I would say on Kings' labour ward it is rare to have a really quiet night and is perfectly possible to deliver 2-3 babies a shift, and have to do cannulation/administer iv drugs/suture a perineum/resuscitate a baby/pull the emergency buzzer (and the rest.... 12.5 hours is a long time!) .
Of course, she's not getting as much experience as someone working say 3 shifts a week, but it is pushing it to say she's becoming deskilled. And actually you only have to do 150hrs a year to stay on the register (which equates to about one shift a month). I'm not a fan but I equally don't like people dismissing and doubting a midwife's knowledge and skill base when they don't really have any experience themselves in that field.
Not dismissing and doubting a midwifes knowledge at all. And of course during a shift you could deliver several babies, particularly in the busy hospitals.
I am however suggesting that this woman’s career is as an influencer. She is not trying to further herself as a midwife, it’s no longer her passion like it was in the early days. She works one shift a week as a midwife and 3-5 days as an influencer. I haven’t said she’s ‘deskilled’, however she’s being asked to speak as a midwife and using it to gain fame and attention but it’s as part time as possible. Often she’s away on Mondays on her holidays or events. So it really is minimum monthly hours.
Her books were terrible. Absolutely terrible. I bought the first one as a gift and it was shockingly bad.
And yes I have had experience of the profession and if I was in that area due to give birth I would refuse her as my midwife and ask for another. I don’t think she is doing the profession any favours. But I don’t think that’s her aim so I’m sure she really wouldn’t care what was said on here.
Her post was good though and so was FOD’s last post.