Mum inspired to become midwife after giving birth
AMUM-of-two young children has embarked on a career as a midwife after being inspired by her own birth experience. Kirsty Johnstone, from Neilston, is juggling her first-year midwifery studies at the University of the West of Scotland with being mum to three-year-old Charlie, oneyear-old Ella, as well as Heidi, their nine-month-old puppy.
The 28-year-old previously worked as a travel agent in Glasgow.
She said: “It was March 2020, and I was 20-weeks pregnant with my daughter when I was furloughed.
“While it gave me the chance to relax a bit and enjoy my pregnancy, it was also an uncertain time both from a job perspective and being pregnant in a world pandemic.”
After her daughter was born, Kirsty started her maternity leave before being furloughed again in 2021.
She added: “I had loved being pregnant both times and had been fascinated with the whole process.
“Holly was my community midwife with Charlie and all the way through with Ella, so we built up a very special bond. I had a water birth, and it was perfect. I was even home after six hours.
“Midwifery was the obvious choice for a new career, and I was delighted when I was accepted onto the master’s course.
“I love it even more than I thought I would. The birth process is incredible, and women just amaze me with their strength.
“How they can be sitting up in bed having tea and toast 10 minutes after pushing out a human being, and there’s a lot less swearing than I thought there would be.”
Kirsty said it’s an “honour” to be supporting women during birth.
She added: “It’s definitely the job for me. It’s so special being part of people’s stories.
“Yes, it’s difficult with Ella and Charlie being so small but I will get there. I enjoy a challenge.”
Dr Claire Chalmers, deputy dean of the School of Health and Life Sciences at UWS, praised Kirsty and all of other student midwives.
She added: “At UWS, we are one of Scotland’s leading providers of midwifery education and are extremely proud of our close partnership working with the NHS, which has enabled Kirsty and so many other UWS student midwives to make a real and positive impact on the lives of mothers and their newborn babies.
“As well as studying, our students spend a lot of their time in clinical practice settings within the NHS as part of their practice learning experiences.
“It is inspiring to hear of Kirsty’s fantastic contribution to the NHS and to new mothers all while she’s still a student.”
The birth process is incredible, and women just amaze me with their strength