A Day in the Life of a Midwife | Skincare Routine

It’s International Women’s Day today, a day to celebrate brilliant and inspirational women everywhere. We spoke to Lisa, a midwife of four years at a major London hospital, to tell us what a day in her shoes looks like. 

2pm: I’m often on the night shift, so I get up in the afternoon. I usually prepare breakfast the night before, which is overnight oats with a coffee. I share a flat with my brother, who’s currently working from home as his job in finance doesn’t require him to go to the office at the moment. It’s been great living with someone I know really well during the pandemic, especially since we grew up together we’re used to each other’s company already!

3pm: I have to get a workout in or I think I’d go mad. I either go for a run or do a HIIT workout, anything that helps me get moving.

4pm: TV has become a big part of my life during lockdown, but I think the same could be said for everyone? I’ve just finished The Undoing which was great, but right now I’m catching up on Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK.

5pm: I love books, and I’m currently reading Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo. I’m really enjoying it, but it feels like not much is happening in the plot because it follows so many characters.

6pm: I’m preparing some food for my break, but most of my attention is on reruns of the OC. You can’t beat it. 

7pm: At around half 7 I walk to the hospital. It’s not far, which is great when you’re exhausted after a long shift. 

8pm: I’ll change into my scrubs for my shift starting at 8, strap on my PPE and we’ll have a handover with the day shift team. This highlights any high risk patients we have on the labour ward and anything else we need to be aware of. It’s quite a high-risk maternity hospital which means we often have women with pregnancy-induced conditions, premature births, or babies born with complex conditions. It’s a really interesting place to work and I am always learning something new. 

9pm: There are two staff absent today from the maternity team. I find I’m doing even more shifts than normal at the moment, because work is all there is to do, plus the hospital needs the support. There are so many absences at the moment, as staff keep being forced to isolate, become sick or are relocated to another department to help with the increased workload in some areas of the hospital. However there are always enough staff to cover, so the ward is always safe and fully staffed.  

10pm: I have a short break in which I eat, but the best bit is chatting to the other midwives and doctors. I can’t imagine doing what others have done and being stuck at home all year. I’m incredibly grateful that I get to see my work friends and still socialise to an extent. 

11pm: Unsurprisingly, at one of the busiest hospitals in London, sometimes a mother tests positive for Covid. If this happens, there’s only so much we can do about it. We have enhanced PPE and isolate them from the other mothers on the ward, and their partner can still stay and support them during labour. I always give these women the same support even if it’s through a tonne of PPE. I wouldn’t want them feeling like they are treated any differently. We can’t really maintain social distancing in these situations, but I feel quite protected. I had Covid back in March before the first lockdown and recovered well, and I’ve also had my first vaccination – my second is already booked in as well!

12am: We had a woman giving birth to triplets but fortunately they’re all healthy and not too premature. That was really amazing to be a part of. Earlier this year we had a woman who had been for IVF abroad and ended having to give birth to quadruplets via C-section. She had the biggest pregnancy tummy I’d ever seen, and they were all extremely premature. They are all doing really well now though. We have such a fantastic neonatal team and it was an incredible learning experience. 

1am: We’re even more busy than usual at the moment. I think we’ve finally hit the lockdown baby boom.

2am: It’s my break time, and my focus is on rest. I take off my PPE while I can and snatch some precious sleep in the break room. 

3am: It’s busy on the ward tonight. I know other wards are quieter at night, but babies arrive when they want to! A woman comes in fully dilated and delivers very quickly with me. Seeing new life come into the world will never get old. It’s truly magical. 

4am: A gay couple are having a baby with an egg donor, but only one of them is allowed to be present on the ward with the donor. I can’t imagine how difficult it must be for everyone involved, both the partner forced to wait at home, the one in the hospital with a woman he doesn’t know well, and the woman giving birth without the support of friends or family. During Covid the personal connection with a midwife has become more important than ever because you aren’t allowed to have as many people around you as normal. My colleague is looking after them and she is amazing at making them both feel at ease. 

5am: I miss brunch. Brunch with cocktails and mates in the sun. I was supposed to go to Mexico last March and obviously that didn’t happen. I still had the time booked off though, so I sat at home and drank Mexican-themed cocktails for two weeks. 

6am: It’s strange, but it almost feels like lockdown isn’t happening when I’m at work. The PPE is new, but the job is pretty much the same. Women are still giving birth, just with a few extra restrictions. I still chat with my work friends, and it feels like a different world compared to at home. I’m fortunate to have an escape, even if it’s exhausting and hard work. 

7am: I can feel the rash from my PPE and I can’t wait to take it off. It’s necessary, but wreaks havoc on my skin. I often get a rash around my neck and upper lip. I’ve started using ‘CeraVe’ hydrating cleanser which works wonders for dry skin as well as my go-to Skin + Me Daily Doser. 

8am: My shift ends at 8.30, so I change out of my scrubs and head home. I’m extremely tired and in desperate need of a shower.

9am: I shower and collapse into bed before I do it all again.

If you’re due to give birth soon, and you’re feeling a little worried about how things might be different during Covid, here’s Lisa’s advice:

“Don’t worry too much! It’s not as scary as it seems and you’re still allowed to have your birth partner with you. Just be prepared to have a Covid test and try to be as safe as possible beforehand. If you do test positive for Covid, you will still have one-on-one care, and will be well looked after.”