The pandemic has had a profound impact on healthcare workers, particularly midwives, who have faced significant challenges during this unprecedented time. In December 2020, a midwife expressed her fears about contracting COVID-19 and detailed her struggles with mental and physical health, which were exacerbated by the demands of the pandemic. Her experience highlights the emotional toll of working in a high-stress environment while grappling with personal health issues, such as bladder and bowel dysfunction.
As a rural community midwife, she began to consciously dehydrate herself to avoid using public restrooms during visits, which were often closed or overcrowded due to pandemic restrictions. This decision led to longer working hours and increased stress, resulting in frequent headaches and reliance on pain relief and rehydration solutions. Over time, her situation worsened, culminating in a distressing incident where she had to relieve herself in her car due to the urgent need for a restroom, a moment that underscored the extreme pressures she was under.
The unpredictable nature of the pandemic, combined with constantly changing guidelines from authorities, added to her anxiety. She struggled with wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), managing the emotions of vulnerable patients, and balancing her responsibilities as a union representative. The emotional burden of supporting colleagues and navigating workplace challenges—including investigations into homebirths and a lack of support for pregnant staff—further contributed to her feelings of being overwhelmed.
Despite her efforts to stay engaged with her master’s program and support her team, she felt increasingly isolated and unable to help her colleagues effectively. The absence of backfilling for her union role and ongoing responsibilities meant that her team suffered from her lack of presence, leading to friction and dissatisfaction among her peers. The pressure to maintain high standards of care while also managing her own deteriorating mental health created a cycle of stress that seemed unbreakable.
Her experiences during the pandemic have taken a toll on her mental health, leading to anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and obsessive-compulsive behaviors. She has sought help from mental health professionals and is beginning to understand that her issues may be stress-related. The emotional weight of her role, combined with the fear and uncertainty that the pandemic brought to her patients, has left her feeling lost and struggling to cope.
As she prepares to return to work, she reflects on the void left by her absence and the challenges of re-engaging with her profession. Although she loves her job and the women she supports, she is apprehensive about her future in midwifery. The pressure to perform amid a dysfunctional system, coupled with a lack of boundaries, has led to burnout. She recognizes that many colleagues are also seeking alternatives, reflecting a broader crisis within the profession.
The midwife emphasizes the urgent need for systemic change, not only for her own well-being but for the health of her colleagues and the profession as a whole. She openly acknowledges her mental health struggles, highlighting that she may not be alone in her feelings, but she feels compelled to speak out. This call for change underscores the necessity for support and understanding within the healthcare system to address the profound challenges faced by midwives and other healthcare workers during and beyond the pandemic.
Moreover, the midwife’s journey illustrates the importance of recognizing the human side of healthcare. The emotional and psychological impacts of the pandemic on healthcare professionals must be acknowledged and addressed. As midwives and other frontline workers continue to navigate the complexities of their roles, it is essential for healthcare systems to provide adequate resources, support networks, and a culture that prioritizes mental health. Only through such changes can the profession hope to retain dedicated professionals and ensure the continued delivery of compassionate, quality care to those who need it most.
