My phone and I with a midwife: « When I do 48-hour call duty, I do video calls with my son »

“When I have free time on a break during a shift, I sometimes browse social networks. Typhaine Robidou, 32, is a midwife at Nantes University Hospital and has been working in the profession since 2018. With three 12-hour shifts a week, day and night, weekends included, the times when she scrolls on her phone are rare. “When you work in a delivery room which is an emergency service, it can be quiet and from one minute to the next not at all. Lately the activity stops only very rarely, ”laments the 30-year-old.

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Mobilization, also on social networks

In question: the shortage of midwives in France which has direct consequences on the daily life of these health professionals. The emblematic case of the Nevers maternity hospital, which had to close its doors for a week in April, for lack of staff, is far from isolated. A week ago, a mobilization was organized to support the maintenance of the Lilas maternity hospital, threatened with closure. Finally, the establishment obtained a suspension of authorization to practice for one year, granted by the health authorities.

The situation has been tense for several years now and midwives have been demonstrating regularly to demand better recognition of their profession, their skills, an increase in the number of staff and an increase in their salaries. During the last mobilization, on October 7, Typhaine had made the trip to Paris. She even immortalized this moment as a “souvenir” in her phone.

Demonstration by midwives in Paris on October 7, 2021 © Typhaine Robidou

“We are a medical profession in the same way as doctors”

Privileged tools for mobilizations, social networks are a way to « federate the profession », according to Typhaine. “Facebook and Instagram have helped me a lot to follow the strike movements of colleagues all over France. Facebook groups were created specifically when the strike movement began to spread. We were from all over France, from all types of practice: hospital, liberal and territorial midwives. The latter have also been forgotten in the few things we have had from the government, ”regrets Typhaine.

The Minister of Health announced in September a bonus of 100 euros per month for those who work in the hospital, as well as a salary increase of 100 euros gross per month. “We are a medical profession in the same way as doctors and dental surgeons. Moreover, midwives will have an additional year of study, which puts them on the same level as dental surgeons. But we start our career at 1,800 euros gross when they start at 4,000 euros, ”explains Typhaine.

Despite difficult working conditions, she insists on “how lucky she is to be part of a great team with wonderful colleagues. “Work colleagues with whom she regularly organizes evenings or drinks, like the week. Evidenced by the last photo she took with her phone where we see some of her colleagues, glasses in hand. “It allows you to find yourself in other conditions, to create stronger ties. When you are lucky enough to have a team where there are ties other than work, it shows behind it, ”says Typhaine. In particular to arrange between them on the days of guards at the hospital when they cannot honor them. In the last text she sent, Typhaine also asked if she could be replaced for her night call next Saturday in exchange for « anything else that could arrange », she asks. to Capucine his colleague.

Exchange of best practices between colleagues © Typhaine Robidou

“Having my phone on me is a big help”

When she is at the hospital, mobile phone in her blouse, Typhaine also explains that she sometimes uses it with patients. As a medical professional, midwives can make prescriptions so « sometimes the phone is used to check the dosages, it’s very practical », she explains. Typhaine also sometimes helps patients who have just given birth to find private midwives or the nearest PMI. “Women need to be cocooned during postpartum. Often they are preoccupied with the days after giving birth, telling themselves that they will do it when they have the time, but it’s too late. If I can at least do that to relieve them a little I do and in those cases having my phone on me is a big help. »

Evening with colleagues, without midwifery gowns © Typhaine Robidou

If her phone becomes a work tool, it is also essential for her to keep in touch with her family, via WhatsApp, which she uses a lot, but if she lost her phone « what would handicap her a lot would be to no longer be able to communicate with my companion and my little boy,” says Typhaine. A young mother with a particular work rhythm, she sometimes isolates herself, « even for five minutes », when she has a little time to talk to them. Especially when she is detained for a long time in the hospital « when I do 48-hour shifts, I do video visits with my son, whom I don’t see for two days », she says. His companion and his little boy are also on the background photo of his phone.

© Typhaine Robidou

An SMS to Emmanuel Macron?

On the occasion of the International Day of Midwives this Thursday, May 5, Isabelle Derrendinger, President of the National Council of the Order of Midwives warns in an interview with ELLE: « Women’s health is experiencing a degradation. It is « urgent to organize in France a meeting between civil society, political decision-makers and women’s health professionals to better coordinate the health care pathway ». The National Council of the Order of Midwives publishes a manifesto to be found on the ELLE website in which midwives demand the organization of general meetings on women’s health.

So we asked Typhaine Robidou: if she could write an SMS to Emmanuel Macron, what would she say to him? “I would like to tell him that there is a very great urgency to put the means to take care of women in this country. The situation is becoming too critical. There are many job abandonments from the first years of exercise because it is a very demanding job physically and mentally. We have a lot of skills, we are motivated but we are not given the means. Mr. President, recognize us at our fair value, at the height of what we are capable of doing and what we do for women », explains Typhaine who breathes, a little desperate: « I hope that he would at least take the time to read it. »