Midwives, how much experience is enough experience? - Page 2

[daintyfrump]

Originally Posted by Levatrice

Are you asking me?

75, if so

(to be read in a happy voice)

Estimating that I've been at 4 times that number of prenatals now, do you find it objectionable that I occasionally meet with a client while the midwife tends to other things? I've just recently felt capable in that role. I was still baffled after 75 visits. I'm self-teaching so my knowledge base is much broader than it was then, and there is probably a difference when a student already has a few years of theoretical knowledge behind them.

[Reha]

Originally Posted by daintyfrump

Different perspectives, who'd a thunk!

How many prenatals did you observe/conduct during your school?

I'm not done apprenticing just yet, and I don't have concrete number total, but I would estimate that it must be around 400. But, I am at ALL prenatals for ALL of our clients, so that adds up pretty quick.

I do occasionally do prenatals on my own, usually near the end of a woman's pregnancy. It is really nice, and always makes me feel like, 'ok, I can REALLY do this!' as I tend to fumble less and things flow easier than when I feel observed (even though I know my preceptor doesn't judge me at all and is the world's best preceptor, imo).

[jljeppson]

I was along the same lines. Number of prenatals is relatively high because I was there for almost all of them. My preceptor actually felt comfortable allowing me to do them pretty quickly, when she was running late w/appt's that kind of thing. My 1st birth I ended up doing the postpartum care because another mom went into labor while the first was pushing. So, I got thrown in pretty quickly right from the start. Guess that difference in what I was allowed to do and how quickly is what started everything leading to my starting this thread.

[Carolinamidwife]

Estimating that I've been at 4 times that number of prenatals now, do you find it objectionable that I occasionally meet with a client while the midwife tends to other things? I've just recently felt capable in that role. I was still baffled after 75 visits. I'm self-teaching so my knowledge base is much broader than it was then, and there is probably a difference when a student already has a few years of theoretical knowledge behind them.

I guess it just depends. In Texas it was the law so there wasn't much gray area. My school was HUGE on following the rules to maintain their good standing with the health department and with NARM so following those preceptor/apprentice rules was really drilled in. Here where the law doesn't factor into training I probably would be fine with it since you may or may not be certifying at all.

[mountainmidwife]

You know Ina May Gaskin who is now an icon for midwives worldwide started out with having never even seen a live birth. She was interested in midwifery but, had absolutely no experience until she started to get requests for her presence at births. It wasn't until she attended her second birth that she began to study textbooks and learn to deal with complications. You can read this story yourself in the first pages of Spiritual Midwifery. Now, if Ina May had not chosen to attend those births, she may not have been who she is today. Ina is not the only woman who started practicing because of a calling. I do not mean the feeling within herself to learn midwifery but, rather literal requests to attend births. For many lay midwives this is how they began.

I do not believe that birth is a medical event. I really believe this in my heart. Not that things don't go wrong (or become complicated) because in deed they can. But, when you believe in your heart that birth is not a medical event it is important to walk that talk. Having said that I think that if you do intend to continue attending births throughout your lifetime (whether you are paid or not) you should learn as much about the subject as you can. As for numbers and all of that....it is just hogwash. I know several women that attended hundreds of births before they made their own way and many of them have said that they didn't find themselves (as midwives) until they went out on their own. I once spoke with a CNM who told me she learned nothing in school that prepared her for what she does today.

I honor you for making your own path. Don't let anyone else tell you what that path should be. If you are honest with yourself and the families you serve then have faith that you are doing what the creator has called you to do.

[jljeppson]

Thanks for that, Mountainmidwife. I truly appreciate the opportunities that are available to midwives now-a-days; schooling, apprenticing, etc. But so far my reality has been a bit different. I yearn for the day I can start school (3yrs and counting!) but also have lived in areas where the only people doing HB's were homeschoolers who were deep underground and the women quietly showed up with cord scissors, maybe a few other things, helped out their friend and just as quietly went home. The day when midwifery is universally accepted and open in the US is still a distance away. As it goes now, I'll keep reading everything I can get my hands on (thank you for the internet and all the wonderful, experienced women willing to post their wisdom!) and will take life as it comes.