2023-06-26 14:03:35
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Insta life
And Djanifa makes that translation from her point of view as a qualified midwife. Emphasis on the word qualified, because she is not charmed by the fact that many influencers nowadays throw unfounded advice. “On Instagram you see beautiful pictures of all those mothers who tip you off that you really should do this or that because it works so well for them. They will ‘teach’ from their own situation, but this is absolutely not medically trained. They often do not offer a spectrum of options, which makes it often too one-sided. Great fun to follow, but not for breastfeeding advice.”
It is precisely the balance between experience and expertise that Djanifa finds very important. “I would like to see more scientifically trained colleagues on social media,” she pleads. “We are still too few, compared to the amount of coaches and insta-moms with unrealistic routines. For most women, that kind of content is mainly demotivating, while it can be so nice to find recognition online.”
Insecurity
In any case, Djanifa notices a huge increase in fear and uncertainty among mothers. Since the pandemic, that process has accelerated further, she says. “We live in a culture in which we want our information now, preferably ordered today and delivered yesterday. In the health world, technology often does not move that fast and it also involves waiting and trust in your own body. Many women find that increasingly difficult and I think that’s a shame: it makes it very difficult to enjoy your pregnancy. While in nine out of ten cases the complaints are not a cause for concern. It also makes the work of midwives more intensive: we are increasingly reassuring and for longer.”
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blind faith
Fortunately, there is still more than enough time for the ‘Mary Poppins feeling’, Djanifa laughs. “That’s how you sometimes feel, because you become very involved in someone’s life during such a period. You are temporarily a very good friend, on which the pregnant woman must be able to fully rely. I think that is the most beautiful thing about this work: the blind faith that someone has in you.”
And sometimes extraordinary situations suddenly present themselves. For example, there is a woman that Djanifa will never forget. She was diagnosed with cervical cancer during her pregnancy and ended up in the medical mill. Her request was not to talk about the cancer during the obstetric check-ups, says Djanifa.
“In all those other examinations, she mainly felt like a sick person, not a pregnant one. That’s why she wanted to talk about fun things during her checkups: listening to the heartbeat, talking about baby stuff. Fortunately, the child was born very healthy, the mother is also doing well. These are those special moments that you never forget, moments when you can really mean something.”
Own childbirth
Djanifa is currently 38 weeks pregnant and preparing for her second birth. What about professional deformation as a midwife? Does she hold all the strings firmly in her hands? “Actually, not at all,” laughs Djanifa. “I find all the knowledge I have mostly reassuring – I’m sure it will work out. But with my first I thought I would be very alert during childbirth. Until I got my child in my arms and had no idea what to do. I was completely blank. All knowledge? Away. At such a moment you are mainly a mother, not a healthcare professional.”
For (new) mothers, the VerlosMoeder one word of advice: invest in the confidence in yourself. “Look up information, learn about your own body, but pay attention to where you get that information from. And then also learn to relax and trust in the process, because that is just as important.”
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