Vimbai Carr studied on the BMidwif Midwifery course at Manchester before going on to a clinical research master’s and now a PhD programme. Here, Vimbai looks back on her journey and explains why she wants to become a midwifery researcher.
I became interested in studying midwifery after a placement on a maternity unit, where I got to witness a birth.
I’d always known I wanted to work in healthcare, but this experience confirmed midwifery was the career for me. I wanted to support mothers through challenging moments. I aspired to be a specialist young parent midwife, and have gained the opportunity to do this among other clinical and specialist roles.
Studying midwifery at Manchester
I chose to study at Manchester because of the Opportunity Manchester Scholarship, or Manchester Access Programme. This programme helped to support students from low-income backgrounds from sixth form college through to university.
I enjoyed doing the Midwifery course at Manchester. The split weeks (half the week in clinical placement and half in university) meant that every week was varied. The split weeks also gave us opportunities to discuss and reflect on practice experiences regularly with peers. It meant I never felt lonely as a student midwife.
I also enjoyed studying at Manchester because of how diverse and multicultural it is as a city. This meant that I cared for women and families from diverse ethnicities during my clinical placements as a student midwife.
Deciding on research
I went into the Midwifery degree intending to practice as a clinical midwife. However, during the midwifery degree, they did a session on midwifery careers and I felt inspired to go in to midwifery research. Everything that we do in midwifery is based on research, and we need more midwives to improve midwifery by conducting research.
My interest in midwifery research and improving care for women and families led me to study a master’s in clinical research. I conducted a study looking at student midwives’ experiences of caring for women from ethnic minorities. There is a need to improve midwifery care for women from ethnic minorities to improve their clinical outcomes.
Working life
Being a Manchester student prepared me well for the world of work. Experience at different hospitals during the course meant that I felt I could adapt to different hospitals when I was looking for a job.
During my first two years, I completed a preceptorship period, where I was signed off on different competencies. This preceptorship period is designed to support newly qualified midwives as they transition from student to midwife. I rotated on to different wards, and also worked in the community. After completing my preceptorship, I went on to apply for specialist roles such as Young Parent Midwife and Practice Education Midwife.
It is hard to pinpoint my best experience as a clinical midwife. No day has been the same, and each role has brought its own excitement. If I had to pick, it would actually be from when I was a student midwife and I attended a home birth in the community. She birthed in a pool, in her living room. It was the most natural and calm experience.
Next steps
I’m currently enrolled on a PhD focused on improving maternal mental health. Although this is at a different university, my experiences at Manchester have inspired me to go further in my midwifery career.
My plans for the future are to carry on into midwifery research and education. Hopefully I can be a lecturer one day, and inspire student midwives to aspire to improve midwifery, whether in clinical, education or research settings.
Learn more about studying midwifery at Manchester.
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