[𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟑] 𝐓𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬⁣

𝟐𝟏 𝐃𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞, 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐮𝐦𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐢𝐝𝐰𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐲

[𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟑] 𝐓𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬⁣

If we’re working in the community, it doesn’t feel as hardcore as being in the hospital. If we’re working on DU, being a ward midwife looks more demanding. I know independent midwives who feel like they're cheating somehow. Why all the provisos? Is it just me that never gets to a place where I'm not insecure?⁣
⁣
I am sketchy about talking about my work pattern because people want to compare. I don’t and won’t do nights because of vestibular migraines. I've come across many healthcare professionals who don't know what a vestibular migraine is, so no worries if you know either. Vestibular = balance. Think car sickness and wobbliness. It’s like your head is a cymbal that’s just been struck. Or a snow globe that’s been shaken up. Some people have these migraines with pain, but typically mine are without. Just like with chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia, it’s not understood. Many people think these conditions don’t exist and are just what we use to describe highly anxious people whose symptoms have coalesced into a ‘condition’. We’re a bit better at understanding long-covid. But as a GP friend of mine mentioned to me, long-covid, chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia are all post-viral syndrome. Same thing. I still don't understand the mechanism of vestibular migraine or why I still have this problem, but I assume it's down to a similar cause.⁣
⁣
I have hit a groove with looking after myself. The problem with this is that I feel like a fraud. Every time I feel a day has gone well or like I should be proud of myself, I curtail that with ‘yeah but you’re not a real midwife’. But we can’t be martyrs; sacrificing our best interests is not sustainable. We need to build ourselves up instead of tearing ourselves down.⁣
⁣
All my best,⁣
⁣
Ellie.⁣
⁣