In this article Jainaba Hughes, a first year Student Midwife at the University of Birmingham highlights the vital role of community and connection within midwifery education, emphasising that student midwives face both emotional and academic challenges throughout their training. Jainaba explores how peer support, mentorship, and kindness can transform these experiences, improving wellbeing and resilience. Focusing on the development of a student-led midwifery society, she argues that fostering supportive communities is essential in shaping confident practitioners and strengthening the future of the profession.
Midwifery is often described as a profession built on care, compassion, and connection. From the very beginning of our training, student midwives are taught the importance of building trusting relationships with the women and families they support. However, something that is sometimes spoken about less openly is the importance of those same values within our own student community.
Becoming a student midwife is both a privilege and a challenge. It is a journey that is as emotionally demanding as it is academically rigorous. Students must navigate complex clinical environments, adapt to long and often unpredictable shifts, and balance placement learning with university expectations. Alongside this, they are also developing their professional identity, learning not just what midwives do, but what it means to be a midwife. Within this, it is not uncommon for students to experience moments of self-doubt, pressure, and emotional fatigue. Yet, equally, there are moments of profound connection, pride, and purpose; experiences that reaffirm why this path was chosen in the first place. It is within this contrast that one thing becomes increasingly clear: midwifery is not a journey that can, or should, be undertaken alone.
Community plays a vital role in shaping the student experience. Peer support, shared understanding, and open conversations can transform what might feel like an overwhelming experience into one that is manageable, and even empowering. Often, it is the small acts — a conversation after placement, a reassuring message, or simply knowing that someone else understands — that make the greatest difference.
Support also extends beyond peer relationships. Lecturers provide guidance and encouragement, helping students navigate both academic and professional challenges. Midwives in practice play a crucial role in mentorship, offering not only clinical teaching but also insight, reassurance, and role modelling. Importantly, the women and families that students care for can also be a powerful source of learning and inspiration, often reminding us of the impact and purpose behind our role. At the heart of all these interactions lies kindness. Kindness is a core principle of midwifery care, yet it is equally important that it is extended within student communities. In a demanding and high-pressure environment, kindness towards one another (and towards ourselves) can significantly influence wellbeing, confidence, and overall experience. Recognising the importance of connection and support, student-led initiatives such as midwifery societies are becoming increasingly valuable. These spaces offer more than academic enrichment; they create opportunities for belonging, collaboration, and shared growth. Through events, peer support, skills sessions, and open dialogue, societies can foster a culture where students feel seen, supported, and empowered.
The recent establishment of our Midwifery Society at the University of Birmingham, reflects this growing recognition of the need for community within midwifery education. As a newly created, student-led initiative, our aim is to build a supportive and inclusive space where we can come together not just as students, but as a community. We wanted to create something that goes beyond the classroom, a space where we can share experiences openly, support one another through challenges, and celebrate the journey together. Through our society, we hope to offer opportunities for connection, whether that is through peer support, collaborative learning, guest speakers, or simply creating a safe space to talk. More than anything, we want to foster a culture where kindness is at the centre, where everyone feels welcome, valued, and supported. More broadly, initiatives like this highlight an important shift within midwifery education; a move towards recognising that student wellbeing and peer support are not supplementary, but essential. By fostering strong, compassionate communities, we are not only improving the student experience but also shaping the future of the profession itself.
The way student midwives are supported during their training has a lasting impact. It influences confidence, resilience, and, the care we go on to provide. When we are nurtured within environments that prioritise kindness, collaboration, and connection, we are more likely to carry those values forward into practice. Midwifery is, at its core, about supporting others through some of life’s most significant moments. As students, learning to support one another with the same compassion and care is equally important. In doing so, we create not only stronger individuals, but a stronger, more connected profession.
Jainaba Hughes, Student Midwife, University of Birmingham
May 2026
