Midwifery..where to begin??

[Straylalily]

I mainly ask these questions because I'm very short on money. Who's not these days..but I just want to find the best way for me to get into midwifery without spending thousands of dollars that aren't necessary if you can find other means to gain the knowledge. I don't want to sound like I'm trying to find the easiest way or to find a way to go around school. I want to make sure I actually get the knowledge I need as well. I don't just want to be a midwife, I want to be a good one. I've just read on several websites and even these forums how some people started training without paying to go to school and learned hands on and by reading on their own. I don't know any midwives personally where I feel I could sit down and ask a ton of questions. I've emailed some, but I always feel so intrusive. If I could just get some advice on how to begin. I've been researching so much and I feel I just end up with even more questions on simply how to begin. It would be nice to be able to ask people with experience, which is why I joined this forum. I'm in the southern Michigan area and plan to eventually open up my own private practice. At this point I have not gone to school for midwifery, its just something I have a growing passion for to say the least. Any response is greatly appreciated!

[MamaRabbit]

I started out with doula work. There are no homebirth midwives over here either. I decided that by far the best education for my money was with AAMI. It's about $4000 tuition total (you can also win discounts) and then books. There are cheaper correspondence courses out there but IMO not at thorough. The others are way more money.

I've read for two years on my own and know that I"m ready for formal education (distance learning).

[Rockies5]

I read for 10yrs Couldn't get enough.

After 5years I started having my own babies. My interest only increased. I self studied for my childbirth educator certification after my third baby. I was invited to births, and then got my doula training and cert after my 5th weaned. I'm working as a CCE, volunteer doula and now I'm a first time college student at 30. woop!

I've just enrolled in nursing school. My income once I'm working as an RN will pay for whatever next step I choose to take "in birth", if any. Who can tell what their future holds? I may find exactly where I need to be, in the least likely place.

Goodluck

[blue_bug]

this is what i'm doing, it's VERY inexpensive, so it's easy to get started. it's not accredited (why it's inexpensive) so you'll have to go through and do the paperwork to get your cpm, narm stuff.

http://www.newlifehomebirth.com/midwifetobe2.htm

[Defenestrator]

You can definitely do book learning on your own. You can start with some of the more basic midwifery books like Special Delivery (which is pretty dated, but easy to understand) and Hearts and Hands. Then you can move on to books that are a little bit more subject-specific. If you want a study guide that will help you organize your research, you can get a copy of Daphne Singingtree's Birthsong Midwifery Workbook.

Doula work provides exposure to births and familiarity with the on-call lifestyle. If you can find a way to take a Neonatal Resuscitation class it would probably be considered an asset by any midwives you might apprentice with.

I am sure that there are midwives in your area -- you just need to find them. Because Indiana is an illegal state, it might take a while, but they are out there.

[holly6737]

I'd train to be a doula. That's what I did anyway. It gets you in there, yk? And I'm a volunteer doula at a local hospital, so I can get my birth fix anytime I need to while reading, planning, etc.

[mwherbs]

reading is one way to start, teaching birth classes or co-teaching birth classes, interview midwives in your area and find out what they might suggest.I don't know about doula training it can cost and be discouraging, hospital births are usually very different than home. I would also recommend going to LLL meetings and going to the HR classes they offer- there is information on non-judgmental counseling, and the meetings not only will teach you good info about breastfeeding but the variety of approaches and needs of moms. As for books they have a decent library or book suggestions not only on breastfeeding but on birth and birth choices, as well as caring for kids.

[cristeen]

If you dig, there are several midwifery schools who post their "Required Reading" lists online. The first thing I did when researching midwifery was find as many of those lists as I could and start buying books.

[mwherbs]

I used inter-library loan for my reading when starting out- I just couldn't afford to buy many books-- I have a decent library now but starting out I just didn't have the resources-

[roadfamily6now]

Originally Posted by MamaRabbit

I started out with doula work. There are no homebirth midwives over here either. I decided that by far the best education for my money was with AAMI. It's about $4000 tuition total (you can also win discounts) and then books. There are cheaper correspondence courses out there but IMO not at thorough. The others are way more money.

I've read for two years on my own and know that I"m ready for formal education (distance learning).

This is the program I am looking at. It looks great. I am also looking at doing CDE first, to get my feet wet and maybe some volunteer doula'ing while doing my Midwife studies.

Good Luck.