Norfolk midwife says Covid made her grateful for close contact

Before the pandemic, Erica Auger was involved in BBC Springwatch as a communications manager for a wildlife charity.But she'd always wanted to be a midwife and when she re-trained, she was looking forward to the close communication she would have with the women she helped.Little did she realise her first experience of a maternity department would be dealing with a new disease during a worldwide pandemic.But what was birthing like for women during Covid, and what lessons have been learned?
Erica's story
In 2020, Erica Auger was driving between nature reserves across the East of England. But she wanted a more "varied" and "passion driven" career - and midwifery had always appealed.By the time her student midwife placement began at the James Paget Hospital in Gorleston, the pandemic had started and the maternity ward was a different world.She found her skill as a communicator stifled by a face mask."My first feelings were of apprehension," she says."It was scary, and we didn't really know what to expect."She said familiarity and close contact with mothers were key in midwifery and wearing masks made communication extremely difficult.
"We were just worried that they [the patients] weren't getting the care they needed because we didn't know how to provide that care and we didn't know what was coming," she says.She describes how midwives had to shower after meeting every pregnant woman who tested positive, and said the sheer numbers contracting the virus meant spending entire shifts with wet hair.But the role of student midwives became "extra special", she adds, as they acted as a "bridge", communicating with birthing partners who were no longer allowed onto wards.
Ms Auger says she now feels more grateful for the one-to-one contact mothers and midwives are afforded since the relaxation of restrictions."Being pregnant is an extremely special time," she says."But it can often be a vulnerable time in women's and families' lives. So for us to be able to provide the care we want to - in the way that we want to - is really special."But are NHS staff worried they'll have to do it all again?"Being prepared for a second pandemic is like being prepared to have a second baby," Ms Auger says."They're never going to be the same as the one before. All you can do is learn from the first and take those tools with you."Ms Auger says staff built resilience and coping mechanisms, and it was unlikely they would face the same set of circumstances twice.
Emma's story
Emma Woods describes her first pregnancy and birth, during the pandemic as "isolating".She said her husband Tom, couldn't join her for any of the scans."It was so magical seeing him [baby Arlo] on the ultrasound, I felt really sad that my husband couldn't actually see that," she says."Not having birth partners at scans and appointments was something that should never have happened."The people that had to have the heartbreaking news that their baby didn't have a heartbeat at an ultrasound were on their own, and they can never go back and share that moment."The couple also had to take part in antenatal classes online.
Arlo spent the first days of his life in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Her husband wasn't allowed onto the ward and could only stay on NICU for two hours at a time.Ms Woods says the only time she could take the paper mask off her face was in bed. Self-isolation, she says, continued at home."It was lockdown, so we knew we wouldn't have people round our house," she said. Ms Woods described being on their own in a bubble with their first child as "scary", but also said it was "nice" that they got time together as a family.
After the pandemic, Ms Woods missed out on mother and baby groups."I think that's so essential," she says. "It gets you out of the house, it gets you talking."We were ready to sign up to swimming, but it was six months before he [Arlo] could join."She said she "really missed out" on early interactions and the chance to make friends, but she turned it into a positive, setting up a "safe space" for parents, called Little Loves Norfolk.She describes it as a chilled-out baby sensory and play session, where parents and children get together in a room filled with tents, baby swings, dimmed lights and mellow music.
Ms Woods said giving birth to her second child almost two years ago was a "completely different experience".She had continuity of care with her midwife and gave birth with much less "anxiety".Ms Woods said that the world had "come a long way" since Covid and getting out and spending time with her children "was what she loved about being a mum".
Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Times

