Just curious. :snicker

Ok, I totally am, but I'm at a loss.

I know to be a midwife you basically have to give up your life. Come on now ladies--it's true. ;) You are on-call constantly and here in London, you have a full workload. The two midwifery groups here are absolutely amazing, extremely organized and funded by the government. They have to turn away more women than they can provide care for. I feel SO lucky to be able to have had a homebirth with a couple of them.

Here in Ontario you must take a 4 year midwifery university program to become a midwife. If you have a nursing degree... you are out of luck, you still have to take the 4 years. That is unlike the States where you can become a CNM with 1 or 2 years of school after a nursing degree. I am about an hour or hour and a half away from two colleges that offer the midwifery programs. I hear it is EXTREMELY competative to get into and that it is a very elite group of women. This scares me out of even trying to apply.

I am not ready to give up my life and become a midwifery student. Although I imagine I will someday, because I have such a passion for birth and women's health.

I'm working on it, slowly but surely. You really do have to give up your life to a degree, but really you can take on the workload you want once you're licensed, and you're already used to being on call as a doula, its not a lot different!

I would love to become a midwife, but will not do that to myself. I know this will sound selfish beyond belief, but I didn't start college until I had four kids. It took me five years to graduate with my bachelors degree, and during that time I had two more kids. It was hard!!! Then three years ago I decided to go back to school to work on my master's degree (this time with seven kids), and it was hard again!!!

I honestly don't think I want to give up everything I am currently doing and to work that hard again.

I would love to become a midwife, but will not do that to myself. I know this will sound selfish beyond belief, but I didn't start college until I had four kids. It took me five years to graduate with my bachelors degree, and during that time I had two more kids. It was hard!!! Then three years ago I decided to go back to school to work on my master's degree (this time with seven kids), and it was hard again!!!

I honestly don't think I want to give up everything I am currently doing and to work that hard again.

Selfish? Not at all.....just because you have children, doesn't mean that you don't have dreams and goals anymore....My mom did her BA when she had 4 children too! And I missed her when she was busy with school, but so proud when she finished!

Yes, my gang was all very proud of me both times, but I just don't think I have it in me to do it again. :)

not anytime soon... ask me in 8 years or so, lol

I'd love to, but I had my family before my "career" and they deserve to have mom around as much as possible. I am happy with what I'm doing now & am excited about the future where I can, as a Doula & Childbirth Educator, make a difference in my community. I have 3 young children....maybe when they are older, who knows??? :)

Ya know, i dont really think it'll tkae you from your families as much as you think. my midwife when i was pregnant with my last was a very busy midwife, but still had time to homschool her three kids, in fact her career choice made it easier to stay home with them. i have a friend here who's a midwife and also homeschools her 4 kids. i think if anything being a midwife would give you far more time with your family than if you worked in an office full time. you might miss a few recital or birthday praties or something but you'll be home for just about anything else you could imagine. certainly wont be out any more than you would be as a doula, its exactly the same lifestyle, you'd probably just have to give more prenatals than you do as a doula. you'll sitll be on call and at births.

The thing is to go back to school and study to be a midwife is what I don't want to do. I know what going to school is like and having seven kids, and I am not up to that again anytime soon. Plus right now my dh is back in school working on his masters degree (he couldn't stand it that I had mine and he didn't LOL)

For me, it would take way more time than I have to give and it would mean giving something up. Right now I run a home daycare 50 hours a week, teach at a local hospital approximately once a week (sometimes as much as three times and others as little as twice a month) and I work as a staff doula at another hospital, and I also have my own private practice for hypnotherapy, doula work and childbirth education. I would definitely have to give some of that up to go back to school, and for me if I did it I would enter a nurse midwifery program instead of apprenticing.

I was interested in becoming a mw when I 1st started but now I feel like I found my calling. When I've assisted at a homebirth I felt out of my element, much better at supporting the mom than assisting the mw :snicker

I would very much like to work with a traditional midwife to learn from them but not to be a mw. I really want to learn the old ways of herbs and holistic care, but don't see myself having time for that for the next several years.

I actually discovered what a doula was and decided to become a doula because I wanted to be a midwife. I wanted to do something while in college for my prerequisites that is sort of in the same line of work as midwifery. I guess in a way I am lucky to be so young because I do not yet have the gift of little ones to care for. I hope to work as a doula for a few years and then I will be applying for Seattle Midwifery school.

Goodluck to all of you, whether you plan to become a midwife or just working as a doula when you can, you're all amazing.

Nope. I have no desire at all to become a midwife. I'm a doula. I have my other career also which I am very satisfied with. It's constantly changing too so will never become static.

I thought of becoming a midwife but with kids and also just to think I would have to go to school for so long... is not for me at this time. I am happy being a doula. :)

Susan

I would rather just find a midwife that would allow me to be more "attached" to her and help her with most of her births. I don't think I am ready for the full responsibility of being in charge of everything. LOL

I would rather just find a midwife that would allow me to be more "attached" to her and help her with most of her births. I don't think I am ready for the full responsibility of being in charge of everything. LOL

That's EXACTLY how I feel! :wiggle I think it would be cool to be a "midwive's assistant": do the doula stuff of labor support, and then maybe some 'very light' clinical stuff too (I guess somewhere between doula and monitrice...if there is such a thing). The CNMs I work fairly closely with (but not exclusively) only do hospital births for now, so there is no need for a "midwive's assistant" (nurses cover that need in the hospital environment). pooey... :bored

Yeh, I could be a "midwive's assistant"..that would be great. :D


Susan

Yep, I'm actually starting my training in January :woohoo ! I'm so excited :bugeye ! I decided to go through a school that is primarily self study with apprenticship (sp? it is way too late). We will be meeting once a month for about a year, and this will cover part of the requirments to take the test to become CPM! My next big step is to just fit in a few hours a day to study while staying on top of my three children, and my husband who works full time and goes to school full time! But I'm determined! I also hope to find a midwife who is open to having an apprentice! So excited! That reminds me, I better get some reading done! There is alot of it too! :scared

Kalamazoo...may I ask which school you are using for your midwife asst. program?

