When the Loose Women met #TeamESTH’s Anne Okonkwo
On Friday 22 December's episode of ITV’s Loose Women, presenters Nadia Sawalha and Judi Love spend time with the maternity team at Epsom Hospital.
Nadia and Judi had the opportunity to be midwives for the day, shadowing Andrea Cox and Anne Okonkwo. They saw what the job was like, witnessed a c-section, and heard from the team about their career journeys.
Anne Okonkwo, midwife at Epsom Hospital, pictured above in the light blue scrubs, was filmed on the day and was interviewed by the Loose Women. We caught up with her about her career…
· How long have you been a midwife?
I have been a midwife for the past 14 years. I was a nurse before this for around five years.
· What inspired you to get into a career in midwifery?
My mother was pregnant with my youngest brother, I was 13 at the time, so once I got over the initial shock that my parents had had sex!! I started to read up on pregnancy.
My mother was given the old-fashioned pregnancy books and I started reading that and grew incredibly curious. I then went on to do a GNVQ (General National Vocational Qualifications), which is now the equivalent of a BTEC or vocational GCSE, in Health and Social Care. I then went to university to do my Nursing Diploma.
· For anyone considering becoming a midwife, what advice would you give them?
It truly is a privilege to be a midwife, I treasure my vocation and I know that each shift, although challenging, is worthwhile.
To any future midwives, I would say for them to create stamina. Midwifery is long hours, it can be calm one minute and then critical the next.
Having supportive people around you, both colleagues and family, helps to support you in the mammoth role that you are undertaking being a midwife.
· What attracted you to midwifery at Epsom Hospital specifically?
I previously was a coordinator at Watford General Hospital. I loved the Trust, but it was very busy and I wanted to be able to give more of the personal touch of maternity.
I live around the Epsom area and they needed coordinators. I applied and I was successful. It was the best thing I have done in my career as yet.
As it is a smaller unit we give more individualised care and ultimately the women truly appreciate this.
· What was it like meeting Judi, Nadia, and the Loose Women team?
I’d like to turn that back around and ask them, how did they feel meeting our FABULOUS midwives!! All jokes aside, it was great. It brought a joyful energy for the day and we were busy so it drove us for the rest of the shift. They are welcome anytime.
If you’re a midwife interested in a role at our hospital, take a look at the opportunities we have available at: http://jobs.epsom-sthelier.nhs.uk/#!/job_list/s1/Nursing_Midwifery?_ts=1
If you are interested in training to become a midwife, visit the NHS health careers website at: https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/midwifery/studying-midwifery
