Things you only know if youâre a midwife
âŠaccording to Memuna Sowe.
Cultural beliefs shape each and every pregnancy
âWorking in south London, Iâm exposed to many different cultures and some interesting beliefs. Certain women wonât use water after giving birth as they believe itâs bad luck, and other cultures believe a woman canât leave the house for 41 days following birth. I educate every new mother about infection, but also make sure to respect their way of life.â
Being pregnant is rough when youâre homeless
âI am the lead midwife in Homeless Health in Croydon, and I often see women very late in their pregnancy. I need to make sure they trust me in a very short space of time. Some homeless women wonât disclose that they are pregnant until their bump shows, and if theyâre asylum seekers, theyâre sometimes put off from getting pregnancy care due to fear of the authorities. Iâll often see them in the street and urge them to come to appointments the next day, or give them my contact details in case they get moved to another area.â
Dire circumstances donât always stop people being kind
âWhen I was pregnant, many of the homeless women I worked with spent their appointments asking about me and my baby. I was like: itâs my job to check up on you! Those little things make my job worth it.â
Midwifery gives you perspective on life
âI moan so much less now than before I became a midwife. And when my kids complain about little things, I do get frustrated. If they donât want to eat their food, I tell them about the homeless pre