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Secret Midwife
Strongest supporter, best friend, expert, cheerleader and chief photographer . . . Before, during and after labour the role of a midwife is second to none. The Secret Midwife reveals the highs and lows on the frontline of the maternity unit, from the mother who tries to give herself a DIY caesarean to the baby born into witness protection, and from surprise infants that arrive down toilets to ones that turn up in the lift.
But there is a problem; the system which is supposed to support the midwives and the women they care for is starting to crumble. Short-staffed, over worked and underappreciated - these crippling conditions are taking their toll on the dedicated staff doing their utmost to uphold our National Health Service, and the consequences are very serious indeed.
But there is a problem; the system which is supposed to support the midwives and the women they care for is starting to crumble. Short-staffed, over worked and underappreciated - these crippling conditions are taking their toll on the dedicated staff doing their utmost to uphold our National Health Service, and the consequences are very serious indeed.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published February 6, 2020
142 people are currently reading
2683 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 260 reviews
December 22, 2020
The book improved considerably from the lacklustre beginning, and even the rather boring passages about her ex-fiance and the man she married made sense in retrospect when she is talking about her breakdown, her total depression that had her off work for four months. This was due, in great part, to the NHS building up a vast bureaucracy of office functionaries and the budget therefore cut for the medical staff. The author says, "In my fifteen years as an NHS midwife, the number of managers has doubled while the number of midwives has halved." But the management jobs are so badly done that she has no idea who her manager is or who she is meant to complain to if something goes wrong.
Political rant
There are many interesting birthing stories. But there was one that really stood out in my mind as the author was wrong. A man had been convicted of making and distributing child porn on a national level. One room of his house had been turned into a professional-style video studio. He was later imprisoned, but his wife denied all knowledge of his activities and the police did not have enough evidence to charge her. She went off with her husband's best friend (who was also not charged) and was now in hospital giving birth. Social services were going to take the baby and give the parents a court date for hearing to see if they could reclaim their child. The author was very firmly in the camp of if the parents hadn't been convicted they must be innocent and therefore should have their child. Besides the woman was a very nice woman, not the sort...
Not being convicted or charged doesn't mean someone is innocent at all. And I fail to see how the woman could have lived in a house and never noticed children coming or going or wanting to see films he had made in his studio but saying she was totally unaware of it. I don't believe in her lack of knowledge or even if that was true, her lack of curiosity. Neither the boyfriend's. I think Social Services had good reason to be concerned.
The author writes an interesting passage, that needs no commentary, on female genital mutilation and childbirth.
Notes on reading
Political rant
There are many interesting birthing stories. But there was one that really stood out in my mind as the author was wrong. A man had been convicted of making and distributing child porn on a national level. One room of his house had been turned into a professional-style video studio. He was later imprisoned, but his wife denied all knowledge of his activities and the police did not have enough evidence to charge her. She went off with her husband's best friend (who was also not charged) and was now in hospital giving birth. Social services were going to take the baby and give the parents a court date for hearing to see if they could reclaim their child. The author was very firmly in the camp of if the parents hadn't been convicted they must be innocent and therefore should have their child. Besides the woman was a very nice woman, not the sort...
Not being convicted or charged doesn't mean someone is innocent at all. And I fail to see how the woman could have lived in a house and never noticed children coming or going or wanting to see films he had made in his studio but saying she was totally unaware of it. I don't believe in her lack of knowledge or even if that was true, her lack of curiosity. Neither the boyfriend's. I think Social Services had good reason to be concerned.
The author writes an interesting passage, that needs no commentary, on female genital mutilation and childbirth.
In some cases the female genital parts are still present; they have just been stitched together. But at the more extreme end of the mutilation, everything has been taken away: her labia, clitoris, everything. All that’s left is a smooth area and a very small opening for the vagina. I feel terribly sorry for these women because I know it was forced upon them when they were just children. They had no choice in the matter, and the consequence is they will derive no pleasure at all from sex. Which, I suppose, is the whole point. It seems peculiarly cruel.All in all a good book, 4 star. The beginning of the book was not an indication of how good a read it was going to turn out to be. I would read futher books from the author.
