Frusterated

One thing that I am having to learn to deal with, is the unwillingness of people to know the Birth Truth. The thing that I think I am most surprised about are the women who do not want to know about birth. We, as women, are blessed to be able to experience something so wonderful and beautiful as pregnancy, I sometimes don't understand why you wouldn't want to take full advantage of this privilege.
It's funny, when I talk about birth I get so excited maybe a little, too excited. When my enthusiasm is not met, I get confused...Why wouldn't everyone want to know about birth and talk about it all the time? But this is actually a good thing because it helps me remember that a good birth, is the birth that you want. I want to encourage people to learn about birth and then make their decision about what birth is best for them. When a baby is born it is bringing in a new family member, it doesn't matter how they are brought into this world, it just matters that you love them.

More about me

So I have started reading Carla Hartley's Helping Hands. In the very first part of the book, Carla has written responses to questions form various midwives. Questions such as: What is midwifery, How has it changed your lifestyle, etc. I find some of the responses to be a little surprising, to tell you the truth. All of the women seem to feel called to the profession, but some of the comments made me really think about what Midwifery is.
One thing that I want to remember, is that midwifery is about families, and this should include my own. Women were talking about not being able to spend as much time with their families and I want to make sure that my family still knows that they are important to me. In fact they are the most important thing in my life. I hope to find a balance between catching babies, and being a mother and wife.

Quote

I am beginning to read Carla Hartley's Helping Hands The Apprentice Workbook. As I have said, I have enrolled in Ancient Art Midwifery Institute. Carla Hartley is the founder of this school and I have had the privilege of getting to speak with her over the phone twice. I really respect her and agree with her philosphy on birth!! I am so excited to be able to learn from her school.
In her book, she quotes a midwife talking about her reasons for becoming a midwife:

"Something deep inside me feels a connection to women in the birthing process. I feel if I am part of the few who can assist a woman in birth, advise or watch from afar and contribute when asked-from whatever position I am in that birth."

-L. Kathy Johnson

Everytime I find another quote that sums up how I feel, makes me realize more and more that this is the path that I am supposed to follow.

Affirmation

I am constantly reading. I think that I am reading atleast 4 books right now. Sometimes it feels like I just can't get enough information. I see books and think "I have to have that, if I don't get that then I won't know!" This is a good thing and a bad thing. A good thing because this means that I am working hard at becoming an expert. But it is also bad because you just can't buy everybook and read them in one day :)
Anyway, I was reading one of my books today and I thought that I would share something with you. It just embodies what I have been thinking in my head about being a midwife. This comes from the book: Obstetrics Myths Versus Research Realities: A Guide to the Medical Literature by, Henci Goer. In the very first chapter Henci describes what she thinks is "good care", I also thought that it described what I wanted to do for my mama's when I practice.

"I am not antiobstetrician, and I personally know and know by reputation some very fine obstetricians. Here is what I think defines good care. Good doctors and midwives:

• Believe that childbearing to be a fundamentally healthy and normal part of a woman's psychosexual life.
• Treat women holistically, taking into consideration their thoughts, feelings, concerns, and priorities.
• Respect the right of women to make informed decisions for themselves and their babies.
• Respect labor as an expierence with its own lessons and rewards.
• Offer supportive rather than interventinve care.
• Evaluate individually and do not treat by rule.
• Start small when intervention becomes necessary.
• Keep abreast of the medical literature."

I just thought that this just hit the nail on the head for me. Anyway, I thought that I would share this. My hope is that someday all obstetrical care will be like this. All it will take are some determined mamas, that aren't afraid to stand their ground. I hope that I can be one of those ladies!

Remeber

You know? Sometimes it is hard to remember that not everyone believes the way that you do about birth. And sometimes, even, I think that people do not want to know the truth about birth. That can be a bit frustrating for me.
I feel that birth is a spiritual journey, that we are privileged to experience. When I was pregnant with Caroline, I felt the most beautiful, safe, and empowered, as I ever have before. When I went into labor with her, I felt very in control and was very proud at how hard I was working. I wish that everyone was able to feel the same thing that I did. But alas, not everyone will be able to do that.
Tomorrow is my first meeting with the group that I started for natural child birth. I hope that women are able to use my group as a support group and are able to learn to trust what they can do. I want to be that little voice that tells them that "You can do this." I have a friend who does this for me all the time, and it is my turn to do it for other girls!

The beginning.

Hello! For those of you who do not know me, my name is Amy and I have just enrolled in Ancient Art Midwifery Institute. I am a wife to Adrian, a mother to Caroline, and also a student at Oklahoma State University working on my BA in Political Science. I have decided to create a blog so that I can talk about my feelings as I work towards becoming a midwife.
Some people are wondering why I have decided to become a midwife...well I feel that women need as many people who are 100% confident about birth, and women's abilities to give birth. There are so many people out there who do not know what a women's body is capable of doing, and therefore are fearful of things that they do not know. I do not want to be considered anti- ob-gyn, but rather anti-birth managment. I also want to be a supporter of a woman's choice on how she wants to give birth. Whether it is in a hospital, or a midwife attended homebirth, or even an unassisted birth, just so long as she knows that truth about birth!! "Birth is Safe!"- Carla Hartley.
I want to become a birth expert. My dream is to know everything there is about birth and labor. I hope that someday I will be considered one of the greats, like Ina May, or Dr. Odent. I want to be the pregnant mother's ally. I want her to know that I am there to assist her and not to manage her labor. Someday....someday!!