‘Healing’ birth experience inspires Coventry University midwifery journey

My eldest, Joshua, is now 18 and I had a traumatic birth with him. It was a birth experience that I wasn't really prepared for. I had planned a very low-risk birth and it turned out to be an emergency caesarean section. It left me with a lot of birth trauma but it gave me a lot of empathy and understanding of what people might be going through when their birth plans need to change.

I had a really healing birth with my daughter Madeleine, and I had some amazing care by midwives, which made me think I want to help people too.

When the pandemic hit, my children had all reached an age that I felt I wasn't needed as much at home.

I thought if I don’t train to be a midwife now, then I will never do it. My journey is proof that it is never too late to follow your dreams.

Charlotte Holloway, Coventry University midwifery student

Understand the rigours of the course, make sure you've got good support around you as you will need it.

Charlotte Holloway, Coventry University midwifery student

The diagnosis has helped me to understand myself and why I do things the way I do.

When I started my course I shared my diagnosis and I had an occupational health assessment. Reasonable adjustments were made, I was offered mentoring and counselling and I was linked up with the disability support team.

My advice to anyone who has a neurodiversity is to seek support early on and when you are struggling, speak up. I have had a wonderful academic assessor who, along with my husband Neil and my course mates, have been my absolute rocks. They and the university support have helped me reach this point – soon to be graduating as a qualified midwife.

Charlotte Holloway, Coventry University midwifery student