Folashade is a MSc Enhanced Midwifery Care student. She was practicing as a midwife in Nigeria before she came to City to continue her studies. She wants to improve midwifery care in Africa with the skills and knowledge she has gained from the course.
What were you doing before you came to study at City?
Before coming to City, I was a practicing midwife in Nigeria. I wanted to learn more about midwifery care and really help and support women. My background is mostly in medicalised care, so I want to be able to help women more in the physiological parts too.
What has been your favourite thing about studying this course?
It’s so wonderful being in a classroom full of midwifes from all over the world. We’re all sharing our experiences and learning good practices from each other.
How have you found the teaching and facilities on your course?
The way I learnt previously was very different to how things are done on the course, but it has allowed me to reflect more on my own practices and find ways to apply it.
Where have you been on your clinical placements, and what have you enjoyed most about these experiences?
I was able to go to a birth centre for my clinical placement. I got to see how women are cared for, and honestly, it made me feel like I wanted to be pregnant again. They made women feel proud of motherhood and gave them so many choices in how they can do things.
Where I’m from women are only allowed to give birth in one position, and have to stay in the position once they reach the active phase of labour; but these women were allowed to move around and be free, which was very empowering.
How will these experiences help you with your future career?
Being on the course has enhanced my understanding and ignited my passion for midwifery. The woman you are caring for is autonomous and should therefore have a choice in how she wants to give birth.
As a midwife, you are able to support this by following her wishes, which leads to positive results. I really want to take this knowledge and practice back to Africa because women don’t have autonomy, instead they just follow the doctors orders. The skills
I’m learning from this course are going to save many women from medical intervention, especially from caesarean sections.
What would be your advice to anyone considering studying this course?
I would advise people to apply. When I was thinking about applying there were issues around finances, but once I started the course I knew it was worth every penny.
If you want to move forward and change the way of things are, especially in Africa as a midwife, you need to acquire knowledge; this course has definitely prepared me to make a change.
Knowledge is power!