{"id":984,"date":"2021-03-08T12:01:13","date_gmt":"2021-03-08T12:01:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skinandme.com\/the-dose\/?p=984"},"modified":"2023-03-20T15:36:53","modified_gmt":"2023-03-20T15:36:53","slug":"a-day-in-the-life-of-a-midwife","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skinandme.com\/the-dose\/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-midwife\/","title":{"rendered":"Skin + Me Stories: A Day in the Life of a Midwife"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.skinandme.com\/the-dose\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/210308_A_DAY_IN_THE_LIFE_OF_A_MIDWIFE-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-986\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Link to share article here:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-social-links is-style-default is-layout-flex wp-block-social-links-is-layout-flex\"><li class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-facebook  wp-block-social-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/skinandmehq\/\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M12 2C6.5 2 2 6.5 2 12c0 5 3.7 9.1 8.4 9.9v-7H7.9V12h2.5V9.8c0-2.5 1.5-3.9 3.8-3.9 1.1 0 2.2.2 2.2.2v2.5h-1.3c-1.2 0-1.6.8-1.6 1.6V12h2.8l-.4 2.9h-2.3v7C18.3 21.1 22 17 22 12c0-5.5-4.5-10-10-10z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-instagram  wp-block-social-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/skinandmehq\/\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M12,4.622c2.403,0,2.688,0.009,3.637,0.052c0.877,0.04,1.354,0.187,1.671,0.31c0.42,0.163,0.72,0.358,1.035,0.673 c0.315,0.315,0.51,0.615,0.673,1.035c0.123,0.317,0.27,0.794,0.31,1.671c0.043,0.949,0.052,1.234,0.052,3.637 s-0.009,2.688-0.052,3.637c-0.04,0.877-0.187,1.354-0.31,1.671c-0.163,0.42-0.358,0.72-0.673,1.035 c-0.315,0.315-0.615,0.51-1.035,0.673c-0.317,0.123-0.794,0.27-1.671,0.31c-0.949,0.043-1.233,0.052-3.637,0.052 s-2.688-0.009-3.637-0.052c-0.877-0.04-1.354-0.187-1.671-0.31c-0.42-0.163-0.72-0.358-1.035-0.673 c-0.315-0.315-0.51-0.615-0.673-1.035c-0.123-0.317-0.27-0.794-0.31-1.671C4.631,14.688,4.622,14.403,4.622,12 s0.009-2.688,0.052-3.637c0.04-0.877,0.187-1.354,0.31-1.671c0.163-0.42,0.358-0.72,0.673-1.035 c0.315-0.315,0.615-0.51,1.035-0.673c0.317-0.123,0.794-0.27,1.671-0.31C9.312,4.631,9.597,4.622,12,4.622 M12,3 C9.556,3,9.249,3.01,8.289,3.054C7.331,3.098,6.677,3.25,6.105,3.472C5.513,3.702,5.011,4.01,4.511,4.511 c-0.5,0.5-0.808,1.002-1.038,1.594C3.25,6.677,3.098,7.331,3.054,8.289C3.01,9.249,3,9.556,3,12c0,2.444,0.01,2.751,0.054,3.711 c0.044,0.958,0.196,1.612,0.418,2.185c0.23,0.592,0.538,1.094,1.038,1.594c0.5,0.5,1.002,0.808,1.594,1.038 c0.572,0.222,1.227,0.375,2.185,0.418C9.249,20.99,9.556,21,12,21s2.751-0.01,3.711-0.054c0.958-0.044,1.612-0.196,2.185-0.418 c0.592-0.23,1.094-0.538,1.594-1.038c0.5-0.5,0.808-1.002,1.038-1.594c0.222-0.572,0.375-1.227,0.418-2.185 C20.99,14.751,21,14.444,21,12s-0.01-2.751-0.054-3.711c-0.044-0.958-0.196-1.612-0.418-2.185c-0.23-0.592-0.538-1.094-1.038-1.594 c-0.5-0.5-1.002-0.808-1.594-1.038c-0.572-0.222-1.227-0.375-2.185-0.418C14.751,3.01,14.444,3,12,3L12,3z M12,7.378 c-2.552,0-4.622,2.069-4.622,4.622S9.448,16.622,12,16.622s4.622-2.069,4.622-4.622S14.552,7.378,12,7.378z M12,15 c-1.657,0-3-1.343-3-3s1.343-3,3-3s3,1.343,3,3S13.657,15,12,15z M16.804,6.116c-0.596,0-1.08,0.484-1.08,1.08 s0.484,1.08,1.08,1.08c0.596,0,1.08-0.484,1.08-1.08S17.401,6.116,16.804,6.116z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">Instagram<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-twitter  wp-block-social-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/skinandmehq\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M22.23,5.924c-0.736,0.326-1.527,0.547-2.357,0.646c0.847-0.508,1.498-1.312,1.804-2.27 c-0.793,0.47-1.671,0.812-2.606,0.996C18.324,4.498,17.257,4,16.077,4c-2.266,0-4.103,1.837-4.103,4.103 c0,0.322,0.036,0.635,0.106,0.935C8.67,8.867,5.647,7.234,3.623,4.751C3.27,5.357,3.067,6.062,3.067,6.814 