Midwives' strike: students equally concerned by the "shipwreck of the profession"

ByPauline Bluteau,published on September 28, 20217 min

This weekend, midwives went on strike to denounce, among other things, the lack of recognition of their profession. A mobilization that also affected midwifery students, who are determined to make their voices heard so that things change permanently, including in their training.

"This weekend, I was on strike for the first time , I feel totally concerned," says Pauline, 22, a fourth-year midwifery student in Nancy. According to the ANESF (national association of student midwives), like Pauline, many students mobilized all over France on September 24, 25 and 26, 2021.

Three days of strike during which the students , - in particular those in fourth and fifth year, considered as student-hospitalists, lent a hand to their elders . Because for all, claims can no longer wait.

"Ah, that's what being a midwife is"

Pauline dreamed of becoming a midwife since childhood. "I thought it was the person who said 'push' in the delivery room but during my first internships in second year, I said to myself 'ah, is that what being a midwife really is?'" , she exclaims.

"That" is what the ANESF calls "the sinking of the profession" : the lack of staff , the time spent running between birth rooms without taking the time to eat, drink or be able to go to the toilet . It is also the ever-increasing workload , lack of financial means , remuneration and recognition , physical and psychological exhaustion, responsibilities...

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Very degraded working conditions for midwives

“I was far from imagining all that, continues the student. I found myself in a guard where there were three midwives for ten patients in labor. Sometimes, we leave them alone for two hours because we doesn't have time to see them, we barely take the time to interact… It's sad and infuriating."

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For these students, the reality comes to light during the internships. “ There is a real lack of knowledge of the profession of midwife in general , we must do pedagogy on this profession and these studies, estimates Laura Faucher, president of the ANESF and also in the fifth year of midwifery in Clermont -Ferrand. As our studies are very professionalizing, we quickly realize what is happening, it is obvious. The students do not want to practice under these conditions. "

Redirections increase

What makes that today, the profession misses arms. Abandonments and reorientations are increasing. "The profession is doing badly and the students feel it. Our 2018 survey reveals that seven out of ten students have depressive symptoms", justifies the president of the ANESF.

In her promotion, Pauline has also seen four students change paths this year. "There are even more of them in the promotion above, not to mention those who exercise and leave their profession after two years. We also have a midwife teacher who reoriented herself last year."

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Holding Through Vocation

Pauline also experienced a period of questioning during the summer. "I wondered if I was not going to change to do something simpler, far from the medical environment." But paradoxically, what keeps her going is none other than her future job. "I know that's really what I like," pleads the student who still has two years ahead of her before graduating.

An observation noted by the ANESF: "We see that midwifery is no longer a sector taken by default when one has not obtained medicine. Those who enter these studies are the most convinced, it is really the job they want to do ", emphasizes Laura Faucher.

Rethinking midwifery studies

After these three days of strike, unions and associations therefore brought their demands to the Prime Minister. “For 20 years, working conditions have been steadily deteriorating , undermining the permanence and quality of care for women and children in our country. (…) No perspective, no hope has been given to midwives as to the sinking of our profession, apart from the indecency of proposing a salary increase of 100 euros [announcement by Olivier Véran, Minister of Health on September 16, 2021, editor's note]", accuses the letter.

Midwives are demanding better working conditions, the creation of a medical status, but also demanding an overhaul of training with the creation of a sixth year of study . "Everything is condensed over four years, if we do not count the common first year of health studies (PASS and L.AS). These studies are too heavy in terms of courses and internships", points out the president of the ANESF.

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According to the organization, students in midwifery would have 1,400 hours of additional lessons than dental students whose course already extends over six years . "Our skills have also evolved, but we have simply intensified the number of hours of our courses when we need to deepen certain knowledge such as gynecological follow-up, the practice of abortion and the psychological follow-up of patients, there is also the whole pediatric side…” Pauline also evokes “dense” days and “complicated” studies between courses, internships and revisions. The student association also pleads for the integration of midwifery institutes within universities to influence decisions.

Next appointment on Thursday, October 7 for a general mobilization of midwives in Paris. Again, students should respond.