A Day in the Life of a Student Midwife: Bekki
Hi, my name is Bekki, and I am a second-year Student Midwife at Teesside University. So far, my midwifery journey has had its fair share of ups and downs. Being a mum of two and adjusting to juggling home, university, and placement life has been hard, but it has also been so rewarding and I tell myself every day that it will all be worth it in the end.
A highlight for me has been the amazing experiences I’ve had—seeing beautiful families at the start of their new chapters. Being part of those special moments will always be an honour for me! I’ve also met some incredible friends, ones who I know will be by my side forever.
Midwifery is such a hard course, and it can be difficult for those not in the field to understand the unique challenges that come with it. That’s why having a supportive group of people who can relate to your experiences is essential!
One of the main challenges I’ve faced has been organisation. Balancing university work, revision, placement, and being present as a mum has really challenged my time management—something I’m still working on every day. Additionally, some placement experiences have been emotionally challenging, but they’ve reinforced the importance of mental well-being and self-care for me.
I really enjoy anything to do with positivity and mindset, and the ShinyMind app is something I have been following for a while now. It is a mental health and well-being app that has been co-designed with the NHS and is proven to reduce stress and anxiety. When I saw that they were expanding their app to a Student Edition, I was keen to explore and see what this entailed.
ShinyMind has worked alongside universities and student nurses and midwives to develop a new edition of the app to help navigate university life as a nursing and midwifery student. The student edition features resources that can help students handle the pressures of studies, exams, and placement, as well as having the confidence to speak up, a student survival toolkit, looking after YOU, and so much more! The range of resources offers something for everyone, helping you face challenges and empowering you during your university journey. And this is in addition to the amazing resources already available on the Nursing Version, including masterclasses you also have access to!
My top three Student LifePacks are Mental Wellness, which is my favourite—I feel all the resources in there, including mindset, kindness, and the gratitude board, are my go-to’s. They allow me a little more self-compassion when it’s needed. I love how they give an overview of each resource as well as the science behind it and how it works.
The Sleep Well LifePack is another one of my favourites. After an intense day of learning or a 12-hour night shift, when all the day’s activities are bouncing around in my head—all the things I have learned, things I need to remember, or things to add to my to-do list—the Sleep Well resources really help me unwind and support me in ways that allow me to switch off and get that much-needed rest.
Finally, the “Had one of those days?” Student LifePack is a great place to offload, whether that is journaling or reflecting on a positive or negative experience. This is a good section to get everything off your chest, especially for those who may not have someone they feel they can talk to. Depending on the resource you use, they ask you guiding questions to help you write how you are feeling, and I especially like that at the end of the questions, you can choose to keep what you have written to reflect on at a later date or wash it away from your thoughts.
I have the app on both my phone and university iPad, so wherever I am, I can easily access the resources I need at the time to support my needs. Whether I am sat on my break or on the sofa, I can sit, read, and reflect on how I am feeling with the support of Shiny Mind.
The app has been hugely impactful for me—not just as a student, but in general life too! I have picked up many well-being skills, from Box Breathing to realising the importance of reflection—something that is a huge part of midwifery training—and I always come away from the app with a positive mindset. I believe that this would be a great asset to any university as a resource for all students to use and have access to. The resources are so helpful and relevant, and with the community section of the app, it means that if others in your university cohort have the app, you can send them supportive messages via the app too!
Thanks for reading!
Bekki