Many midwifery educators wrestle with questions of credibility once they step away from hands-on clinical work (Gray et al 2023). ‘When did you last deliver a baby?’ can strike unexpectedly deeply. This reflective piece explores how credibility extends far beyond the most recent birth supported, encompassing evidence-based knowledge, reflection and the transformative learning that occurs in education itself. Drawing on my own transition from clinical practice to academia, I discuss the tension between maintaining relevance and following one’s passion for teaching, and propose ways to reframe what credibility means, both for educators and for the students who look to them for inspiration.