What’s a regular working day like as a midwife during the pandemic?
Jadesola: In the clinic, it consists of wiping down the desk, wearing a mask, calls, walk-ins, seeing walk-ins. In the labour ward, it’s scrubs on and wear a mask, spending twelve hours providing care for patients and family. You sometimes have two patients to be looking after, it depends on the history.
Memuna: No day is the same and when we go into work, we don’t expect it to be. Due to the vulnerability of patients, it is very busy and varied. There is also a huge amount of support on-hand from colleagues.
Phinah: It’s varied depending on the activity going on in the ward. In the pandemic, I find myself working more on the clinic to support my colleagues not only in regards to quality improvement, professional devotement and corporate resolution, but I’m also more clinically involved.
What do you love most about your job?
Jadesola: I love the diversity of it – I see women from all walks of life. So, one minute I’m looking after a woman who’s on her seventh child then the next I’m providing care for a primary school teacher, so the conversations are always full of laughter and tips – just genuine conversations. I also love the impact I have over other people’s lives, so years after deliveries I still get messages from women who still remember my name so it’s quite beautiful in that respect.
Memuna: Helping be a voice for the less-heard voices of the community. To make sure everyone is receiving the same care as the normal population. It’s the feeling every day that you’ve helped someone. I also enjoyed coming into work since the beginning of the pandemic because I was still carrying on as the world had stopped so the state of the world moves on faster – and the traffic is better!
Phinah: Being there for the women. In my new role this might look different because I’m supporting a lot of my colleagues to be there for the women, so empowering them with guidance. My ultimate desire or passion is to ensure the women receive the care they deserve and that they have the best experience during their delivery, that they remember it for the rest of their life as a positive experience.