Why midwifery is the best job in the world

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Being a midwife is the "best job in the world" - according to midwife Karen Lynch.

In 2011, Locally Healthy headed to Warwick Hospital maternity unit to spend time with a recently-qualified midwife, a first-year student midwife and a student mentor.

• Andrea Darnell was already a nurse when she decided to retain as a midwife after the birth of her own children
• Becky Aston is a student midwife from Coventry University and is in the first year of a three-year course
• Karen Lynch, an experienced midwife at Warwick, is Becky's mentor.

There are a number of pathways for midwifery training. An 18-month course is available for qualified nurses, while three-year courses are available for those with no previous nursing experience.  Four-year courses also exist.

This is a hugely rewarding profession for dedicated and focused professionals. Enthusiasm and commitment are two essential qualities: hours can be long and it can be difficult to juggle practical and theory work with home life.