In FGM cases, doctors prefer to take the lead because it’s harder for the birthing mother to push out the baby, and they will often need medical intervention. If the doctors are male, however, that can be problematic with the husbands. We do try and facilitate requests but there is only so much that can be done if there are no female doctors attending on the day. Occasionally, we have to be quite stern and tell the father that either he lets a doctor do his job or he needs to leave. It is quite maddening at times to see how people will put religious belief above medical necessity.
If an FGM victim tears during labour, which is highly likely, then our doctors are forbidden from sewing her back up the way she came into the unit. She has to be repaired as a normal vagina would be repaired and allowed to heal normally. Even if we know she is then likely to have to go elsewhere to be sewn back up the way she was.
Notes on reading
April 9, 2020
What an interesting read!
The first half of this non-fiction recount of a midwife in the NHS system is uplifting, emotional, entertaining, and funny. The author revisits the highs and lows of her early career in midwifery, where relationships and care are the norm with patients.
The second half is far more difficult to read. The intense pressure of working for a business rather than a service, increasing societal issues including litigation of medical professionals and the associated mental health issues related to these negative experiences are real and we should all ‘see life’ through their eyes.
Ultimately the read was enlightening, entertaining and I’m so thankful I came across this book. Thank all health professionals for all you do!
The first half of this non-fiction recount of a midwife in the NHS system is uplifting, emotional, entertaining, and funny. The author revisits the highs and lows of her early career in midwifery, where relationships and care are the norm with patients.
The second half is far more difficult to read. The intense pressure of working for a business rather than a service, increasing societal issues including litigation of medical professionals and the associated mental health issues related to these negative experiences are real and we should all ‘see life’ through their eyes.
Ultimately the read was enlightening, entertaining and I’m so thankful I came across this book. Thank all health professionals for all you do!
March 14, 2020
This was one of those perfectly written books that I devoured in a day because I just couldn’t help myself from reading on and on.
As a trained NHS nurse myself, I have read a lot of these kind of books - stories from my midwifery colleagues, doctors and so forth. This is easily one of the best. I thought I knew pretty much what midwives do, but really I had no idea just how complex their roles are. The author takes us back to her first days with labouring women, and some of the most memorable births she has assisted with. Later, the book takes a sinister turn as the author struggles with unmanageable workloads, an unsupportive employer and the unforgiving curse of mental ill health.
So much of this book resonated with me from a nursing perspective. If the pregnant and new mothers were simply changed to frail and sick patients, I could have written this. The author describes how managers have doubled in size whilst midwifery numbers have halved and expectations increase day on day.
This is an incredibly moving book that shares many stories of mums and babies. But the thing I think I’ll remember most about this book is how much we, as a society, undervalue our midwives. Without them, we would be so much worse off.
As a trained NHS nurse myself, I have read a lot of these kind of books - stories from my midwifery colleagues, doctors and so forth. This is easily one of the best. I thought I knew pretty much what midwives do, but really I had no idea just how complex their roles are. The author takes us back to her first days with labouring women, and some of the most memorable births she has assisted with. Later, the book takes a sinister turn as the author struggles with unmanageable workloads, an unsupportive employer and the unforgiving curse of mental ill health.
So much of this book resonated with me from a nursing perspective. If the pregnant and new mothers were simply changed to frail and sick patients, I could have written this. The author describes how managers have doubled in size whilst midwifery numbers have halved and expectations increase day on day.
This is an incredibly moving book that shares many stories of mums and babies. But the thing I think I’ll remember most about this book is how much we, as a society, undervalue our midwives. Without them, we would be so much worse off.
