Diary of a midwife
By The Wireless.
Distressed about their workloads and pay, why are midwives? One city-based midwife detailed her week of 2am phone calls, breastfeeding problems, and 5am dashes to hospital for The Wireless.
Her work, in which midwives are paid per women in their care and not for the hours they spend, likely earned her about $12.80 an hour. From that, she paid for her own petrol, rented a clinic, and furthered her elective education.
Read the diary of a rural midwife here.
MONDAY
Hours: 6.30am – 6.15pm
The first phone call at 6.30am was from a client of her backup midwife in early labor. Working closely with another midwife, they ensured every second weekend off. After tending to the early morning calls, she went to her antenatal clinic, seeing six women. Hospital calls regarding an induced client interrupted her clinic, leading her to cancel one appointment and rush to the hospital. A successful birth kept her at the hospital until 5pm, followed by a postnatal visit before reaching home by 6.15pm.
TUESDAY
Hours: 9.30am – 8.30pm
Her day began at 9.30am with four postnatal visits, two involving breastfeeding difficulties, and one attending to an anxious mother, consuming more time. Another visit to a woman contracting but not in full labor led her back home briefly before heading to the hospital for a birth until 8.30pm.
WEDNESDAY
Hours: 2am – 3am, then 5am – 6.45pm
A 2am call from a client in labor with her fourth baby required her immediate attention, returning home by 3am. At 5am, she rushed to the hospital, witnessing the birth at 6.15am, then proceeded directly to her antenatal clinic appointments until 1pm. Four postnatal visits followed, including a lengthy one with an anxious mother, keeping her occupied until 5.15pm before finalizing her paperwork before resting.
THURSDAY
Hours: 8.30am – 2am
Starting the day at 8.30am with a hospital visit for a postnatal checkup, followed by an elective cesarean section concluding at 12pm. She then embarked on four postnatal home visits until 4.30pm, attending an education session from 5 to 7pm. A late-night call to assist in labor led her to the hospital until 2am.
FRIDAY
Hours: 8.30am – 5pm
Starting at 8.30am with three postnatal visits, she took a break to manage paperwork before more visits and paperwork gradually winding down by 5pm when she went off call for the weekend. Apart from her daily activities, her phone remained abuzz with texts and calls, averaging 500 to 600kms driven each week, costing around $140 in petrol weekly, along with clinic rent expenses.
As told to Mava Enoka. Edited for clarity and brevity.
Cover image: 123rf