction of seeing others succeed. (00:39:14)

39. A highly succesful #IntentionalCoffee - let's all meet up ... in Cornwall ! :) (00:41:39)