Michelle Tant

It's not the first time I've made this comment but wow, where did that year go since I last wrote on here? And so much has happened in that year too. I completed a PGCert and got a new job, that's fairly big news I guess! I took up a post of Midwifery Lecturer for the University of Brighton last September, bringing to an end my permanent role at my local Trust as a hospital midwife. I feel like I could write a whole post about that transition and probably will sometime (hopefully not in a years time again). I still work monthly short shifts for a few reasons.. one being I love being a midwife and can't imagine not being able to give care in that way. Another is short shifts are SO much better for my physical health, my back got to such a point that I have not been out of pain for over 3 years (and that is possibly a post for another day too - short story however - I found a Chiropractor and it's been amazing). And of course, being in clinical practice while lecturi

(September 2018) Feeling honoured this evening to see my article on the benefits of continuity of mentor in The Practising Midwife Journal ♡ (September 2018 issue)

(July 2018) The criteria for inducing the onset of labour in pregnancy seems to be widening, with the term ‘high risk’ having an increasingly broad net. However one term which has remained steadfastly clinically contraindicated and yet still widely practised, is ‘induction for large for dates (LFD)’. NICE guidance is clear on the issue (NICE CG70 July 2008) : 1.2.10 Suspected fetal macrosomia 1.2.10.1 In the absence of any other indications, induction of labour should not be carried out simply because a healthcare professional suspects a baby is large for gestational age (macrosomic). So first of all, what is large for dates? Clinically speaking it is a baby born with a birth weight of equal to or more than 4kg. This occurs in 2-10% of births in the UK, however, and this is a significant ‘however’, as the diagnosis of macrosomic babies is notoriously variable in sonographic accuracy with a range of 15% to 79%. Furthermore a systematic review of RCTs concluded that there

(June 2018) Last year I cared for a woman who experienced a stillbirth at term. As a result I suffered symptoms of PTSD and required counselling in order to move forward. I came to realise that much of my recovery was tied up in the worry that I was not meant to ‘feel’ in this way. The grief belonged to the mother so why did I feel so bereft. Through the help of a skilled counsellor and a huge amount of reflection, then ultimately through writing this article I was able to untangle some of those feelings. My hope is that in reading this, others will be helped through a recognition that the midwifes grief is a valid, albeit complex process. If this is you, then please do reach out and get the support you need. The article was published as a blog post on my most favourite midwifery journal website The Practising Midwife / All4Maternity, a fantastic comprehensive resource for all birthy types. I recently discovered that the wonderfully brave and courageous woman I supported last

(February 2018) As a breastfeeding counsellor with experience in facilitating breastfeeding antenatal sessions with over 500 partners of potentially breastfeeding mothers I have shifted my focus over the years from simply helping partners to understand the way feeding works, to helping them to visualise what life will be like as a fully involved parent, enabling their partner to have a positive breastfeeding experience as well as helping their babies to receive the optimum nutrition he or she requires. Becoming a midwife however has really opened my eyes to the realities of integrating partners in the early neonatal period. There have been improvements in the involvement of partners throughout labour and birth and many NHS Trusts do allow partners to stay for the first night following the birth of their baby in response to mothers saying they want this to happen. However as midwives, what is our expectation of the level of involvement and why do we think they are staying? It is

(July 2017) I held him for a while Your pain too great to bear his weight But still You wished him held close and so I did His body kept warm against my own and touched his fingers, told you he is beautiful as you looked at me bleakly I held him for a while watching his small face and rosebud mouth so still Willing him to move and stir to life But my will wasn’t strong enough and neither was yours I held him for a while felt your eyes on mine as I looked at his Held him just long enough to remember his face now etched in my mind and still you watched I held you both for a while as the emptiness washed over the three of us And I placed him in your arms while his warmth lingered Watched you breathe him in Sweet fragile boy, too still for life