August 30, 2020
An insightful, harrowing and frustratingly honest book written by an NHS midwife.
It just proves beyond doubt what amazing work they do, sometimes under terrifying pressure.
If you work in the care sector or love medical autobiographies you will love this.
It just proves beyond doubt what amazing work they do, sometimes under terrifying pressure.
If you work in the care sector or love medical autobiographies you will love this.
June 3, 2022
Well, I am glad I am not having a baby any time soon! This is a great book, unless you are... We all know about the chronic underfunding of our wonderful NHS, but you can hear it first hand in this book. The first half, however, concentrates on the Secret Midwife's more memorable births. Midwifery always sounds like a terrific vocation, dealing with people at their happiest time. It should be! The most telling fact is that management has doubled, but the number of midwives has halved. Let that sink in.
April 11, 2021
This is a great account of what midwives experience on a daily basis and the contribution they make to the new lives that are born and the care of the mothers. Sometimes heart breaking, sometimes funny and uplifting at the same time. The selfless care these healthcare professionals show is so moving and inspiring. I loved this very honest book.
December 29, 2020
Ir tāds jēdziens "varoņa ceļojums" (hero's journey) - vairāku soļu ceļš, kuru noiet katrs patiess varonis. Tā vien šķiet, ka visas vecmātes kaut kādā ziņā arī piedzīvo savu "varones ceļojumu" - no sajūsmas līdz pašpaļāvībai, caur izmisuma un depresijas bezdibeni līdz samiernieciskam gurdenumam vecmātes praksē vai ārpus tās.
Es ticu katram grāmatā rakstītajam vārdam. Es saprotu un spēju iztēloties daudz no grāmatā rakstītā. Un daudz ko no tā es nevēlos piedzīvot savā dzīvē.
Divas atziņas manī ataust no jauna un no jauna, lasot un domājot par vecmātes praksi:
1) Piedzīvoju savu vecmātes aicinājumu kā lāstu, no kura nespēju tapt brīva, bet neslēpšu, ka reizēm vēlētos.
2) Nav tādas lietas, kā sistēma, kuru vainot. Un arī citus cilvēkus mēs nevaram mainīt. Lai kaut kas mainītos, vienīgais, ko var mainīt - esam mēs katrs pats. Vienīgais, kurš kaut ko var mainīt - esam mēs katrs pats.
Es ticu katram grāmatā rakstītajam vārdam. Es saprotu un spēju iztēloties daudz no grāmatā rakstītā. Un daudz ko no tā es nevēlos piedzīvot savā dzīvē.
Divas atziņas manī ataust no jauna un no jauna, lasot un domājot par vecmātes praksi:
1) Piedzīvoju savu vecmātes aicinājumu kā lāstu, no kura nespēju tapt brīva, bet neslēpšu, ka reizēm vēlētos.
2) Nav tādas lietas, kā sistēma, kuru vainot. Un arī citus cilvēkus mēs nevaram mainīt. Lai kaut kas mainītos, vienīgais, ko var mainīt - esam mēs katrs pats. Vienīgais, kurš kaut ko var mainīt - esam mēs katrs pats.
April 27, 2023
★★★★ 4 stars
Eye-opening & impactful
I've decided not to have children, but every now and then I'll experience something in my life that would make my brain go 'self, you'll make a fantastic mom' but then I'll be 'but do you want to be a mom?' The answer is, it's not a matter of whether I want it or not, it's whether I can afford it or not.
The Secret Midwife: Life, Death and the Truth about Birth is a highly affecting account of one midwife's experiences in her field. Many of us would go on to a be employed in a job that pays the bill — Pippa isn't one of them. It's not even a job for her, it's a vocation, a mission, and I think that's admirable.
This book had me curious from the very first page until the last and my only gripe about this is I really do wish that this were longer. She recounts the joys and delights of delivering babies and recounts the frustrations and disappointments with the same passion. I'm not going to lie, some of these frustrations got to me too, most infuriating of all were the injustices.
