A Real midwife
The other night at work I was trying to explain to my coworker who is a Nurse how there’s a hierarchy that exists among Midwives. I first worked with Midwives in 2010 when I was studying to become a Nurse and spent one summer as an assistant Nurse in the Delivery ward. I remember how I noticed it back then already. The Midwives in the Delivery ward had a certain focus: anything and everything that happened during birth. Once the baby was out and the adrenaline of those first moments started to wear off they seemed to disengage. They left us assistant Nurses to help out with breastfeeding, something I had zero training to do. And when it didn’t work they just shrugged and said “They will have to figure that out in the Postnatal ward.” This is when I decided that when I become a Midwife I want to be knowledgeable in breastfeeding and took a specific course in this when I was done with my Nursing studies.
Pindard’s stethoscope - the tool of the Midwife
When I did my Midwifery training the Midwives in the Delivery ward would always push for us to work in the Delivery ward. The arguments were many; “If you wait you’ll be too scared to do it later on.” or “This is where you learn to become a real Midwife.” I’ve also heard Midwives say it’s a waste for Midwives to work with postnatal care. And because it has become less valued in many places Midwives have been replaced with regular Nurses. This of course affects breastfeeding rates and other things that are a part of the Midwifery training. And since the Midwives can be replaced by Nurses it’s almost like colleagues feel like it’s less important work if you choose to work in the Postnatal ward. In the Delivery ward though Nurses can’t replace Midwives, and there the Midwives are in charge. Since the Midwife is responsible for pregnancy and birth on their own (with support of doctors when needed) in Sweden it’s the place where Midwives never can be replaced. And birth is at the heart of Midwifery, so of course it’s the “best” place to work.
I think it’s sad that postnatal care isn’t valued enough. It is in the Postnatal ward the new parents become parents and learn so many new things in a few short days. They get support in parenting, through the huge life change that bringing a new human into this world is and sometimes help to start processing a difficult birth experience. Working postnatally you need knowledge, patience and compassion. You have to see who is in front of you and how to support them moving forward. I don’t think it’s very different from working in prenatal care or with birth. It is all Midwifery and it is all important. I think it’s sad to hear who is more or less valued in our profession as we are all needed. But I can really feel the difference between being a Midwife in the Delivery ward and being a Midwife in the Postnatal ward and how it is perceived by our colleagues. I hope over time the work that Midwives do outside the delivery ward will be valued more and appreciated more. Like one of my mentors said “Anyone can catch babies.” but Midwifery is so much more than that.