c0,1.424,0.724,2.679,1.825,3.415c-0.673-0.021-1.305-0.206-1.859-0.513c0,0.017,0,0.034,0,0.052c0,1.988,1.414,3.647,3.292,4.023 c-0.344,0.094-0.707,0.144-1.081,0.144c-0.264,0-0.521-0.026-0.772-0.074c0.522,1.63,2.038,2.816,3.833,2.85 c-1.404,1.1-3.174,1.756-5.096,1.756c-0.331,0-0.658-0.019-0.979-0.057c1.816,1.164,3.973,1.843,6.29,1.843 c7.547,0,11.675-6.252,11.675-11.675c0-0.178-0.004-0.355-0.012-0.531C20.985,7.47,21.68,6.747,22.23,5.924z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-pinterest  wp-block-social-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.co.uk\/skinandmehq\/\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M12.289,2C6.617,2,3.606,5.648,3.606,9.622c0,1.846,1.025,4.146,2.666,4.878c0.25,0.111,0.381,0.063,0.439-0.169 c0.044-0.175,0.267-1.029,0.365-1.428c0.032-0.128,0.017-0.237-0.091-0.362C6.445,11.911,6.01,10.75,6.01,9.668 c0-2.777,2.194-5.464,5.933-5.464c3.23,0,5.49,2.108,5.49,5.122c0,3.407-1.794,5.768-4.13,5.768c-1.291,0-2.257-1.021-1.948-2.277 c0.372-1.495,1.089-3.112,1.089-4.191c0-0.967-0.542-1.775-1.663-1.775c-1.319,0-2.379,1.309-2.379,3.059 c0,1.115,0.394,1.869,0.394,1.869s-1.302,5.279-1.54,6.261c-0.405,1.666,0.053,4.368,0.094,4.604 c0.021,0.126,0.167,0.169,0.25,0.063c0.129-0.165,1.699-2.419,2.142-4.051c0.158-0.59,0.817-2.995,0.817-2.995 c0.43,0.784,1.681,1.446,3.013,1.446c3.963,0,6.822-3.494,6.822-7.833C20.394,5.112,16.849,2,12.289,2\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">Pinterest<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-linkedin  wp-block-social-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/skinandmehq\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M19.7,3H4.3C3.582,3,3,3.582,3,4.3v15.4C3,20.418,3.582,21,4.3,21h15.4c0.718,0,1.3-0.582,1.3-1.3V4.3 C21,3.582,20.418,3,19.7,3z M8.339,18.338H5.667v-8.59h2.672V18.338z M7.004,8.574c-0.857,0-1.549-0.694-1.549-1.548 c0-0.855,0.691-1.548,1.549-1.548c0.854,0,1.547,0.694,1.547,1.548C8.551,7.881,7.858,8.574,7.004,8.574z M18.339,18.338h-2.669 v-4.177c0-0.996-0.017-2.278-1.387-2.278c-1.389,0-1.601,1.086-1.601,2.206v4.249h-2.667v-8.59h2.559v1.174h0.037 c0.356-0.675,1.227-1.387,2.526-1.387c2.703,0,3.203,1.779,3.203,4.092V18.338z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">LinkedIn<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-tiktok  wp-block-social-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@skinandmehq\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M16.708 0.027c1.745-0.027 3.48-0.011 5.213-0.027 0.105 2.041 0.839 4.12 2.333 5.563 1.491 1.479 3.6 2.156 5.652 2.385v5.369c-1.923-0.063-3.855-0.463-5.6-1.291-0.76-0.344-1.468-0.787-2.161-1.24-0.009 3.896 0.016 7.787-0.025 11.667-0.104 1.864-0.719 3.719-1.803 5.255-1.744 2.557-4.771 4.224-7.88 4.276-1.907 0.109-3.812-0.411-5.437-1.369-2.693-1.588-4.588-4.495-4.864-7.615-0.032-0.667-0.043-1.333-0.016-1.984 0.24-2.537 1.495-4.964 3.443-6.615 2.208-1.923 5.301-2.839 8.197-2.297 0.027 1.975-0.052 3.948-0.052 5.923-1.323-0.428-2.869-0.308-4.025 0.495-0.844 0.547-1.485 1.385-1.819 2.333-0.276 0.676-0.197 1.427-0.181 2.145 0.317 2.188 2.421 4.027 4.667 3.828 1.489-0.016 2.916-0.88 3.692-2.145 0.251-0.443 0.532-0.896 0.547-1.417 0.131-2.385 0.079-4.76 0.095-7.145 0.011-5.375-0.016-10.735 0.025-16.093z\" \/><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">TikTok<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-youtube  wp-block-social-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/c\/SkinandMeHQ\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M21.8,8.001c0,0-0.195-1.378-0.795-1.985c-0.76-0.797-1.613-0.801-2.004-0.847c-2.799-0.202-6.997-0.202-6.997-0.202 h-0.009c0,0-4.198,0-6.997,0.202C4.608,5.216,3.756,5.22,2.995,6.016C2.395,6.623,2.2,8.001,2.2,8.001S2,9.62,2,11.238v1.517 c0,1.618,0.2,3.237,0.2,3.237s0.195,1.378,0.795,1.985c0.761,0.797,1.76,0.771,2.205,0.855c1.6,0.153,6.8,0.201,6.8,0.201 s4.203-0.006,7.001-0.209c0.391-0.047,1.243-0.051,2.004-0.847c0.6-0.607,0.795-1.985,0.795-1.985s0.2-1.618,0.2-3.237v-1.517 C22,9.62,21.8,8.001,21.8,8.001z M9.935,14.594l-0.001-5.62l5.404,2.82L9.935,14.594z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">YouTube<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"a-day-in-the-life-of-a-midwife-skincare-routine\"><strong>A Day in the Life of a Midwife | Skincare Routine <\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s International Women\u2019s 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.