midwife's muse

Instead of heading home, 5pm yesterday saw me summoned to the Mother-ship, where labour ward was in danger of taking over the rest of the hospital. 9 months ago, yuletide I believe, contraception, or caution, was obviously abandoned and the late pressies are all arriving now. In times of plenty, or if the unit it short-staffed, community midwives are called in. We are a different sort of human-being because we are capable of working a full 24 hours, without a break, and don't need to sleep. Anyway, having reported to mission control, I was allocated 'my lady'. Four hours later, following a broken tooth on the gas and air mouthpiece, 'bonding' through a mutual appreciation of Led Zeppelin, their little girl, 9lbs, was born. Everyone was happy, I waded through all the paper/computer work, and arrived home at 10.30. Twenty-five minutes later the phone rang, one of the homebirths was in labour and, gulping down my coffee, I was off again. At 6.30 I arrived home again, I had not eaten in 22 hours and my bed was calling me. After scrawling a note for Hubby telling him not to wake me, I snuggled into my little nest, closed my eyes, and it was midday. Now I am paying the price. Its four in the morning and I'm awake. My brain will not accept the change in routine and feels that since I was up last night, I should do the same tonight. Since it is my brain I do feel that it should also be aware that I have to work in the morning, not sleep. It should also have made the link between work and twenty-four working, that one can lead to the other, not that just because you will be working you have to stay awake. 

15.9.04 05:28