Hey, I’m Ellie, midwifery writer, blogger, support giver and unshakable believer in the importance of midwifery.
Hi, I'm Ellie, former practising midwife, writer, speaker and online inner-strength finder for midwives in the making.
I love creating online environments for future midwives that encourage bravery and kindness.
I also have to write fiction to feel complete and my novel 'New Walk' is about growing up fast as a young student midwife.
Training in Leicester was diverse, dynamic and led by super-cool tutors and midwives. I did find bullying sometimes. But working in a birth centre when I qualified was magic and I have life long friends from midwifery.
I was a midwife in New Zealand for a couple of years (reccommended!) and then started my blog, Midwife Diaries.
I also started the Facebook group ‘The Secret Community For Midwives In The Making’ (now 20,000+ members).
Aspiring midwives were asking for help with personal statements and interviews and I found I could help, probably because I love words so much. I now have a small business offering support in these areas.
I’m back in the UK and do talks on midwifery culture at Unis. I also work in one other business which is to do with healthy food.
My first love though is New Walk which I started writing in 2014. I knew I was an amateur - so joined a professional writing group taking criticism and advice and learnt everything I could about storytelling. I got as many midwives and professionals as possible to review New Walk and got good feedback about its ‘realness’.
Then I started sending New Walk to publishers.
When I first heard that Pinter and Martin wanted to offer me a contract I made a noise which made my housemate run into my room thinking I was having some sort of attack. Which I guess I was. Writing is what I’ve wanted to do since I was little.
This is how Pinter and Martin describe New Walk:
‘A profoundly moving coming-of-age story, where midwifery, birth and the decisions life throws at us combine to shape a young woman’s life’.
This is how I describe New Walk:
‘A novel about midwifery, marijuana and abortion but it’s actually quite cheerful!’
I’m writing part two.
It’s set in inner-city Leciester which is where I studied.
I don’t have a typical career but I love it and I think this path will help me make the most difference.
The Kindness Conference:
This was a conference in association with Bradford University on kindness in midwifery. Few people outside the profession know that bullying is a huge issue in midwifery. But it is and it’s something many are starting to address.
I’m not sure where my next adventure with this topic will take me. But you can join the mailing list and you’ll find out.
Personal Statement/Interview Coaching:
Midwife Diaries and the 20,000 strong midwifery group ‘The Secret Community for Midwives in the Making’ are growing fast.
I’ve just trained up a crack team of students and midwives to help with the competitive application process.
For help with your personal statement or midwifery interview, email ellie@midwifediaries.com
Other stuff:
Right now I have my head down writing and not much time for anything else - I do a bit of running and a bit of kettlebell training. Does anyone else think toast with butter and jam is better than cake? That's a question I'm currently pondering, test results being collected.
Also: books, books, books. Email me your favourites on ellie@midwifediaries.com
Questions about midwifery should go to: team@midwifediaries.com
Ellie's highly reviewed 'Personal Statement School'
Click Here
For more details on coaching, including one to one support for interviews and midwifery personal statements, Click Here.
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I love this blog, newly discovered it but looking forward to reading more of your posts. I’m 21 & finally getting around to studying toward my midwifery degree – currently doing a health science bridging course & hoping to get accepted into Wintec’s Bach. Midwifery next year. All the best!
Thanks Lena, sounds like an excellent plan, let me know how you get on, best of luck!
I am an aspiring midwife I hope I can pick up some tips to help me on my way to applying to university 🙂
Thanks, amazing, I did love yours videos and your site.
I still have difficulties with English, but all is almost a dream!
I need to know about opportunities in courses of midwife.
I’m nurse, Brazilian, with a wish, be a midwife, so I’m loving all it ?
Hi Kenia, thanks, that’s lovely feedback! People tell me English is really a hard language to learn. I’m trying to learn Spanish it’s supposed to be an ‘easy’ language, but it’s still really difficult! Do you currently work in Brazil or England? I think you would need to ask universities about your individual circumstances and grades. There is an 18 month midwifery conversion course for nurses, but you may be better off working towards a midwifery degree, depending on your background. There is a link here from one university that might be helpful: http://www.dmu.ac.uk/documents/health-and-life-sciences-documents/nursing-and-midwifery/factsheet02.pdf
let me try that again, haha.
i am a igcse student who aspires to become a midwife. I find it interesting and it seems fun, with great satisfaction. However, i’ve heard that to get into midwifery is very competitive. How will my journey to train as a midwifery be like, briefly? also what grades do i need in order to get into it? thank you in advance
Hi Samira,
Thanks for you comment 🙂
Every university asks for slightly different grades, but to start off with, you would need the equivalent 6 GCSEs, including Bs or at least Cs in English and Maths. I’m pretty sure iGCSEs would be fine. You would then usually need ‘300 UCAS points from a maximum of 3 A levels including at least one of the following subjects at grade B or above: Health and Social Care, Biology, Sports Science, Chemistry, Physics, Psychology or Sociology. (excluding General Studies). A maximum of 40 points can be counted from AS level’ (This is from one fairly typical Uni website – DMU) (Or, obviously, the equivalent in a different type of qualification).