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>2pm: <\/strong>I\u2019m 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\u2019s currently working from home as his job in finance doesn\u2019t require him to go to the office at the moment. It\u2019s been great living with someone I know really well during the pandemic, especially since we grew up together we\u2019re used to each other\u2019s company already!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>3pm:<\/strong> I have to get a workout in or I think I\u2019d go mad. I either go for a run or do a HIIT workout, anything that helps me get moving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>4pm: <\/strong>TV has become a big part of my life during lockdown, but I think the same could be said for everyone? I\u2019ve just finished The Undoing which was great, but right now I\u2019m catching up on Ru Paul\u2019s Drag Race UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>5pm: <\/strong>I love books, and I\u2019m currently reading Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo. I\u2019m really enjoying it, but it feels like not much is happening in the plot because it follows so many characters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>6pm:<\/strong> I\u2019m preparing some food for my break, but most of my attention is on reruns of the OC. You can\u2019t beat it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>7pm:<\/strong> At around half 7 I walk to the hospital. It\u2019s not far, which is great when you\u2019re exhausted after a long shift.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>8pm:<\/strong> I\u2019ll change into my scrubs for my shift starting at 8, strap on my PPE and we\u2019ll 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\u2019s 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\u2019s a really interesting place to work and I am always learning something new.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>9pm:<\/strong> There are two staff absent today from the maternity team. I find I\u2019m 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.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>10pm:<\/strong> I have a short break in which I eat, but the best bit is chatting to the other midwives and doctors. I can\u2019t imagine doing what others have done and being stuck at home all year. I\u2019m incredibly grateful that I get to see my work friends and still socialise to an extent.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>11pm: <\/strong>Unsurprisingly, at one of the busiest hospitals in London, sometimes a mother tests positive for Covid. If this happens, there\u2019s 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\u2019s through a tonne of PPE. I wouldn\u2019t want them feeling like they are treated any differently. We can\u2019t 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\u2019ve also had my first vaccination &#8211; my second is already booked in as well!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>12am: <\/strong>We had a woman giving birth to triplets but fortunately they\u2019re 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\u2019d 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.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>1am: <\/strong>We\u2019re even more busy than usual at the moment. I think we\u2019ve finally hit the lockdown baby boom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>2am:<\/strong> It\u2019s 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.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>3am: <\/strong>It\u2019s 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\u2019s truly magical.