Mrs Sophie Cunningham

Mrs Sophie Cunningham

Senior Lecturer, Midwifery

Welsh language proficiency

Basic Welsh Speaker
Office - 122
First Floor
Vivian Building
Singleton Campus

About

I qualified as a midwife in September 2009 as a graduate of Swansea University, and am really proud to have returned to the University to work as a member of the midwifery teaching team since 2014.

Upon qualifying, I worked briefly with the world renowned Albany Midwifery Practice in Peckham, London, before the contract with the local Healthcare Trust was terminated. This was an ‘initiation of fire’ into the politics of midwifery and although I was very disappointed not to continue in my dream role as a caseload midwife, this experience served to inspire me in a different way and to champion more so for all women to have the choices offered by the practice. I have since had a range of experience in a variety of different roles within midwifery, going on to work for Caroline Flint at ‘The Birth Centre’ in London, before relocating to Melbourne and then Bristol, and then finally returning home to Swansea in 2014.

I have a huge passion for providing students with gold standard teaching and learning opportunities, and completed by PGCert in Education for Health Professionals in 2016. In 2017 I was awarded the Excellence in Learning and Teaching (ELTA) award, following nomination by the student body, which I was so proud to receive.

My passion within midwifery is all about choice – I am passionate about promoting informed choice for women, to aid them in the numerous decisions they will be asked to make throughout their pregnancies, birth and parenting. For me, this starts with excellent education for student midwives, in helping them understand the evidence that guides midwifery practice and empowering them to, in turn, support and empower women in their care. I lead on our award winning student led antenatal education programme, Positive Parenting, delivered in the Health and Wellbeing Academy on campus. As well as providing this free service to the local community, this also gives students an opportunity to work alongside their teachers in a different context, learning and working together.

Areas Of Expertise

  • Normal birth
  • Physiology of birth
  • Hypnobirthing
  • Informed choice
  • Antenatal Education

Career Highlights

Teaching Interests

Normal birth

Physiology of birth

Hypnobirthing

Informed choice

Antenatal Education

Award Highlights