Heartbeat: Are you free at 3?

June 23, 2020

With life moving at what can sometimes feel like the speed of lightning, it’s essential to take time out. Now, more than ever, we all need to find time to relax, reflect and recharge our batteries to help maintain our physical and mental wellbeing. Recognising this, Charlie Ammerlaan, Serenity Midwife and Professional Midwifery Advocate has set up 3@3 sessions.

3@3 sessions have been designed by Charlie to allow midwifery and medical teams to come together at 3pm for three minutes. Anyone is welcome to take part in the meetings that are designed to promote mindfulness through guided meditation.

Charlie explained: “Our minds can sometimes be so occupied with worrying about things that it can sometimes be difficult to see the woods for the trees.

We use 3@3 to meditate, not to be professionals, mothers or relatives, but to just be. I lead the sessions and colleagues are invited to sit and let their minds stop for a moment. The purpose of these sessions is to give the mind a break and to allow everyone to take three minutes to just breathe.”

Sessions take place at least five times a week and are open to colleagues that work evening shifts. This is important to Charlie as she wants sessions to be as inclusive as possible. She told us: “Research has shown that by just taking as little as three minutes there are significant changes to blood pressure, heart rate and neural patterns. I work a mixture of patterns which means colleagues that work in the evenings can also benefit from practising mindfulness techniques.”

Rosie Day, Midwife has been attending the sessions and told us: “3@3 helps to ground you during a busy shift. At the end of three minutes, you can visibly see and sense some stress has been lifted from colleagues. I like that everyone participates regardless of their job roles. It gives a real sense of unity to meditate together.”

3@3 also feeds into Charlie’s role as a Professional Midwifery Advocate (PMA). She revealed: “The PMA supports midwives in their clinical practice, to provide restorative clinical supervision; advocacy and support quality improvement activities and education.

“I invite open conversations, either individually or as a group. The purpose of the restorative sessions is to provide a safe environment for colleagues’ to explore their thoughts and feelings. It’s a completely confidential service – anyone can speak to me in my capacity as a PMA.”