Today (Friday 5 May) marks International Day of the Midwife and offers a real opportunity to stop, pause and reflect about the wonderful work which midwives do around the globe every single day.
Midwives at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary touch the lives of over 6000 families every year as they support them through every stage of their birthing journey.
Here we talk to just one of our hundreds of dedicated midwives from Newcastle Hospitals.
Liana Weatheritt is a rotational midwife at the RVI’s Maternity Unit. She says her favourite part of the job is the close relationships she forms with the families she cares for in such a short space of time and feels privileged to play a small part in one of their most memorable life events.
Liana says: “As a rotational midwife, I am lucky enough to get to be a part of a woman’s journey from conception right through to postnatal care.
“This means I work across the pregnancy continuum and spend a large portion of my role caring for women and their babies in labour and if I’m very lucky I get to deliver these babies too.”
Liana says she took “the scenic route” to becoming a midwife beginning her career as a maternity support worker in the antenatal clinic and fetal medicine department.
She continues “From there I went on to train to become a nurse and worked on the gynaecology ward before completing my midwifery diploma and qualified as a midwife in 2019.”
She says if anyone is thinking of pursuing a career in midwifery then to go for it.
What could be better than welcoming new life into the world?
Rotational midwife Liana Weatheritt
An honour and privilege
Jane Anderson, Director of Midwifery at Newcastle Hospitals said: “Midwives are honoured to have such a privileged position – playing a vital role throughout what it often a lifechanging experience and sharing every step of the way with those they are caring for when at their most vulnerable and emotional.
“Our amazing midwives take great pleasure, working as part of a strong, supportive team to help families welcome their new arrivals into the world and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank each and every single one of my colleagues.
“Despite the continuing challenges and pressures our teams work under, everyone remains committed to providing the highest standards of compassionate care wherever possible, whilst seeking better and more innovative ways to support our patients.
“It’s so important to reflect on the incredible difference our midwifery staff make for thousands of families every year and they all make me so very proud. Once again I send my heartfelt thanks to all our staff and the families they are dedicated to caring for.”
