Just a Midwife - a midwives journey in cutting the cord to survive.

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Summary

Ever wondered what it’s like to deliver a baby in a toilet, dodge a pit bull mid-homebirth, or hold a grieving mother through the heartbreak of a stillbirth? In Just a Midwife, an NHS midwife with eight years of grit and heart, pulls back the curtain on midwifery's chaotic, joyous, and gut-wrenching world. This 80,472-word memoir is a rollercoaster of humour, raw emotion, and unfiltered truth, perfect for fans of Hard Pushed and This Is Going to Hurt. From a feral childhood marked by dyslexia and a mother’s bipolar disorder, she fought her way into university to study midwifery, battling anxiety and self-doubt. With sweaty palms and a knack for mishaps—like snapping gloves or missing deliveries—she transformed into a midwife who thrived in chaos. Through vivid tales, she shares the thrill of catching babies in triage, the terror of cord prolapses, and the hilarity of partners’ “ingenious sperm” boasts. Yet, the poignant chapter “Tiny, Ink-Stained Feet” reveals the profound pain of loss, offering solace to those touched by childbirth trauma. More than a personal journey, Just a Midwife exposes the NHS’s struggles—staff shortages, COVID-19’s toll, and inadequate mental health support—while celebrating the camaraderie of “The Madwives” and the resilience of mothers. Her candid voice, peppered with laugh-out-loud moments (think “hands-up vaginas” and quirky “alien friend” computers), makes medical chaos accessible and human. Footnotes demystify jargon, inviting everyone into her world. As she navigates emergencies, systemic flaws, and her own depression, she emerges as a beacon of hope, proving that courage and connection shine even in life’s messiest moments. Her partnership with SANDS (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society) underscores the memoir’s call for empathy and reform, resonating with healthcare workers, patients, and memoir lovers alike.