When Did You Apprentice?

[636Jen]

I'm just barely into my midwifery studies and was asked by a friend when I would start attending births. I told her that I thought it was too soon to think about that but then....maybe it's not?

I have 2 years left of studies with MSTM and won't take my first skills test until this coming summer. I have no background in women studies nor did I start out as a doula or CBE. My only experience is breastfeeding, attachment parenting, co-sleeping and baby wearing with my own kids. I'm really just starting at square one with this but I am working hard.

I live in Michigan so certification is not required although I plan on being certified anyway.

So, my questions are:

When did you midwives start apprenticing?
Did you have a preceptor in mind?
Did you apprentice with more than one midwife?
Do you recommend going to places like Casa for more experience?


Thank you for any help with this!

[feminist~mama]

I'm a student nurse at this point, although maybe midwifery someday. So here's my opinion.

ABSOLUTELY apprentice with more than one midwife. You have no idea the different experiences and knowledge that I've gained working with different people, even within the same facility. Take the good from everyone, leave the bad- you know.

My impression is that preceptors can be difficult to find, as can good apprentices. Start looking early.

Clinical experience has certainly taught me at least as much as my "book learning". I'd start sooner rather than later if my schedule and family could handle it.

I went to CASA this past summer for two months. You will absolutely gain skills and Spanish and confidence. It's also not perfect, but then, what is?

Good luck to you!

[JunipersMom]

I did my bookwork for about a year, got CPR and NNR certified and attended a couple of births as a doula before I found an apprenticeship. I ended up apprenticing under 3 main midwives and working with about 5 others. But that was in Dallas/Fort Worth and there are just tons of midwives there and they all work really well together for the most part. And they were almost all super supportive of students and new midwives. I know that it isnt the norm in all areas. But I would definately suggest working with as many midwives as you possibly can. There is just no way I could've gotten the education I did from just one persons experience and take on things. Casa is good for numbers, and different situations - but I'm not sure how good and worth the money it would be to actually prepare you for a homebirth practice in Michigan as you dont get a great chance with continuity of care and seeing a situation from pregnancy through post partum etc..

[feminist~mama]

Originally Posted by JunipersMom

Casa is good for numbers, and different situations - but I'm not sure how good and worth the money it would be to actually prepare you for a homebirth practice in Michigan as you dont get a great chance with continuity of care and seeing a situation from pregnancy through post partum etc..

That really depends on how long you can stay. I was there for two months and easily had 4 continuities and could have done more...

It *is* very different than homebirth. Not bad necessarily, just different.

[babycatcher01]

If you have a chance attend births right away. You need to see things along with what you are learning. Even just being there for support you learn alot. It also brings your learning full circle, you can see it in books all you want but to me there is nothing like seeing the real thing and being there feeling the energy. It is also great if you have a few different ladies you can tag along with.

[636Jen]

About Casa......I know it doesn't really apply to homebirths but I thought that with the amount of births that happen in say 3 weeks, I would see a variety of different birthing situations and get educated that way as well.

So if I wanted to start attending now, would I be more of a midwife assistant? Be the person to get supplies for her, get the mom things she needs, clean up afterwards etc?

Thanks for all the advice so far! I really value your opinions!!

[636Jen]

Would you suggest calling and making an appointment with a midwife and discussing things on the phone? What questions should I ask?

"Hi, I'm Jen. I'm a student midwife with MSTM. I want to start apprenticing soon and I'm looking for a preceptor."

I mean, since I have no prior birth experience do you think I'll have to start out by strictly observing and taking notes? Will I be on call as well?


Thanks for any help with this. I really appreciate it!

[MidwifeErika]

Jen, that is exactly what I would do. Just call a midwife up and talk with her about what you are looking for, what your experience is, etc. See if she needs someone or if she is already booked up with students, maybe she knows someone else who could help as well! I know it is intimidating to do, but just go for it and then stay in touch and see what happens.

I contacted a friend of a friend who is a midwife and had asked her if she would be willing to be my preceptor. She got back to me and stated that she really didn't need someone yet, but she would be willing to help me with anything else she could. So, I would occasionally call her with a question about her training and was just really honest and upfront about my own experiences and such. Well, one of these conversations she mentioned that there was another midwife who wasn't too far away who did not have an apprentice and suggested that I give her a call, so I did. Now I am apprenticing with this midwife and her partner. And a big bonus is that the first midwife recently contacted me back to let me know that she saw a need for an assistant as hers was going to take a little time off, so now I have started to go to births with her as well!

Just jump on in, make a contact and see where it goes! As far as what your role would be..... that would totally depend on what you and that midwife decide.

[sevenkids]

I started in my first year of school. I went to prenatals and sat in a corner and shut my mouth and listened and observed. Then I did things like take blood pressures, weights, pee dips, and charted. Then moved on to palpating and finding heart tones, taking history, asking questions. After I had been attending prenatals, I got invited to attend births, and for the first few births, I sat in a corner, shut my mouth, and listened and observed until it was time to clean up. Then I assisted by passing mom drinks, getting her what she needed, learning to be aware of her needs and the midwife's needs.
Then I moved on to caring for the baby after birth, then assisting with the birth, then catching.
By the time I started catching, I was ready.


There is no substitute for hands on learning, midwifery is a very tactile skill, and no amount of reading about Leopold's, for example, is going to give you a feel for baby parts and fundal heights like putting your hands on a belly.

I mean, since I have no prior birth experience do you think I'll have to start out by strictly observing and taking notes? Will I be on call as well?

Of course!

So if I wanted to start attending now, would I be more of a midwife assistant? Be the person to get supplies for her, get the mom things she needs, clean up afterwards etc?

Yes, and these are valuable skills to learn and you gain valuable experience by observing and serving with humility.

[eco_mama]

:

[636Jen]

Excellent!! Thank you ladies so much for responding. It is very encouraging!!

I think that's how I'll do it. Just call, make some connections and start out by ovbserving, questioning and patiently waiting to be invited into it.




Echo....lol

[Carolinamidwife]

When did you midwives start apprenticing?
Did you have a preceptor in mind?
Did you apprentice with more than one midwife?
Do you recommend going to places like Casa for more experience?

I started about 5 months into my book work.

I did not have a preceptor in mind but I knew there were a few I didn't want to work with and some I had a better shot at working with than others.

I did. I had two main preceptors for two years, one of whom I worked with for 4 years total and during that time I attended births and visits with about a dozen midwives. I feel apprenticing as much as possible with as many midwives as possible (in addition to a main mentor) is important to gain different perspectives. Some will want you to spend months watching and some will want you to jump right in, either way is right depending on how you learn.

I really only think of Casa as a last resort to score your last number or two if you are in a crunch. I worked for a while with a Casa trained midwife and I'm not sure the Casa methods are ones I would want deeply ingrained on my brain.

[Peppamint]

I've just starting too... but here are my answers so far.

Originally Posted by 636Jen

When did you midwives start apprenticing?
Did you have a preceptor in mind?
Did you apprentice with more than one midwife?
Do you recommend going to places like Casa for more experience?

I'm not actually apprenticing yet, I'm assisting (because they don't take local people as apprentices). I'm an extra set of hands mostly... help get the birth supplies set up, chart, clean up after the birth etc. Sometimes I'm more involved, other times not so much. I'm honored to do whatever I get to do!

Go for it! Assisting really is helping me to absorb what I'm reading in books. My ideal would be to combine schooling and an apprenticeship.