I came from a family of midwives, nurses and allied medical professional. As the spirited grandchild, growing up I was always expected to take up medicine and become the first doctor in the family. Alas, I became the first architect in the family instead. Reading this has made me look back and think what would my life be had I followed their plans for me.
Eye-opening & impactful
I've decided not to have children, but every now and then I'll experience something in my life that would make my brain go 'self, you'll make a fantastic mom' but then I'll be 'but do you want to be a mom?' The answer is, it's not a matter of whether I want it or not, it's whether I can afford it or not.
The Secret Midwife: Life, Death and the Truth about Birth is a highly affecting account of one midwife's experiences in her field. Many of us would go on to a be employed in a job that pays the bill — Pippa isn't one of them. It's not even a job for her, it's a vocation, a mission, and I think that's admirable.
This book had me curious from the very first page until the last and my only gripe about this is I really do wish that this were longer. She recounts the joys and delights of delivering babies and recounts the frustrations and disappointments with the same passion. I'm not going to lie, some of these frustrations got to me too, most infuriating of all were the injustices.
I came from a family of midwives, nurses and allied medical professional. As the spirited grandchild, growing up I was always expected to take up medicine and become the first doctor in the family. Alas, I became the first architect in the family instead. Reading this has made me look back and think what would my life be had I followed their plans for me.
March 31, 2022
Couldn’t put it down. Great storytelling. I suggest those who have not but still want to give birth wait to read!
April 22, 2021
Did not like the writing style, especially first part of book. Sounded like it was written by a teenager. Irritated me but I persevered as I wanted to hear the story.
January 27, 2021
This book was an incredibly moving and powerful book.
I really didn't know much about what being a midwife really means. I had no idea of the pressure and strain midwifes face every day.
The stories in this book ranged from the heart warming to the heart breaking. I had no idea of the variety in the women the midwifes help deliver their babies.
Some of the stories do talk about domestic abuse, still birth, miscarriage and rape which were difficult to read but the care and attention the midwifes give every woman despite their age, culture or background was inspiring.
This book talks a lot about budget cuts and the strains midwifes face because of the changes in the NHS.
Katy talks about her mental health and the stress of the job, which is incredibly brave and inspiring.
Even though this book does kind of put me off wanting children, I definitely recommend if you want to read an honest account of the inspiring hard work midwifes do everyday
TW: FGM, rape, sexual assault, domestic abuse, still birth, miscarriage and depression
I really didn't know much about what being a midwife really means. I had no idea of the pressure and strain midwifes face every day.
The stories in this book ranged from the heart warming to the heart breaking. I had no idea of the variety in the women the midwifes help deliver their babies.
Some of the stories do talk about domestic abuse, still birth, miscarriage and rape which were difficult to read but the care and attention the midwifes give every woman despite their age, culture or background was inspiring.
This book talks a lot about budget cuts and the strains midwifes face because of the changes in the NHS.
Katy talks about her mental health and the stress of the job, which is incredibly brave and inspiring.
Even though this book does kind of put me off wanting children, I definitely recommend if you want to read an honest account of the inspiring hard work midwifes do everyday
TW: FGM, rape, sexual assault, domestic abuse, still birth, miscarriage and depression
September 3, 2025
This is an excellent book and a nice change from other midwifery books - where it seems like everyone needs to be a mother, and the ability to give birth is praised. Pippa takes us through parts of her career as a midwife in the UK, from her first training until when she needs time off work due to burnout. I enjoyed learning about each interesting birth she oversaw. I think that it perhaps paints too rosy a picture of what the "typical" midwife faces, but it does give a great variety of representation in the range of births and supports for parents.
