Reflective practice is, in its simplest form, thinking about or reflecting midwifery practice. It is closely linked to the concept of learning from experience, in that you think about what you did, and what happened, and decide from that what you would do differently next time. Thinking about what has happened is part of being human. However, the difference between casual ‘thinking’ and ‘reflective practice’ is that reflective practice requires a conscious effort to think about events and develop insights into them.

The purpose of reflecting on your midwifery practice is to build a better understanding of your professional actions, and to develop professionally by using this knowledge to modify and adapt practice. It also assists you to demonstrate your competence to practice in relation to the Scope of Practice and Competencies for Entry to the Register of Midwives.