3 hours ago

• Times

NHS struggles to turn cash into care

The NHS is one of the worst health systems in the western world at converting money into better care, a report by the TaxPayers' Alliance suggests. Researchers examined data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development to compare 13 health systems, including in the UK, Canada, Australia, France and Germany, and found the UK had the lowest life expectancy and highest rates of avoidable deaths. It showed that the NHS struggled to convert funding into more resources such as doctors, nurses, hospital beds or scanners, with two thirds of its budget swallowed up by staffing costs, including pensions. The TaxPayers' Alliance report said: 'Without a serious improvement in productivity, the extra cash released by Rachel Reeves is unlikely to be noticed by patients.' The NHS was handed an extra £29 billion in Labour's spending review this month and is on track to take up 50 per cent of all public spending by the end of the decade. However, experts have warned that the money will be wasted unless the NHS can improve efficiency and productivity. The TaxPayers' Alliance report said the UK ranked third highest out of the 13 countries in terms of how much is spent on health as a percentage of GDP. However, it only ranked 12th by the metric of converting money into resources that can help treat patients. • The Times View: Wes Streeting must transform Britain's crippled health services The NHS also ranked 11th when it came to capital spending on new technology and hospitals. The researchers said priority 'must be given to capital investment over further expansions on staff' in order to boost productivity. The figures showed that the NHS spends 64 per cent of its budget on staffing, far more than comparable countries such as New Zealand or Ireland, which spend 42 per cent and 33 per cent respectively. This was largely due to generous public-sector pensions for doctors and other NHS staff. There have been calls for reforms to rebalance NHS remuneration away from pensions towards take-home pay. Last year a report by Lord Darzi highlighted a collapse in NHS productivity in the past decade. It found that the hospital workforce had risen by 17 per cent between 2019 and 2023, yet output had not risen at nearly the same rate, which was largely due to a failure to invest in upgrading equipment and buildings. • Darzi report: money alone can't cure what ails NHS Darwin Friend, head of research of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: 'Our comprehensive analysis of healthcare productivity is by no means all doom and gloom, with the NHS clearly performing well in some areas, particularly when looking at its use of existing resources. 'But it does paint a bleak picture for taxpayers, given the overwhelming evidence to suggest that the vast extra funding announced at the spending review will simply be throwing good money after bad without more fundamental and far-reaching reform. 'If the government wants to deliver on its promises, it will need to be far braver than politicians have been and consider changes previously considered unpalatable, including regional pay bargaining, the prioritisation of capital spending and a role for more insurance-based financing. 'It will also have to face down demands for increased pay, given the disproportionate amount of the NHS budget that is swallowed up by staffing.' Kristian Niemietz, head of political economy at the Institute of Economic Affairs, said: 'In state-run health systems like the British NHS, there is often a temptation to prioritise day-to-day spending over long-term investment. Politicians know that by the time the detrimental effects become apparent, somebody else will be in charge and it will be somebody else's problem. 'The paper also shows that while the NHS cannot be described as 'underfunded', it is in a very real sense under-resourced. These are not the same thing — a pile of cash does not magically transform itself into a doctor, a nurse or an MRI scanner. The NHS is remarkably bad at converting its financial resources into medical inputs.' The report analysed data from 13 countries: Portugal, South Korea, Norway, Germany, Spain, Australia, Ireland, Italy, Denmark, New Zealand, France, the UK and Canada.

The Guardian

4 hours ago

• The Guardian

Domestic abuse is ‘public health emergency', experts say after critical NHS report

Domestic abuse is a public health emergency, experts have claimed, after a report concluded that the NHS is failing victims by not training staff to spot and respond to the signs of domestic violence. About one in four people (21.6%) in England and Wales aged 16 years and over have experienced domestic abuse, affecting 12.6 million people, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics. Analysis shows that the NHS has more contact with victims and perpetrators than any other public service. But new research by the charity Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse (Stada) claims the health service is missing vital opportunities to save lives. It examined all the official reviews of domestic abuse-related homicides and suicides published in 2024 and found that about 90% cited safeguarding failings by the NHS. Lack of domestic abuse training was the most frequent criticism identified. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance advises mandatory training for frontline NHS staff in identifying and properly caring for domestic abuse victims. But Stada's analysis found that such training was 'sporadic and inconsistent'. The report also highlights repeated failures by the NHS to record risks, share information and get victims help from other specialists such as alcohol and mental health services, and independent domestic violence advisers. The findings follow a separate study published in the Lancet Regional Health Europe, which calculated that 26% of all women who died by suicide, and were known to secondary mental health services, had been a victim of domestic violence. The government is due to publish its strategy this summer on how to meet its pledge to halve violence against women and girls by 2034. But without urgent action, this ambition will not be achieved, the Stada report concludes. The NHS should fund mandatory, standardised domestic abuse training for frontline health professionals and specialist support such as mental health domestic violence advisers, the study recommends. Data recording and information sharing should also be improved. Cherryl Henry-Leach, the chief executive of Stada, said: 'We call on the government to recognise domestic abuse as a public health issue. 'Treating [domestic abuse] solely as a criminal justice issue costs lives. The NHS has more contact with victims and perpetrators than any other public service, making it uniquely positioned to address this crisis.' Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Tim Woodhouse, a suicide prevention specialist and author of the Churchill Fellowship report on suicide and domestic violence, said: 'Domestic abuse is a public health emergency. The level of physical and mental pain imposed on victims (and their children) by perpetrators is immense and we know that, for many, that mental torture becomes too great and they end up taking their own life. 'I've calculated that 1,800 people a year could be dying in domestic abuse-related suicides every year. This is a tragically high waste of life, and a national scandal.' Andrea Simon, the director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, said: 'Healthcare workers are often the first, and only, point of contact for victims of abuse and it is essential they are equipped to identify, signpost and safeguard victims who need support. As this report shows, the consequences of inaction can be serious harm, including death. It's time the government took action on repeated recommendations in domestic homicide reviews and ensured all health professionals receive comprehensive training, including on the risk posed by domestic abuse-related suicides.' Prof Kamila Hawthorne, the chair of the Royal College of GPs, said given the trusted relationships GPs have with patients, 'it is concerning to hear that opportunities to help victims might be being missed'. More training would be welcomed and valuable, she added, 'as long as these are appropriately funded, take into consideration the existing training that GPs receive on safeguarding, and the workload pressures we face daily'. An NHS spokesperson said: 'All NHS staff are required to complete safeguarding training on domestic violence and abuse to give them the skills and knowledge they need to support victims and survivors, and this training is currently being updated.' A government spokesperson said: 'We remain resolute in our mission to tackle domestic abuse and put a system in place that protects victims, supports their journey to justice and holds perpetrators to account. 'Healthcare professionals are often the first lifeline for domestic abuse victims – playing a vital role in supporting them to overcome trauma and rebuild their lives – and we have prioritised funding to deliver an additional 345,000 NHS talking therapies interventions to ensure survivors get the support they need. 'Through our plan for change, we are developing a coordinated approach across government, underpinned by a new strategy to be published later this year, to prevent domestic abuse and protect victims.' In the UK, call the national domestic abuse helpline on 0808 2000 247, or visit the Men's Advice Line or Women's Aid. In the US, the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). In Australia, the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. Other international helplines may be found via

