I'm a maternity care assistant AMA

[bippetybop]

I'm a maternity care assistant AMA

Do you think a post natal ward is a nice place to be?

What qualifications do you have?

How is your role different to a healthcare assistant? What band is it and what do you do day to day? What things can/can't you do? What progession is there other than doing a nursing/midwifery degree?

What do you do, day to day

I gave birth alone during lockdown 1, and a maternity support assistant got me through it. SUCH a caring and lovely woman. The midwives were fantastic too, but clearly very busy. The MSA had what felt like actual time for me - really caring. If it was you - thanks!

What is your favourite part of the job? And your least favourite?

@PinkPlantCase yes, I think the postnatal wards are a lovely place to work !

@THATbasicSNOWFLAKE I have GCSEs and an NVQ is health and social care. :-)

@Elouera

Whats the pay and hours like?

@Elouera it is band 2. It's the same sort of role as an HCA, but as it's at the maternity hospital it's much more specific to maternity care and you're caring for both mum and baby.

The average day is worked around any Obs that need doing. We do obs on mums 4 hourly or once daily, depending on their circumstances, and babies have obs if they're on antibiotics or depending on their deliveries and their health.
Between obs, we make sure all the women are ok and have everything they need.
Answer any call bells
Collect meals for bed bound patients
Take baby bloods if they are needed
Remove canullas and catheters
Offer feeding support
Make beds
Be on baby cuddling duties if mum needs rest
And so much more that just depends on the day/mothers we are looking after!

There are lots more things you can learn on the job. For example you can learn venepuncture to do adult blood taking.

I think there may be midwifery apprenticeships, but that's not something my hospital offers

@Shortiemyboo see my above comment :-)

@Houdinismum I'm so glad you were well looked after! That's so lovely to hear!
We do definitely give a bit more emotional support at the moment due to women not having their visitors in as much. It's nice to be able to keep mums company for a while :-) we generally have a bit more time than the midwives, so it's really lovely we're able too :-) congratulations on your little one!

@MeadowHay
My favourite part is getting thanked by mums for looking after them. That's when I know I've really made a difference!

My least favourite is when we have a quiet day and there's not much to do. It really makes a 12.5 hour shift drag!

@bamboozer it's band 2 and I work part time hours. Doing 12.5 hour shifts

God you do an awful lot for a band 2! Sounds like a lovely job tho!