So I started work at the beginning of November, we are now in December. I have been a member of the substantive staff now for a little over a month. I have had lots of study days to attend, and have been non supernumerary for about two weeks now. It's tough though, really tough. The transition from student to midwife is unlike anything I have ever experienced. As a student, you are with a midwife all the time. Yes you may on occasion split the work load between you but you are always overseen by a qualified midwife. Suddenly, two weeks ago I went from preceptee to midwife. To say it was a shock to the system was an understatement. Trying to remember when medications are due, baby observations that need doing, mummy observations, getting water or food, contacting doctors, arranging baby checks, discharge talks and paperwork, documenting what you have done for that woman and her baby whilst in your care, breastfeeding support, getting women up after a Caesarean section. The list is endless, you really have no idea what you're walking into on your shift. Every single shift is different. Suddenly I am making decisions for myself about women, about their care. My colleagues have been incredibly supportive in my endless 'what would you do' questions.
When I was one of those women on a maternity ward I had absolutely no idea how much work us midwives had to do. To me, back then, just seemed like they were sitting around at computers as opposed to caring for me. What I didn't know then is that you get just a screenshot of what is going on in that ward at that moment. They could be waiting for return call for an obstetric review because one of their women has dangerously high blood pressure, maybe one of their babies is poorly and they're speaking to the paediatric team about transferring the baby to the special care baby unit. They could be sat at that computer because they have three discharges to put through and although mum is very nice, dad is getting frustrated because it's taking so long and they just want to go home.
I love caring for women and their babies and yes ok maybe I take a little longer to help that mum of three hand express some colostrum for her sick baby in SCBU, or assist that first time mum to the bathroom after her Caesarean section so she can have a shower. I have good days and bad days, but I like to remember that I've only been doing this on my own for a little over two weeks and, actually, I'm not at all bad at my job.
