midwifediaries.com

Hi, I'm Ellie, midwife, writer, speaker and online inner-strength finder for midwives in the making. I'm coming back clinically in 2020, find out more here.

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 (recommended!) 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