The Reality of Midwifery Burnout, Why I Left and What I Discovered

Lisa Hanna

Published on: 12/05/2026

After years working as a midwife within the NHS maternity system, I made the difficult decision to leave midwifery behind. In this blog, I share the emotional reality of burnout, birth trauma, and the pressures facing maternity services today — alongside why I now believe birth preparation, hypnobirthing, and informed support are more important than ever. From a midwife’s perspective, this is an honest reflection on the experiences that changed my career forever and inspired the creation of Pregnancy Birth Beyond.