Pandemic Life of a Grateful Health Care Worker

I wanted to write a blog that expresses how grateful I am to continue supporting Mamas and babies during this unprecedented time of COVID-19.

Throughout my 20 year career as a Registered Nurse and Lactation Consultant, I have never experienced anything like this global pandemic we are currently facing.  Our new reality is often scary, stressful, and filled with anxieties. Everyday we learn something new. Everyday our public health officials and members of government share more information and implement new measures to keep us all safe. At the hospital where I work, updates from our leadership team members fill my e-mail inbox daily. They are doing everything possible to ensure we are kept updated and informed so our patients, colleagues, and communities are safe and protected from contracting COVID-19. 

When friends ask me how I am doing, I reply that my day-to-day life hasn’t really changed. I still get up 4 mornings a week at 6:30am, get dressed and head out the door slightly ridden with anxiety but with a smile on my face because traffic is so light until I’m reminded as to why. I get into my car and drive to the hospital where I work as a RN BN IBCLC. I worked a modified schedule for 2 weeks when the government first announced that schools were closing to come home earlier to be with my 3 daughters. Ensuring that my children feel safe, supported and ready to ‘virtually learn’ is very important to me. I am grateful that my children are safe and healthy at home and can continue to learn in a new and innovative way.  I am also grateful that my husband is able to work from home and be there for the girls when I am at work.

Before anybody is allowed to enter the hospital, we are all screened for COVID-19 in a gymnasium. We are asked a series of questions from PPE (personal protective equipment) donned workers and then our temperatures are taken. If we ‘pass’ we continue about our day. We are now required to wear a face mask at all times when interacting with patients or when a safe 2 metre distance can not be maintained. It feels weird, and unnatural and the backs of my ears are starting to hurt. When I am providing breastfeeding support, I need to be close and I often need to touch the baby and the mother. Sometimes I am donned in full PPE (gown, gloves, mask, goggles) depending on the patient’s diagnosis and other times, only a mask. I have never had to wear an N-95 respirator when interacting with a patient. When I come home from work, I immediately step into the laundry room, take off my scrubs, throw them in the wash and put on my robe. My kids laughed at me the other day when I was found walking around the house wearing my red fuzzy robe and striped compression stockings!

But on the flip side of things, I am grateful that I am still employed and grateful that I do not feel socially isolated, because I get to interact with my colleagues and patients on a very regular basis. I do miss my friends and other family members but I do not feel the need to ‘Zoom’ or ‘Facetime’ on daily basis because I am surrounded by people and laughter and conversation all the time. Plus the ability to communicate via text whenever we want allows us to stay connected. I’ve been texting with my ex-sister in law more now than I have in the last 6 months!

I am grateful that I still can support breastfeeding families in the hospital and home settings. I  feel for all the businesses that have been forced to close because of COVID-19. I hope that once this craziness is over, businesses can reopen and pick up where they left off. We all need to do our part to support local business in Calgary now and as they begin to reopen.

Nourish in home consults have definitely slowed over the past 2 weeks but I do continue to support families in their homes if I feel it is medically necessary to ensure babies are feeding and gaining weight well. I have started wearing a mask when I come into a home and do my best to keep a safe 2 metre distance when I am not directly interacting with the mother and baby. I also ensure that other family members in the home are healthy and have not travelled within the past 2 weeks. Again, it feels weird and unnatural but this is what needs to be done in order to keep everyone safe, and protected in order to flatten the curve.

Nourish has always offered complimentary text/phone support to it’s clients. With the recent pandemic, this service has definitely kept my little fingers hopping! Nourish also offers virtual breastfeeding support and on-line classes to ensure everyone's feeding goals are met. I am grateful for the trust that clients put in me when they reach out for breastfeeding support.

Nourish has an on-line shop page offering a variety of breastfeeding related products and supplies. I am grateful for the support my customers have shown by purchasing products through the Nourish shop and helping to support my business. Nourish also offers a hospital grade breast pump rental service. I had one client offer to pay for her pump through July if it would help in any way. That really warmed my heart and I was grateful for her generosity.

I recently told a client during a home visit that I was having a hard time finding hand sanitizer to purchase. Since that visit, she regularly sends me information on where  to purchase hand sanitizer on-line. Those little a reinforce why I love doing what I do. Clients feel my passion and know that I want nothing more than to help support, protect, and promote breastfeeding. I go the extra mile for them, and they return the favour by going the extra mile for me. 

So despite these crazy times of COVID-19, I have so much to be grateful for each and every day. I will continue to support all my breastfeeding families throughout this pandemic whether it be in person, on-line, by phone or text- Nourish is here for you.