Midwifery in the spotlight

Midwifery is in the spotlight at the moment with a campaign demanding pay equity for midwives coinciding with International Midwives Day tomorrow (Saturday 5 May).

The Ministry of Health and New Zealand College of Midwives have submitted a proposal to the government regarding midwifery pay and how it’s structured. This is supported by the ‘Dear David’ campaign where midwives across New Zealand are sharing their work stories on social media and asking the Health Minister, David Clark, for more funding to make midwifery sustainable.

There is no denying that the long hours and being on call 24/7 can make midwifery a tough profession to work in.

But what about the benefits of being a midwife? We spoke to midwife and Wintec midwifery tutor De Cleaver to find out why she loves her job.

How long have you been a midwife?

I’ve been a midwife for 20 years. I feel privileged to have been in the very first intake of ‘direct entry’ midwifery students at Wintec after midwives received autonomy in 1990. Prior to this, you had to study nursing to work as a midwife.

I now teach across Wintec’s Bachelor of Midwifery degree but still look after a small number of home-birthing women each year.

Why did you decide to become a midwife?

While studying psychology at university I became pregnant. Back then a GP looked after your pregnancy and birth. I presented my GP with a birth plan (which was unusual in those days) and realised I had to have a strong voice to advocate for myself. Following my daughter’s birth, and while still studying at university, I gave a presentation with a midwife for a Women’s Studies paper on the medicalisation of childbirth. This, alongside my own experience of birth, ignited the spark.

What do you enjoy most about being a midwife?

I love walking alongside a woman and her whānau and being part of her transformation to a mother. It is a journey of ‘becoming’ and I love sharing that transformational journey.

That journey of transformation is also one that is shared with student midwives during their training.

Do you have a favourite midwifery memory?

It’s hard to pick a favourite. Every birth, woman and whānau has touched me in some way and helped me become the midwife that I am today. I supported my daughter to homebirth her three babies at home so this was obviously very special to me.

What has been your biggest challenges as a midwife?

I have always kept a small caseload as I believe midwifery is all about relationship building which takes time. Due to the way I practice and the close relationships I develop with clients, I have sometimes found it hard to say no to clients but over time have become better at finding that work/life balance.

Would you encourage people to study midwifery?

Yes! If you are passionate about women, family and women’s health, midwifery is an extremely fulfilling career.

It is an honour to share the journey with a woman and her whānau. To share the journey to motherhood and see the look of triumph, love and pure joy on a woman's face as she meets her baby for the first time takes my breath away every time.

Find out more about studying midwifery at Wintec here.

Find out more about the ‘Dear David’ campaign here.

Image: De Cleaver, Wintec midwifery tutor.