Edinburgh Reporter

5 hours ago

• Edinburgh Reporter

Nikki is guest of honour at Pretty Muddy

At Cancer Research UK's Race For Life on Sunday the guest of honour, Nikki Milligan sent everyone on their way. She attended along with her partner Jason McFarlane and their daughters Zoe, aged six, and Abbie who is one year old. Nikki sounded the starter horn to start all the 1,500 participants off on the muddy race round the obstacle course in The Meadows. The race raised around £160,000 for cancer research. Nikki picked up a medal after completing the 5K Pretty Muddy with her childhood friend Claire Wright. Afterwards she said: 'I am incredibly grateful to be here to raise my two girls. 'It's hard to put in to words exactly how it feels to be healthy and surrounded by love. This summer will mark three years of me being in remission from cancer. I will forever be thankful to my family for their unwavering support and to the NHS for getting me better. 'I'm proud to be able to help others. I want to support research for people going through cancer right now and to help find better treatments for my daughters' generation.' Nikki recalls vividly the uncertainty she felt on January 13 2022 when doctors at the Western General Hospital told her she had Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of blood cancer. She had first contacted her GP in December the year before after a lump had appeared near her collar bone and she had suffered symptoms including night sweats. She had an x-ray after blood tests indicated there may be an issue and only hours after the x-ray the GP called her. Nikki said: 'I thought the x-ray results would take around 10 days to come so when my GP called me back the same day I knew the news wouldn't be good. 'They'd found a tumour on my neck and my chest. I had a biopsy on Christmas eve 2021. My daughter was only three at the time and going through Christmas waiting for those final January results was hard.' Nikki lost her hair to the side effects of treatment. She had six months of chemotherapy in total including two stays in hospital. But on August 18 2022, she completed her final session, after which it took time to build back strength. Just months later, Nikki was overjoyed to discover she was pregnant again. Her younger daughter Abbie was born on December 26 2023. Nikki said: 'I feel so lucky. After treatment for cancer, I didn't even know if I'd be able to have another child but here we are blessed with our Boxing Day baby.' Lisa Adams, Cancer Research UK's spokesperson in Scotland, said: 'We are incredibly grateful to everyone who took part in Pretty Muddy Edinburgh. 'No matter how cancer affects us, life is worth racing for. Sadly nearly 1 in 2 of us will get cancer in our lifetime but all of us can support the research that will beat it. We're proud that Race for Life has had such a positive impact. Every pound raised supports our life-saving work, which has helped double cancer survival in the UK over the last 50 years. 'It was a fantastic day at Pretty Muddy Edinburgh, full of emotion, courage, tears, laughter and hope as people celebrated the lives of those dear to them who have survived cancer and remembered loved ones lost to the disease. 'Now we're asking everyone who took part to return the money they're raised as soon as possible. Every donation, every pound raised will make a real difference. ' Diane Graham, a volunteer from the Cancer Research UK Edinburgh superstore at Corstorphine also completed Pretty Muddy. She took part along with CRUK superstore manager Steven Storrier who celebrated his 52nd birthday over the weekend. Steven said: 'I can think of no better way to celebrate my birthday. 'Almost every day in the superstore people share with us their reasons for supporting Cancer Research UK. I am in awe of our customers who do so much to support the charity. Pretty Muddy is a chance for me to give a little bit back.' Pretty Muddy in Edinburgh ALL PHOTOS © Lesley Martin/Lesley Martin Photography 22 June 2025 © Lesley Martin/Lesley Martin Photography 22 June 2025 Left to right Claire Wight, 31, and Nikki Milligan, 31 Left to right Zoe McFarlane, 6, dad Jason McFarlane, mum Nikki Milligan and Abbie McFarlane, one Mum of two Nikki Milligan in remission from cancer is the official starter at Cancer Research UK's Pretty Muddy Edinburgh Pretty Muddy in the Meadows Right to left Nikki Milligan in remission from cancer crosses the finish line of Pretty Muddy Edinburgh with daughter Zoe, six, and her friend Claire Wight People take part in CRUK Pretty Muddy in The Meadows, Edinburgh. ©Lesley Martin/Lesley Martin Photography Like this: Like Related