Saturday is the last day of the National Midwifery Week. I wish I was up to writing a post earlier in the week but I have not been feeling very well. I couldn’t let this week go by without sharing my own journey that led me to pursuing my degree as a midwife.
Joley’s birth was far from perfect. It was far from pleasant. In fact, it was downright traumatic. When I left the hospital, I was upset and depressed. To this day, my feelings about her birth are not of acceptance but of regret. Everyone said that I should be happy that my baby was okay and healthy but it didn’t (and doesn’t) take away the pain I have from basically missing out on her birth. I decided I was going to start back to school to finish up my bachelor’s degree and, when I was ready to start working again as a nurse, I would be doing something different. I no longer was willing to just do my job as a nurse… I wanted to make a bigger difference.
Thanks to a number of circumstances, I found a Certified Nurse Midwife in my area and I will eventually be working for her. There are some hangups right now with a physician but my hope is that soon the Birth Center will be open and I will be working. I went through Labor Doula and Childbirth Educator training, completed Neonatal Resuscitation training, and am ready to start! I will be starting Midwifery school next fall. I am excited and nervous but know that I am finally doing the right thing.
I want to make sure every woman that comes to me as their midwife is informed. Whatever decision she wants to make for the birth of her child, natural or not, is fine with me as long as she is fully aware of her options. I don’t want any woman to go through the pain I did when I did not have anyone to advocate for me. I want to allow women to have the birth they desire, not the birth their doctor wants. I want to help women and babies… help them breastfeed, help them bond, and give the moms a sense of empowerment over their own body and decisions.
Midwives are changing how women give birth. I am so excited to be joining them in a few years as a colleague. Until then, I am pleased to say that I am pursuing my degree to be one among them. To all the midwives out there… Happy Midwifery Week!
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Brynna says
I think it’s awesome that you’re going into midwifery! I’ve felt called to that myself, but just not yet in this season of my life as a mother to young children…maybe once they’ve all grown, but who knows how old I’ll be then! LOL (and actually, I was *almost* a nurse myself, though went the mommy route instead, but now I don’t know if I could go back…I love all things medical, but I definitely don’t fit with the allopathic medical model anymore LOL)
Anyway, I’ve had one hospital birth and two unassisted home births, and while they weren’t assisted by a midwife (for reasons that have absolutely nothing to do with midwives themselves…my first was actually originally intended to be assisted by the MW who did all my prenatals), I totally, completely support and promote midwifery. Birth is SUCH a wonderful, beautiful thing and I feel like all too often women are robbed of a lot of it (even though they may not realize it- think of all the women like me who go from a “good” hospital birth to a “now I know what I was missing!” homebirth!) in the average OB-assisted hospital birth.
Anyway, all that said…congratulations on your decision, you are doing an awesome thing!
Kara @ His, Hers and Ours says
“Whatever decision she wants to make for the birth of her child, natural or not, is fine with me as long as she is fully aware of her options.”
This is my biggest hope and dream for every woman. I’m so happy for you, Stef!! You will be an amazing midwife!!
Shauna says
Hope you have a great weekend! 🙂 Shauna from http://www.trying2staycalm.com/