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What’s your job in the maternity ward?

Initially focussed on general medicine, during my second first year of medicine, I decided to take the midwifery module. I have now been a midwife for 8 years and I have medical status, which means I can perform a variety of activities (ultrasounds, deliveries, working in a hospital or private practice etc.), which I like a lot.

Why did you choose this job?

What attracted me most was the variety of tasks in the profession of midwifery, as I sometimes work in the obstetric ward, and sometimes in the delivery rooms.

The first year was a very good test, as I did cycles that involved 3 weeks of internship followed by 3 weeks of classes.

My first internship was here at Hôpital privé de Villeneuve d’Ascq (France). The department was cheerful, we announced good news with the births, the atmosphere was good, and the techniques appealed to me. The multidisciplinary aspect, with cross-disciplinary tasks, was also very fulfilling. And the idea of seeing the mothers before, during and after delivery is also very moving. 

If you take all these positive points together... I decided it was made for me!

What do you like most in your daily life?

I find that the deliveries are the most exciting. Supporting a mother - particularly when she’s expecting her first baby - is really great... As a human, it’s gratifying to be able to help them to give birth.

What I also like a lot about my daily life is the unexpected: when I start a shift at 12:00, I never know what might happen. All that matters is trying to manage the situation well, in collaboration with the team. We also split up the tasks, and are always there for one another. And when there’s an emergency, the resulting debrief is very important. Mutual exchanges on the way that we handled the emergency, advice, comfort, etc. it’s all essential! We are a complementary team, and it’s very important to be able to count on each other every day.

Outside of work, what’s your passion?

I play a lot of golf. It’s a bit of a safety valve, as some shifts really cause high levels of stress. We have to move very quickly for the mother and the baby... So golf gives me balance, as it requires increased focus, and a certain amount of relaxation, so as to focus entirely on the trajectory of the ball, and the ability to clear your head.

Have your colleagues given you a nickname ?

I don’t have a specific nickname! On the contrary, there are three men working as midwives in the maternity ward, and I must admit that we are a bit mollycoddled... We really have a brilliant team, 20 very close people. We support each other, ask each other for opinions, and regularly have staff meetings (practices, organization), as well as meals together, to strengthen our relationships.

Do you have an anecdote that you would like to share ?

Within the maternity ward, I offer a birth preparation course to fathers. They can monitor their partners’ pregnancies, and ask any questions. I’ve had all types of fathers: those who are already informed and those who have no real idea about the delivery. So I often have stories of them having imagined scenes that are completely wrong, or questions that are quite amusing, such as whether the epidural needle goes all the way to the navel or goes up higher, or even, as soon as the contractions have started, whether the whole family will be back in the room in an hour. I really enjoy these moments, too!