January 10, 2021
This book is absolutely brilliant, I'm a lover of medical books about our NHS but there's a key theme in every single one I read and it's underfunding, overworking and for a place that's designed to care for the health and wellbeing of our population there's is non for the hardworking staff, everytime I read a medical book and listen to the stories underneath every book is a scream for help and our government needs to listen to their screams, I've read things that horrified me in this book, made me angry and made me amazed by the ability of our nhs staff, incredible but difficult read
November 30, 2023
One of the best books I read this year. I love most anything medically related. Midwifery has always been interesting to me as well as the reasons why people choose that option. Throw in some bits about mental health and I am a captive audience. I give high recommendations due to the fact that I don't usually read books set in England and yet here I was enamored.
April 2, 2020
Fantastic book.
Definitely worth reading. It discusses clinical terms in a nice general way for non-medical readers. For the midwives, make sure you have access to lots of tea, biscuits and tissues while you read.
Despite how fantastic it is, as a midwife (not in the nhs.) I found myself having a panic attack after one passage because it just felt so real and it really put into words my fears around litigation and protection by the organisations I work for.
Definitely worth reading. It discusses clinical terms in a nice general way for non-medical readers. For the midwives, make sure you have access to lots of tea, biscuits and tissues while you read.
Despite how fantastic it is, as a midwife (not in the nhs.) I found myself having a panic attack after one passage because it just felt so real and it really put into words my fears around litigation and protection by the organisations I work for.
June 23, 2021
A tough look at how midwives look after their patients whilst their bosses fail to look after them.
February 8, 2024
Interim review at chapter 11.
This book is making me so frustrated. There's so many errors in it e.g. misspellings of really important things like 'incubate' instead of 'intubate' and Sonicade instead of Sonicaid. I would imagine anyone with any obstetric or midwifery knowledge would be equally annoyed. It's hard to have any faith in what's written (particularly when she keeps calling herself an expert all the way through) when there's so many simple errors.
I was particularly horrified in chapter 3 by this exchange:
"Only he hadn’t been kicking much in the last two weeks.’ ‘That’s normal,’ I said. ‘They grow so much in the last few weeks that they sort of run of out room.’"
THIS IS NOT NORMAL, ANY PREGNANT WOMAN EXPERIENCING FEWER FOETAL MOVEMENTS AT ANY POINT IN THEIR PREGNANCY NEEDS TO GET CHECKED OUT! Honestly, this sentence could literally result in someone not seeking advice and an avoidable stillbirth. I'm actually shocked it was left in the book - did no-one clinical review the manuscript?
Additionally, some of the judgement of women coming through (I'm looking at you chapter 5) is really depressing. If the woman doesn't want interventions, maybe find out what's behind it rather than getting the world and his wife to try and "wear her down" to get your own way.
The repeating theme of how great a midwife she is and how everyone tells her how amazing she is comes across as immature. Perhaps not surprising in someone who qualified at age 20. The way that she talks about women and her unwillingness to try and understand their perspective when she doesn't agree with their choices is very revealing.
The rivalry between her and doctors is also a shame, she's at pains to point out how the doctors were wrong and she was right (of course).
Her understanding of FGM and HIV risk from needlesticks is shaky at best.
It's a shame as there are some interesting stories but her attitude and the poor attention to detail/in-depth knowledge about various aspects are disappointing and off-putting.
This book is making me so frustrated. There's so many errors in it e.g. misspellings of really important things like 'incubate' instead of 'intubate' and Sonicade instead of Sonicaid. I would imagine anyone with any obstetric or midwifery knowledge would be equally annoyed. It's hard to have any faith in what's written (particularly when she keeps calling herself an expert all the way through) when there's so many simple errors.
I was particularly horrified in chapter 3 by this exchange:
"Only he hadn’t been kicking much in the last two weeks.’ ‘That’s normal,’ I said. ‘They grow so much in the last few weeks that they sort of run of out room.’"