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>4am:<\/strong> 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\u2019t 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\u2019t 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\u2019t 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.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>5am: <\/strong>I miss brunch. Brunch with cocktails and mates in the sun. I was supposed to go to Mexico last March and obviously that didn\u2019t happen. I still had the time booked off though, so I sat at home and drank Mexican-themed cocktails for two weeks.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>6am:<\/strong> It\u2019s strange, but it almost feels like lockdown isn\u2019t happening when I\u2019m 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\u2019m fortunate to have an escape, even if it\u2019s exhausting and hard work.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>7am:<\/strong> I can feel the rash from my PPE and I can\u2019t wait to take it off. It\u2019s necessary, but wreaks havoc on my skin. I often get a rash around my neck and upper lip. I\u2019ve started using \u2018CeraVe\u2019 hydrating cleanser which works wonders for dry skin as well as my go-to Skin + Me Daily Doser.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>8am:<\/strong> My shift ends at 8.30, so I change out of my scrubs and head home. I\u2019m extremely tired and in desperate need of a shower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>9am:<\/strong> I shower and collapse into bed before I do it all again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re due to give birth soon, and you\u2019re feeling a little worried about how things might be different during Covid, here\u2019s Lisa\u2019s advice:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u201cDon\u2019t worry too much! It\u2019s not as scary as it seems and you\u2019re 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.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Discover what a day of work looks like for Lisa, a midwife of four years at a major London hospital. Read her advice for mums-to-be during the pandemic.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":179265348,"featured_media":986,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1395],"tags":[1827,1825,1826,1824,1382,1389,1362,1388],"class_list":["post-984","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-skin-and-me-stories","tag-a-day-in-the-life","tag-covid-19","tag-midwife","tag-nhs","tag-skin-me","tag-skin-and-me","tag-skincare","tag-skincare-routine"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.skinandme.com\/the-dose\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/984","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.skinandme.com\/the-dose\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.skinandme.com\/the-dose\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.skinandme.com\/the-dose\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/179265348"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.skinandme.com\/the-dose\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=984"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.skinandme.com\/the-dose\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/984\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2379,"href":"https:\/\/www.skinandme.com\/the-dose\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/984\/revisions\/2379"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.skinandme.com\/the-dose\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/986"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.skinandme.com\/the-dose\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=984"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.skinandme.com\/the-dose\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=984"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.skinandme.com\/the-dose\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=984"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}