Many of the highly emotional accounts highlight the growing issues of being overworked, underpaid, unappreciated and working in less-than-ideal conditions.
Many midwives are now reaching breaking point, which the page says is a humanitarian issue.
"I work 0 to 9 in an extremely busy, understaffed secondary hospital. I routinely cry on my drive home every morning," one midwife posted.
The midwives page responded to the worker's post, writing: "A job should NEVER place a midwife under this much strain, and steal their happiness. Hospital midwives are too overworked. This is a humanitarian issue."
Here are just some of the unbelievable accounts from midwives who are struggling to cope every day:
"Yesterday I saw 15 antenatal clients at clinic, 4 postnatal clients at their homes, received 16 phone calls and 22 texts from clients, had an 8-hour primip [first-time mother] labour, then a 4-hour multip labour. It is only Tuesday and I've already worked more than 24 hours."
"I am a new graduate midwife who has worked a full month without time off, looking after 36 women. Due to poor payment structuring, I have not received a single payment during this time."
"This week I was called out in the night three times (an unwell woman, a baby not moving, a baby not feeding" - and none of these times for a labour. I travelled a two-hour round trip each time. I get no extra pay for these assessments. I worked 72 hours and earned $7.80 an hour.
"I once had 5 labours in a week, 2 involving a 3-hour round trip transfer. I was covering for my midwifery partner so she could have a break. I was so exhausted I came home went to bed, got up to be sick and passed out on the toilet hitting my head. I was also 26 weeks pregnant. I was burnt out. I feel I can no longer work as an LMC. I love the work, but I love my family more and need to be here for them."
David Clark Jacinda Ardern Julie Anne Genter MP #SaveTheMidwives #DearDavidClark
Posted by Dear David, Aotearoa needs Midwives on Wednesday, 28 February 2018
"I worked 14 hours looking after a very complex labour as there were not enough hospital staff/ I wet myself after waiting three hours for a bathroom break."
"I work in the hospital. I once did a double shift, from 3pm until 7.30am because there was not enough staff. I was later told that if an error had occurred the DHB would not have covered me for working over 15 hours, however they were more than happy at the time for me to work."
"I want to be a midwife in NZ, but have been offered a job in Australia for A$94,000, free rent, a car, salary sacrifice, super, $4500 relocation allowance, and a 37.5 hour work week."
The Dear David, Aotearoa Needs Midwives page is encouraging midwives, doctors, women, grandmothers, family members and ambulance drivers to tell their stories in order to submit their concerns to Clark.
"We want David Clark to understand fully the work that we do, who it benefits, and how essential it truly is. We need him to fight for primary maternity services to be adequately funded, as it is in the best interests of our Community and our nation to care for women and babies in a safe manner."