THIS IS NOT NORMAL, ANY PREGNANT WOMAN EXPERIENCING FEWER FOETAL MOVEMENTS AT ANY POINT IN THEIR PREGNANCY NEEDS TO GET CHECKED OUT! Honestly, this sentence could literally result in someone not seeking advice and an avoidable stillbirth. I'm actually shocked it was left in the book - did no-one clinical review the manuscript?
Additionally, some of the judgement of women coming through (I'm looking at you chapter 5) is really depressing. If the woman doesn't want interventions, maybe find out what's behind it rather than getting the world and his wife to try and "wear her down" to get your own way.
The repeating theme of how great a midwife she is and how everyone tells her how amazing she is comes across as immature. Perhaps not surprising in someone who qualified at age 20. The way that she talks about women and her unwillingness to try and understand their perspective when she doesn't agree with their choices is very revealing.
The rivalry between her and doctors is also a shame, she's at pains to point out how the doctors were wrong and she was right (of course).
Her understanding of FGM and HIV risk from needlesticks is shaky at best.
It's a shame as there are some interesting stories but her attitude and the poor attention to detail/in-depth knowledge about various aspects are disappointing and off-putting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 25, 2024
You couldn't make it up. Absolute insight to why so many staff are leaving the NHS.
A honest account served with integrity.
A honest account served with integrity.
July 11, 2021
Great book, well written & good depiction of a day in the life of a midwife in the NHS & how insidious working in such an environment can be to ones health.
This book will make you laugh out loud and sob with sadness for the people & their loss.
This book will make you laugh out loud and sob with sadness for the people & their loss.
June 4, 2020
I started reading this thinking I'd picked up a psychological thriller, but very quickly realised that was not the case. Now that I've finished it - perhaps my first thoughts were not so far from the truth. In the current Covid climate where I understand there is clapping for NHS workers each Thursday evening, I feel for midwives working under similar circumstances as The Secret Midwife. Clapping doesn't fix anything. Proper funding, staffing and support goes a lot further to do that.
November 2, 2020
Reasonably well written but some awful advice - no, babies absolutely do NOT move less at the end of the pregnancy. If I'm honest, at the risk of sounding harsh, I'm not sure I'd like this midwife near me if I were to have another because of the constant, relentless tragedies. Which may just be there to add drama but doesn't inspire confidence to say the least. It reads like a copy of the far, far superior Hard Pushed - read that instead.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 5, 2020
I really enjoyed this book, I couldn't put it down at some points but I wasn't happy that near the start she said it was normal for your baby to not be moving as much as you nearer the end. That's not true at all and could be potentially dangerous advice if someone at that stage read this and thought it was ok their baby wasn't moving as much as normal and didn't get checked. I'm 36 weeks pregnant reading this and luckily i know it's not true but some mothers won't.
September 29, 2020
Poor midwives! Next time the government recommends budget cuts for the NHS I recommend we chase them with pitchforks.
May 3, 2021
Kādas vecmātes (tās, kura bērniem palīdz nākt pasaulē) stāsts par savu profesiju un Lielbritānijas (te gan varētu būt arī citas valsts nosaukums) valsts veselības sistēmu, kas savas jomas entuziastus - strādājošus cilvēkus dzen izmisumā.
Stāsts par to, kā cilvēks ar patiesu mīlestību pret savu darbu tiek nodzīts līdz depresijai, pakļaujot riskam ne tikai pašus veselības aprūpes darbiniekus, bet arī viņu aprūpējamos. 15 gadu laikā, ko autore pavadījusi savā darbā, pie aptuveni tā paša aprūpējamo skaita, ir divreiz mazinājies vecmāšu skaits un dubultā pieaudzis administratīvais aparāts. Un tas viss līdzekļu taupīšanas rezultātā. Rezultāts gan ir tāds, ka vecmātes ir pārstrādājušās tā, ka maiņas laikā reizēm pat nepagūst apmeklēt tualeti, nerunājot nemaz par kādu kafijas pauzi.