Most applicants get some work experience, you can volunteer, see this link here for more info: http://midwifediaries.com/?s=volunteer
Finally, when you come to apply, you need to write a really brilliant personal statement! There’s loads on this blog on that, have a look around.
As to whether it’s competitive….there are usually 30 applicants per place, but this can be much higher in some areas. A lot of people seem to want to be midwives ? It’s a wonderful, if very challenging job.
Your training will be…um…well try this link to explain! 😉 http://midwifediaries.com/midwife-training-uk/
And this video: http://midwifediaries.com/whats-like-midwife/
If you want just a straight A-Z guide, try my book, which is turning into a bit of a best seller on amazon: http://midwifediaries.com/becoming-student-midwife-book/
I really hope that helps! Good luck and let me know how you get on 🙂
ah right, sorry for the late response but thank you for the reply!! i was just wondering how much you would earn yearly in each stage as a midwife, if you dont mind?
Hi Samira, there’s a good link here that will explain: http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/explore-by-career/midwifery/pay-for-midwives/
They usually start on £21,000 – £22,000 , hope that helps!
Hi there! I think I remember reading somewhere that you studied at DMU? I am planning on applying for 2015 and was wondering if you knew whether the placements were block or if you had 3 days on placement and 2 days in uni each week for example? Also, do you know how many weeks into first year you start placement? Many thanks!
Hi Megan, I did indeed study at DMU, it was brilliant and I can highly recommend that course. Placements were in blocks rather than mixed weeks of study and practice, and I believe we started out in practice within the first three months. I hope this helps, good luck!
Hi Ellie
Stumbled across your website. Studied at DMU with you, however did not finish the training. I have now recently qualified as an Operating Department practitioner. A job that I love and have come to realised much better suited to rather then becoming a midwife. However in not doing my midwifery training i would not have come across this role, and have found that a lot of the knowledge I gained during my training has been of use. (I also worked as a HCA on a delivery suite prior to my ODP training). So there is an alternative path for those of us who do not make it.
Keep up the good work.
Claire
Hi Claire, how lovely to hear from you! I remember you well. I’m really glad your found ODP work, everyone I talk to about working as part of a theatre team seems to find it really satisfying, and I agree, there are lots of different paths available to you once you get involved with the NHS,
Thanks for the encouragement,
Ellie x
Hi Ellie, very helpful blog, keep up the good work, I wanted to ask about the helping with my Personal statement please am having problem getting my education and skills across. thank you
Hi Muna, thanks for the kind words! Re your personal statement, you can find out more information on the service here: http://midwifediaries.com/midwifery-ucas-personal-statement-coaching/. If you’d like to find out more, or to book coaching, you can email me: ellie@midwifediaries.com. Good luck!
Very useful blog, looking forward reading more of your post.
Hi Ellie, I have just come across your website this evening while trying to do some research as have just found out today I have an interview for midwifery degree course at Canterbury Christchurch university. I am still in shock but am over the moon. It was the best Christmas present I could have asked for!!
Congratulations Sarah! That’s fantastic, good luck lady! xx
Thank you! ! Although I don’t know where to start with preparing for the interview! ! ?
I just posted this: http://midwifediaries.com/blog/ Sarah, and also, see this: http://midwifediaries.com/essential-midwifery-interview-questions/. I hope this helps a bit! Perhaps subscribe (if you haven’t already), as more interview stuff will be coming up 🙂 xx
I too spent my early midwifery career in New Zealand. It aught to be a compulsory secondment for midwives before being allowed to practise in the rest of the world. It may be at the bottom of the world, but it is the first in midwifery..
I totally agree Jenny, that would be ace 🙂
As a 30 year old mum on 4 I’m finally preparing to start my ucas application again (11 years after being rejected the first time!). Having had a quick look I’ve seen why I was unsuccessful I’m very much looking forward to receiving your book to help me this time. Keep up the good work!
Thanks so much Sarah! Good luck and have you seen this…?