As a first-year student midwife, I am in the eye of a storm that is brewing within the midwifery field. A dramatic demographic shift is happening with more and more parents opting for C-sections rather than traditional vaginal births or assisted deliveries where doctors are needed. While parents have the right to choose, this trend has created an obstacle for student midwives like myself who must witness a minimum of five vaginal births and 'catch' at least 40 deliveries, including the birthing of the placenta, to graduate.

In some trusts, the C-section rate is as high as 51% and approx 10-15% are assisted by medical instruments, leaving a decreasing number of potential experiences to meet our graduation requirements. It means students are forced to work extra shifts, miss family time, and endure prolonged periods of stress with the weight of graduation hanging above their heads. Some are even facing postponed graduations despite having the knowledge and skillset needed to enter the workforce immediately.

This petition is not just a call for change, it's a plea for understanding and adjusting to the current trends of childbirth that the previous systems fail to recognize. We urge the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) to reconsider the midwifery graduations requirements and give midwifery students a fair and realistic chance to graduate. Your signature signifies your support in creating a brighter future for student midwives across the country. Please sign this petition to stand with us.