Know that these doldrums pass and the wind will fill your sails again
But also know that while you rest, others can keep paddling
And in the interests of multiple metaphors in one post - like the stones in a river are worn down by the continual running water, change does come... we just have to continue working as a group (groups mean individuals can take time to recouperate Emily!) and we'll get there
Thanks so much for writing what myself and so many other midwives are feeling at the moment xoxo undervalued, used, ignored and no longer holding out hope 😢
I so hear your pain Emily!! After 30 years of calling for change I agree despair is easily felt.However we have had many positive changes from my pregnacy and birth experiences as as a 16 year old.Many more women have experienced an affirming birth, many more are informed and can make choices I would have only dreamt of. But many still have not and the slow progress to equity of access and experience is so hard to understand. Please know your advocacy and support has made a huge difference for many women and midwives. I have just helped facilitate a global conference of 2000 midwives from 109 countries and our issues when compared with almost all other countries are managable.... this is because NZ women like you have battled away at the establishment demanding respect for women/mums and newborns.We will get there!! Love always.xx
I just relised while reading this how much we rely on people like you Emily. I was going to make a comment like Kia Kaha E Hoa! Because the thought of you bowing out (bloody understandably) is frightening. We just have so few leaders. You are a leader Emily. But I know we need more because the pressure on you is too much. How can we make our community more visible? How can we create and support the birth and growth of leaders? How do we transform concerned readers into active leaders? I keep thinking change will come, that there will be a turning point, a holy fuck we better sort this shit out moment...they've happened already multiple times...and our community is still suffering and dying 💔
I'm a nurse, and I feel this article so fucking hard. I am EXHAUSTED with the state of our health system, and as someone who has had two babies in the last four years, I'm also someone who is appalled by the state of maternal and baby care in this country. And like you I feel like it will never get better. I literally have been saying the same things about the health sector being under resources for almost a decade, and I feel like nothing with ever change. I actually don't know what to do. I just want to mentally check out.
I desperately want to train as a midwife. I know I’ll be amazing at it. But the system is just SO broken that I don’t feel like I can do that to myself (and my whānau). 3-4 years of battling through study to then go into a profession where I’ll be overworked and underpaid and stretched dangerously thin. It’s no wonder they are in crisis and can’t recruit more people to join the workforce! You are so right, it has been years and absolutely nothing has been done and I too have very little hope for change any time soon.
Ps, THANK YOU Emily, for fighting for midwives - we are never listened to, but if the govt will listen to anyone, they're much more likely to do so when it's a user of maternity services sayin', it loud and proud.
It's the same thing with pay equity... October marks 49 years since The Equal Pay Act and we're still fighting. Yes, we have a pay equity claim process and are going through it, but that doesn't mean we aren't having to fight incredibly hard there, either!
I said distinguished instead of extinguished! I’m going to blame it on THE VACCINE lol
Have a little hug from me
Put your mind on hold
Snuggle down and rest your heart
Know that these doldrums pass and the wind will fill your sails again
But also know that while you rest, others can keep paddling
And in the interests of multiple metaphors in one post - like the stones in a river are worn down by the continual running water, change does come... we just have to continue working as a group (groups mean individuals can take time to recouperate Emily!) and we'll get there
💕💕💕💕
Thanks so much for writing what myself and so many other midwives are feeling at the moment xoxo undervalued, used, ignored and no longer holding out hope 😢
I so hear your pain Emily!! After 30 years of calling for change I agree despair is easily felt.However we have had many positive changes from my pregnacy and birth experiences as as a 16 year old.Many more women have experienced an affirming birth, many more are informed and can make choices I would have only dreamt of. But many still have not and the slow progress to equity of access and experience is so hard to understand. Please know your advocacy and support has made a huge difference for many women and midwives. I have just helped facilitate a global conference of 2000 midwives from 109 countries and our issues when compared with almost all other countries are managable.... this is because NZ women like you have battled away at the establishment demanding respect for women/mums and newborns.We will get there!! Love always.xx
I just relised while reading this how much we rely on people like you Emily. I was going to make a comment like Kia Kaha E Hoa! Because the thought of you bowing out (bloody understandably) is frightening. We just have so few leaders. You are a leader Emily. But I know we need more because the pressure on you is too much. How can we make our community more visible? How can we create and support the birth and growth of leaders? How do we transform concerned readers into active leaders? I keep thinking change will come, that there will be a turning point, a holy fuck we better sort this shit out moment...they've happened already multiple times...and our community is still suffering and dying 💔
I'm a nurse, and I feel this article so fucking hard. I am EXHAUSTED with the state of our health system, and as someone who has had two babies in the last four years, I'm also someone who is appalled by the state of maternal and baby care in this country. And like you I feel like it will never get better. I literally have been saying the same things about the health sector being under resources for almost a decade, and I feel like nothing with ever change. I actually don't know what to do. I just want to mentally check out.
I desperately want to train as a midwife. I know I’ll be amazing at it. But the system is just SO broken that I don’t feel like I can do that to myself (and my whānau). 3-4 years of battling through study to then go into a profession where I’ll be overworked and underpaid and stretched dangerously thin. It’s no wonder they are in crisis and can’t recruit more people to join the workforce! You are so right, it has been years and absolutely nothing has been done and I too have very little hope for change any time soon.
Ps, THANK YOU Emily, for fighting for midwives - we are never listened to, but if the govt will listen to anyone, they're much more likely to do so when it's a user of maternity services sayin', it loud and proud.
It's the same thing with pay equity... October marks 49 years since The Equal Pay Act and we're still fighting. Yes, we have a pay equity claim process and are going through it, but that doesn't mean we aren't having to fight incredibly hard there, either!
I feel this. I'm trying to write something constructive, but each time it's turning into a huge rant! So I'm just going to put this here -> 🤬❤