Domāju, ka šis ir aktuāli ļoti daudzām nozarēm. Atmiņā atsauca stāstu par skudru, kura strādāja un pamazām tai apkārt tika audzēts administratīvais personāls, jo kādam taču jāuzrauga un jāskaita, kā skudra strādā, bet tad sāka aptrūkties naudas, jātaupa līdzekļi. Ko darīt? Eu, atlaidīsim skudru?!
Tomēr paralēli tam, lielisks ieskats nozarē, kas ir tik būtiska gandrīz ikvienam, par tās priekiem un neizbēgami arī sarežģījumiem.
Stāsts par to, kā cilvēks ar patiesu mīlestību pret savu darbu tiek nodzīts līdz depresijai, pakļaujot riskam ne tikai pašus veselības aprūpes darbiniekus, bet arī viņu aprūpējamos. 15 gadu laikā, ko autore pavadījusi savā darbā, pie aptuveni tā paša aprūpējamo skaita, ir divreiz mazinājies vecmāšu skaits un dubultā pieaudzis administratīvais aparāts. Un tas viss līdzekļu taupīšanas rezultātā. Rezultāts gan ir tāds, ka vecmātes ir pārstrādājušās tā, ka maiņas laikā reizēm pat nepagūst apmeklēt tualeti, nerunājot nemaz par kādu kafijas pauzi.
Domāju, ka šis ir aktuāli ļoti daudzām nozarēm. Atmiņā atsauca stāstu par skudru, kura strādāja un pamazām tai apkārt tika audzēts administratīvais personāls, jo kādam taču jāuzrauga un jāskaita, kā skudra strādā, bet tad sāka aptrūkties naudas, jātaupa līdzekļi. Ko darīt? Eu, atlaidīsim skudru?!
Tomēr paralēli tam, lielisks ieskats nozarē, kas ir tik būtiska gandrīz ikvienam, par tās priekiem un neizbēgami arī sarežģījumiem.
March 19, 2023
This was a rewarding book to read on several levels. It accurately depicts the stress and dangerous conditions that many health care professionals operate in today and the toll it takes. Primarily it illustrated the midwife and obstetrics situation, but it also applies to mental health settings (both inpatient and outpatient clinical venues) in my experience. I would speculate that extends to all health care particularly with the added COVID challanges. Finally it addresses the unencessary strain added to the cost of patient care due to the need for profit in health care systems. This book was written about the care system of Great Britain, but it is the same imbalance that challenges and destroys health care professionals in the USA.
Pippa shares her own personal and painful experience in that she loves her work, is good at her job, and gets much satisfaction from it as the system she works in overpowers and overwhelms her to the point of jeapardizing her own health & well being. She shows us the details of how much imbalance exists in terms employer demands without regard for the saftey of staff or patients. I am a veteran of the health care industry and would caution anyone not believing her account or not taking it seriously. Her description matches much of my own, and those of my colleagues. I highly recomend it.
Pippa shares her own personal and painful experience in that she loves her work, is good at her job, and gets much satisfaction from it as the system she works in overpowers and overwhelms her to the point of jeapardizing her own health & well being. She shows us the details of how much imbalance exists in terms employer demands without regard for the saftey of staff or patients. I am a veteran of the health care industry and would caution anyone not believing her account or not taking it seriously. Her description matches much of my own, and those of my colleagues. I highly recomend it.
February 10, 2021
I loved this honest review of being a midwife. The whole warts and all birds eye view from the coal face. I found the vivid descriptions of the various births/stitches/blood & meconium made me feel like I was in the room. Brilliant loved it
Made me laugh and cry in equal measures
As a fellow NHS professional (not midwife) I can absolutely believe that this is a true and accurate account of how the whole system works. I know that some trusts are better than others at supporting their staff from first hand experience.
I totally agree that band 7 & 8s should do some actual shifts on the wards. Especially when they know that agency staff are unable to do some roles. AND especially when their own team are short staffed.
