Midwifery angels

Well I said I’d let you know how I got on with that full nights sleep... I’m afraid the birthing goddesses had other ideas. Bed at ten, asleep by half past. Woken at 11 by hubby ‘sneaking’ in after a few beers - I’m sure the “shut the *#^* up” I muttered was said with real warmth though. Then I was phoned at midnight for my next birth.

It was a long and quite mentally taxing night then at 7am after baby had arrived I had to call for a saviour. A midwifery angel came swooping in, thanks to a new service that we’ve only had for a couple of years, a service that is saving midwives lives and mental health and probably the odd marriage as a result. We local midwives have a system where we can post on a private whattsapp if we need help. Most of us tend to wait until the baby is born but then get help with the two hours or so of breastfeeding support, clean up and admin that comes next. It’s time enough to have a short rest before the rest of your day takes over.

The trouble with community midwifery is that there is no way to keep normal hours. We do our clinic visits during the day, then race around after our own kids, dinner, washing and all that wonderful and maddening parenting biz, along with the not so wonderful household chores. Then it’s the phonecall for a pre labour assessment at 8pm. Home by 10pm. Called for actual labour at 1am. Up all night and still have appointments with clients the next day that you will try to bump but can’t always. This is why I take a small caseload, there’s too much driving in my area and I would fall asleep at the wheel.

So after much campaigning about midwives pay and expectations (don’t worry I won’t rant on again about the on call 24/7, 365 days a year, no sick leave bizzo right now, but no doubt I will mention it again soon 😉) the government decided to pay a ‘second midwife fee’ for fatigue, family emergency or medical emergency. Even they couldn’t swallow the example of the midwife who had to continue supporting a woman through her labour while she was miscarrying her own baby. That story like nothing else hits home that the system meant there was NO ONE ELSE to take over if you needed it. There is no “calling in sick”. Now at least there is an option - as long as someone is available. And only for labour, not to cover your clinic. But it’s better than the nothing we had. The mental difference this makes to your work is huge. Knowing there is an option of help if needed for fatigue (and the saviour will actually get paid for it) has made all the difference to us. I don’t use it often. But knowing it’s there gets you through. As does drive through MacDonald’s and hospital toast 😬.

I don’t know the angel that replied to my message at all really, beyond a smile and head nod at the odd meeting. She just replied that she’s be there in 30 mins - did I want coffee and toast? Then she bustled me out the door real fast and sent me home to bed. I felt all nurtured and wrapped up!

I’ve now had three emergencies in a row, the shoulder dystocia I talked about, then another client had a stressful end to her labour requiring a difficult ventouse and forceps birth in theatre with all the bells and whistles imaginable. Next up was a baby who was respiratory depressed and required resus, taking five minutes to breathe on his own. Then within ten minutes he was back with mum and not a problem since. Such intense highs and lows on the adrenaline front!

I napped all day yesterday once I stumbled home, then had 11 hours sleep last night. I only woke once thinking the phone was ringing. It wasn’t. But I still got that unneeded adrenalin rush. I finally feel normal again today although in a bit of brain fog.

There is only one client to go for September now. Three September’s and an October client all birthed in the same week. Why do they always all come together? It’s not even a full moon! Twice I pushed the big red emergency bell, twice I called in the second midwife service. These are both things that usually wouldn’t even happen once a year!

So bad things coming in three’s are all sorted. I should be good now.

Now it’s Sunday morning, an absolutely stunning bluebird day, the blossoms are out and life is rosy again. I’m off to visit my postnatal clients that birthed this week and then hopefully this afternoon I get to see my horse and fill my cup. I’ve hung out a load of washing so domestic goddess is ticked (it’s a low threshold 🤣). The family are at the mountain snowboarding, husband informs me that next weekend he is taking me away to a secret location. This never happens! I am the holiday organiser, so I’m quite excited - it better be good -no pressure! Can you also include the horses and the dog? And blue cheese. Make sure you remember the cheese!!!!