Nothing is more rewarding than being a midwife
AS A midwife for more than three decades, I know my profession is undervalued, overworked and poorly remunerated. I have rarely worked with anyone as uncaring and heartless as the midwives described in a study by Edinburgh Napier University (Mail). Quite the opposite. Many midwives will put their families and social life on the back burner to be ‘with woman’, the meaning of the word midwife. We are advocates for women and their families, and use our professional skills and integrity to provide support and care. Sadly, some women will have post-traumatic stress disorder, even for births perceived to be straightforward, and it is imperative they receive support and counselling. With its unsocial hours, midwifery is a vocation not to be entered into lightly and certainly not for financial gain. Midwives look after women from the moment their pregnancy is confirmed until at least ten days post-natally. A rapport is built up, as women are listened to, treated with respect whatever their views and backgrounds and their dignity is protected. The labour and birth are not always conducted by a midwife the woman will know, but we have found from experience that this is often irrelevant when the gold standard of care is given. The first part of my career was spent in obstetric units in Sussex and Surrey where, though the delivery suites were extremely busy, the women were treated professionally, kindly and with respect. I am happy still to be caring for women and their babies at a wonderful birth centre in East Sussex.
ANNIE BLAKE, East Grinstead, W. Sussex.