Gemma started midwifery training in 2005, became a mum herself just a year later and qualified as a midwife in 2007, beginning her career at Hull Women and Children’s Hospital. She was a rotational midwife, working in all areas of midwifery including the antenatal ward, delivery and post-natal ward, until 2017 when she became one of the core midwives on Maple Ward, the hospital’s antenatal ward.
She is now Junior Sister on Maple Ward and also supports her colleagues as a professional midwifery advocate, sharing career or education advice, supporting them with any difficulties they face and helping them find their voice.
No two days are the same for Gemma. “A typical day entails either running a busy induction of labour clinic, co-ordinating the antenatal ward or caring for those having elective caesarean sections,” she said. “Every day is different and can be challenging but I enjoy the variation in roles.”
For Gemma, the best part of her job is supporting families. “It’s knowing that you made a difference in their care – this means so much.”
The hardest part is when a pregnancy doesn’t go to plan and there’s an unexpected outcome. “Delivering bad news is difficult and heart-breaking,” she said. “But we have an amazing team who are empathetic and strive to give the best possible care in the most difficult of circumstances.”
LOUISE COOPER
COMMUNITY MIDWIFE IN BRIGG
Working as a Community Midwife, Louise Cooper will never forget helping one family following a traumatic first pregnancy.
“One of the most special memories I have is supporting a woman and her family from her booking appointment throughout her whole pregnancy and in a beautiful birth at home, just as she had planned, after a traumatic time in her first pregnancy,” Louise said. “It was great for her and for me to see a woman through her whole pregnancy experience, building a great bond and resulted in a great experience of birth.”