Isabelle Sasse
Acting Midwifery Unit Manager Birthing Services
The Royal Hospital for Women
“We’re here to support women in their transition to motherhood. It’s such a special job, to be there for them at their most vulnerable, but at the most exciting day of their life. I appreciate that it’s not like other aspects of nursing where you care for sick people, these are healthy women and it’s such a special moment to see two become three.
We laugh a lot at work, but I think the patients that stick with you are the ones that make you cry. Recently I looked after another midwife who unfortunately had a still birth. We didn’t know each other before; she worked at a different hospital. It was a very, very tough day for both of us, but we bonded really well. We’ve stayed in contact. I told her I can understand if you never want to see me again, but if you want to talk about things you can reach me. We developed a friendship and it’s nice that we meet regularly. It’s a very challenging situation seeing someone in the same profession having to go through that.
I think losing compassion or losing joy for the job really impacts on the care we give. You might have a bad day but then you see all those beautiful outcomes and you’re like no, I’m really proud of what I do.”