We hear stories of the strenuous conditions faced by midwives, we read the headlines about looming shortages and statistics about burn-out.
But one Swedish midwife has summed it all up in a single photo.
“Night shift midwife = had three childbirths,” Petra Vinberg Linder wrote on Facebook. “You don’t have time to pee or change sanitary products. Thanks and goodnight”.
Linder initially just shared the image amongst her friends, but after encouragement decided to make it public in an effort to highlight the challenges of her profession.
"It's a very difficult field of work. I love my job, I chose it and I want to work in this field, but I wonder after a night like this how many years I'll manage," she told Swedish outlet The Local.
"I'm 40, I'll work to 65 if I'm fit, but can you manage that? There are so many people in this country who want to work with childbirth, but don't because of the working conditions."
A midwife shares what to expect during childbirth. (Post continues below.)
Linder might be on the other side of the world, but the situation for Australian midwives isn't all that different.
A 2016 report compiled by Monash University found that close to a third of surveyed midwifes and nurses were actively considering leaving the profession.
"Whereas a typical organisation might expect a turnover of up to 4 per cent, our study found 25 per cent were very likely to leave the profession in the next 12 months," said report authors Tse Leng Tham and Assosciate Professor Peter Holland.
Increasing demands of the job fuelled by inadequate staff levels and excessive administration tasks played a big role in pushing workers to that decision.
"Worryingly, 71 per cent felt they often had more work than they could do well, up from 64% in 2013."
Top Comments
How Ridiculous. Prioritise. Make time to attend to your needs, only takes 90 seconds. Next we'll be hearing it's ok to soil yourself because you're "too busy". FYI, i am in the healthcare profession so I'm well aware of demands & time constraints but sometimes you just have to say "I'll be right back in a moment".
Yeah I agree, there are some martyr type nurses who feel like they can't take a break or whatever. Dude, you are not the only person who can help patients in the whole hospital.
Yes there's a reason people are shying away from the nursing and midwifery profession but not sure that's aided by her post. It would actively discourage anyone intending to study it. I suggest black pants next time and better absorbent pads.