The delight of having a midwife on duty throughout the holiday season

Seraphine Nyirahabineza, a 27-year-old midwife from Karongi District, views these days as just another phase in her career of assisting people in bringing new human life into the world, while many others celebrate Christmas and New Year’s with their families, sharing joy and thinking back on the year.

There is never a holiday in her vocation as she assists in delivering every birth. She has fully embraced her career, which provides her with meaning and happiness in life.

Kibuye Referral Hospital employee Nyirahabineza was pleased to assist in the delivery of four of the 186 babies born on Christmas Day in the Western Province last year, and more than 300 babies in total during 2024. However, the lives she affects and the communities she supports flourish are more important to her profession than statistics.

Her workday often begins at 8:00 AM and ends at 5:00 PM, but she never takes a break from her routine. The job’s demands can change at any time. She responds to urgent calls and works longer hours without breaks on some days. On other days, if mothers have been waiting for care, she misses lunch.

She never stops working to make sure moms and newborns get the finest care possible.

Nyirahabineza stated, “I was on duty this Christmas and I will be here on New Year’s as well. For us, the joy of Christmas and New Year’s comes from watching moms deliver safely.”

My vocation has always been midwifery; in fact, I applied twice to the University of Rwanda-Huye Campus’s nursing and midwifery program, from which I graduated in 2021. I enjoy observing the growth of the infants I have delivered and helping moms bring new life into the world, even with the difficulties of long hours.

She did not have an easy time becoming a midwife. Nyirahabineza saw personally the difficulties moms experienced during childbirth because she grew up in a remote area with no access to medical resources. As a result, she became even more determined to become a midwife, a job that would enable her to truly impact the lives of women and children in her neighborhood.

After completing her studies at the University of Rwanda, where she obtained an advanced diploma in midwifery, she has now expanded her knowledge by obtaining specialized training in family planning and obstetric care.

The typical workday in Nyirahabineza’s life

Nyirahabineza starts her workday as a midwife by getting the delivery room ready for the expectant moms she will be caring for. She offers postpartum women comprehensive care throughout the day, advising new prenatal clients on birth plans and providing guidance on family planning, breastfeeding, vaccines, infection prevention, and infant care.

Every mother gets her undivided attention, and she makes sure fathers or other family members are educated and supportive by involving them in the process.

She makes sure that all required records, such as monthly returns for antenatal care, family planning, and vaccinations, are finished in the afternoons after caring for moms.

Her meticulousness and commitment to documentation guarantee that the healthcare system continues to be effective and receptive to community demands.

Encouraged in trying times

Nyirahabineza builds enduring relationships with the moms and families she helps because of her empathy and compassion. She continued, “I feel gratified when I see the babies grow up; it is a daily reminder that my profession goes beyond the delivery room.”

There have been difficulties as a result of her commitment to her career. The midwife frequently finds herself without a set routine and on call around the clock. She finds balance in her life by exercising for 20 minutes a day and making sure she gets adequate sleep, but she is still committed to giving the finest care possible.

She wants to improve her knowledge, sharpen her abilities, and have an even bigger influence on her community.