All staff should have the opportunity to ask for support without worrying about being viewed as not coping
The sickness policy obviously is not always fit for purpose - but sadly senior staff (bands 7 & 8) don’t actually have any authority to override it when needed as in this case when she was genuinely ill!
Made me laugh and cry in equal measures
As a fellow NHS professional (not midwife) I can absolutely believe that this is a true and accurate account of how the whole system works. I know that some trusts are better than others at supporting their staff from first hand experience.
I totally agree that band 7 & 8s should do some actual shifts on the wards. Especially when they know that agency staff are unable to do some roles. AND especially when their own team are short staffed.
All staff should have the opportunity to ask for support without worrying about being viewed as not coping
The sickness policy obviously is not always fit for purpose - but sadly senior staff (bands 7 & 8) don’t actually have any authority to override it when needed as in this case when she was genuinely ill!
April 22, 2021
Great book. I thought it might be too triggering reading this while pregnant, but it gave me a refreshing take on the midwives' role and commitment to their patients. It does talk about neonatal death and the many things that can go wrong during labour, but it does so with a lot of humanity and compassion. All in all it inclined me even further to trust in my midwives, and even less in the system that is designed to break them. At my 28 week appointment yesterday I asked my community midwife how their staffing levels are doing. She looked me straight in the eye and replied "horrendous". Our NHS Trust was deemed "inadequate" in their last inspection months ago, with staffing levels so low it was considered dangerous, so they've been trying to hire over 60 new midwives! No one wants to be a midwife, she said. No one's applying. And I thought about this book and the snowball effect this chronic understaffing has on their health, their families, their lives and I thanked her for persevering and called her a bloody hero. I hope things turn around one day, perhaps when people wake up and start voting differently. Until then, my deepest thanks to all the known and secret midwives, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed everything goes well with my birth, and my local home birth unit isn't closed for lack of staff yet again!
July 2, 2020
This book reveals the highs and lows of a maternity unit through the experiences of an NHS midwife. “Pippa” describes how she became the youngest midwife qualifying as a midwife and how she has always known she has wanted to help women deliver their babies. She talks about the births she has witnessed and the families she has met along the way. The second half of the book describes how the maternity unit is often (as all NHS staff are) understaffed, over worked and under appreciated, making for a very stressed place to work. Management numbers seem to increase but the midwives on the floor have decreased ✨ This book was a real eye opener. I really enjoyed getting to know Pippa and all of the stories as I’m fascinated by midwives’ roles. I understand how NHS staff become burnt out with the amount of pressure they are under especially with the lack of support from management. 5/5 🌟
December 3, 2022
When I was made redundant ten years age, I fancied becoming a midwife. I’m glad I didn’t, due to the state of the NHS now and all the scandals around childbirth e.g. Shropshire hospitals. This book has intensified my feelings about the role, mainly because of all the management issues and lack of staff nowadays. It must be so hard to be a midwife with all this stress, also knowing that you couldn’t be sick without potential consequences for your job.
I loved all the birth stories more than the management complaints, but really wanted to know what happened to the baby born with potential brain damage . Such a shame the midwife didn’t want to find out.
I loved all the birth stories more than the management complaints, but really wanted to know what happened to the baby born with potential brain damage . Such a shame the midwife didn’t want to find out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2022
Midwife books used to be the big thing thanks to “call the midwife” and this one is similar to those other books shedding a light on the business of child birth.
Through the eyes of a midwife we experience her training and coming to terms with all the usual bits you’d expect (bodily fluids, know it all mothers) and then the change in the way midwives attended to their craft in the face of privatisation and profit chasing in the public health sector.
Through the eyes of a midwife we experience her training and coming to terms with all the usual bits you’d expect (bodily fluids, know it all mothers) and then the change in the way midwives attended to their craft in the face of privatisation and profit chasing in the public health sector.
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