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Department of Health Seychelles

2 hours ago

Today is a special day for all the men and women who help run the clinics, hospitals and healthcare set ups around the world; the Nurses. A very happy nurses day to you all.

My name is Ms. Alice Mancienne and today I have been given the privilege to share the story of my career. My journey began 11 years ago, when I started nursing school and I met the first group of brothers and sisters who would serve alongside me throughout the years.

I worked as a nurse for 3 years before joining midwifery, it was during that time that I had my first child. It encouraged me to do something meaningful with my career, something that I would find worthwhile.

My decision to become a midwife came from a desire to care for others and a natural curiosity about pregnancy and birth. The idea of being the one to welcome new life into the world seemed surreal.

Midwifery is about more than just catching babies, it’s about education, empowerment of patients and giving women like myself options and informed choices. Also it is a diverse and challenging career that makes you the ultimate multitasker. Managing a haemorrhage, freeing a stuck shoulder and resuscitating a baby is all in a day of work.

The role of the midwife is much more diverse than some people realise. As midwives we are usually the first and main contact for the women during her pregnancy, throughout labour and postnatal period.

We as midwives feel privileged to do the work we do. It is an enriching experience whereby I get to share both happy and sad moments. While the job does come with many rewards life as a midwife can also be challenging. As a profession we suffer the unkindness, unfair and undeserved reputation of being untrained, ignorant and dangerous.

But, at the end of the day it is such a humbling experience that women and family trust me with their care and want me to share in their journey to parenthood. There are times when a woman you can’t even remember the name of comes up to you in a supermarket and says that you’re the reason she is a mother now and kept going on about how her baby is doing so well.

I believe that the most rewarding experience for any midwife is seeing a healthy baby born to the world.

Thank you all and once again, have a wonderful international nurse’s day 2020. I would also like to take this opportunity to wish my midwifery family a very belated midwives’ day.

Alice Mancienne, Nurse & Midwife at Maternity 1, Seychelles Hospital ... See MoreSee Less

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