Hard Pushed

It's said that when we read we get an injection of empathy, which I believe, I certainly go ta hefty dose from reading Hard Pushed by Leah Hazard. It's a really thought provoking and important book, that once again had me feeling so grateful to those who work for our fabulous NHS. They really do get pushed to extremes and we would be absolutely lost without them.

Leah left her career in television to work as a doula before making the leap to midwife. In her book, she tells us about some of her memorable patients while also explaining the difficulties faced by midwives. Their long shifts are often without breaks and Leah tells how many many midwives walk about of the job beaches of the stress and anxiety. She herself recalls as time when she was so ill and so full of anxiety she had to leave the hospital at the start of a shift.

Midwives get to see some of the most joyous moments of our lives but they are also there to support the women who go through unimaginable pain, suffering and heartbreak. They miss moments of their own family's lives to help women when they most need them. When I consider the long hours, the backbreaking tasks and the stress levels they are subjected to, I can say for certain, I could not do their job.

My journey to motherhood was long and difficult, with the heartbreak of miscarriages along the way. Thankfully we were eventually blessed with twins. I was a little worried that this might make for a tough read but Leah has handled it all with great sensitivity.

I have a couple of friends who are midwives and mums and having read this, I'm blown away by them. So I just want to say a big thank you to Leah and all other midwives for the amazing work you do.

Thank you so much to Hutchinson Books for my gifted copy, I read it in a night and really enjoyed it. Hard Pushed is available in hardback now.