A young midwife has shared her experiences of entering the profession amid a pandemic.
To mark International Day of the Midwife (May 5), Emily Seggie described joining the NHS Lanarkshire team in one of the toughest periods they have ever faced.
Emily qualified as a midwife in late 2019 and is based at the maternity unit at Wishaw General, covering the whole of Lanarkshire.
And entry into her new career has certainly been a baptism of fire that she could have never imagined.
Emily, from Coatbridge, wrote in a blog shared by the health board: "I am always incredibly proud to tell people I am a midwife, but never more so than over the past year where the efforts of all those within the NHS have been appreciated massively.
"With 2020 being the year of the nurse and midwife, and the enthusiasm of being a newly qualified midwife, I was eager to enter my new role in midwifery.
"However, if somebody would have told me then that I would have to face a global pandemic – as well as adjusting to my new role – I would be completely daunted by the prospect.
"I remember at the beginning of the pandemic, head to toe in full PPE under a hot light waiting for the arrival of a baby, a dad told me he couldn’t understand why I did this. And at that point I had to agree that I didn’t understand how I could do it either."
Emily has worked across the maternity unit, and currently based in triage.
But through the height of the Coronavirus Emily had to move out of her family home for five months due to family members shielding.
She went on: "As a new midwife working in the changing pressures of a pandemic, I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t cried in the staff toilets more than a handful of times.
"The anxiety of feeling out of my depth and constant self-doubt as to whether I was cut out to do this career loomed over me for many months.
"With long 12 hour shifts, it can become weary and the enthusiasm turns to tiredness. When this happens I always try to remember that although this is just another shift, for the women and their partners who visit us it is most likely one of their most important days of their lives."
And she said the strength of the women she has cared for has been "an inspiration".
"They have endured the fears and anxieties of a pandemic, giving birth in unprecedented circumstances. There has been a sense of solidarity in their shared experience, and seeing women connect has been an honour," Emily continued.
"Being there for them – sometimes as there only mode of support – has been something very special that I will take with me throughout the rest of my career."
And while she said all midwifes understand how disheartening the tighter rules around birthing partners and visitors have been they were a "tough necessity" to protect the public and staff to prevent the spread of Coronavirus.
Emily added: "I love my job and I never forget what privilege it is to be able to be with women at their most vulnerable and joyous times of their life. The shifts can be long and it’s easy to be consumed with the stress.
"But every day, whether it’s witnessing the first time a new mother looks at her child- that grasp of a new-born’s hand around your finger – or even just a simple thank you – its reminds you of why you became a midwife in the first place."