Thanks!

Okay, the school that I'm going through, is a very small local one. A local midwife has put together workshops that cover some of the requirments to take the NARM exam. I will have to find an preceptor to work under to get the other requirments. If you would like to see what she offers you can go to www.creativebirthingarts.com
I'm pretty excited because we will meet twice a month, for six months. The first part of the month we will be getting together to discuss a certain topic. Then the end of the month we will be meeting at a free standing birth center that is about a hour away! I'm just way too excited about this! LOL ;) www.greenhousebirthcenter.com

I hope that this helps! What programs have you been looking at? Did you know of the International School of Midwifery in Miami? It is a free program! And it is taught by one of the most experienced midwives in the contry! www.4midwife.com

Okay, the school that I'm going through, is a very small local one. A local midwife has put together workshops that cover some of the requirments to take the NARM exam. I will have to find an preceptor to work under to get the other requirments. If you would like to see what she offers you can go to www.creativebirthingarts.com
I'm pretty excited because we will meet twice a month, for six months. The first part of the month we will be getting together to discuss a certain topic. Then the end of the month we will be meeting at a free standing birth center that is about a hour away! I'm just way too excited about this! LOL ;) www.greenhousebirthcenter.com

I hope that this helps! What programs have you been looking at? Did you know of the International School of Midwifery in Miami? It is a free program! And it is taught by one of the most experienced midwives in the contry! www.4midwife.com


Sounds like a good program ...I wish there was a program like that in my area...well good luck and have fun. :clap

Susan

Just thought I'd share some info for those interested in being a midwife's assistant. There is a course you can take through the Midwives College of Utah that prepares you to be a midwife's assistant. Here is the link if you want to check it out: Second Attendant Course (http://www.midwifery.edu/canada2.php?PHPSESSID=ffa119b7bd28ea696d83f1eb2b40 9117)

Thanks for the extra inforamtion! I'm going to look at getting the video that they offer! It would help for a apprenticship!

Your welcome :D

I've actually registered for the course and am starting it any day now (whenever I can stop procrastinating!).

www.4midwife.com[/url]

I am familiar with it but have NO desire whatsoever to live in that part of the state. I am looking into the Florida School of Traditional Midwifery, in Gainesville...I was going to apply about 3 years ago but they weren't accredited with the Dept of Ed and couldn't accept federal aid or loans. I just found out that they have just been approved for accreditation and will find out at the end of Jan if they can take the grants/loans!!! They are VERY hopeful and confident. They don't foresee any problems, but I don't want to get TOO excited just yet. :woohoo

P.S. I have watched every episode of House of Babies and just love that school/center and Shari and all she does for her student and Mamas. I just wish Miami didn't make me CRINGE! Lol

That is unlike the States where you can become a CNM with 1 or 2 years of school after a nursing degree
I don't know where you can do this, but in most states you at least have to do a Master's for a CNM. In Washington, you have to become a nurse practioner. It is alot of work on top of the nursing degree. I really want to do it, but don't know if I will as I have two small children as well...

I would LOVE to be one! I have two reasons why I can't though.. My kids and there is no schooling in NC (from what I have found anyways).

Hello ladies,
Yes I am

If you had asked me yesterday I would have said, "NO!" But today I'm considering it. :wow Not any time soon but maybe sometime down the road.

I'm seriously considering it, but not for several years, after my kids are in school. I'm in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, and I've already looked into the school in Miami and will be attending there when I decide to pursue midwifery.

I am a second year midwifery student. It was a gradual procession from a Bradley method teacher, to doula, now midwifery training.

I really believe this is my calling and over the past few months have been doubting it or just scared of it :scared, but the more I pray and think on it, the more I see the doors opening for me and I've decided to stop letting fear immobilize me and to step out in faith and just go for it! :D

We'll see where life takes me, but for now I'm ready to live it. I don't want to wake up one day and wonder "what if", I want to be an old woman who knows for certain that she lived her dream. :yes

Blessings!
Amy

Has anyone heard of midwifesassistant.com ?

I would love too... someday if I could... but I see that very hard... :(
b/c I would like to be a professional midwife...

I've been studying midwifery for 7 years now. Eventually I'll get the apprenticeship training I need. :) I'm doing my book studies through Ancient Arts Midwifery Institute. http://www.ancientartmidwifery.com/

I'm also studying through Ancient Art.

.....but the more I pray and think on it, the more I see the doors opening for me and I've decided to stop letting fear immobilize me and to step out in faith and just go for it! :D

We'll see where life takes me, but for now I'm ready to live it. I don't want to wake up one day and wonder "what if", I want to be an old woman who knows for certain that she lived her dream. :yes

Blessings!
Amy

Amy - you couldn't have said more clearly how I feel about pursuing midwifery if you were inside my head - I have never been able to put it in to words so eloquently as you have here!

I plan to apply to the program here in Hamilton (ON - Macmaster Uni) for 2008 - my kiddos will be in school then and this will give me enough time to make sure my prerequisites are complete and above what is needed - as Tiffany mentioned in one of the initial posts - the program is highly competitive. When I went to the info night they said 400 apply, 120 get through the academic cut and are invited to interview for 20 spots. I know with my doula/CBE experience and my passion for birthing women and their families that I would do fine at the interview - just need to get there! Then I have to make it through the 4 year program! Am rambling - just wanted to reply when I read your quote Amy! R

I've decieded to go the CNM route! I just today registered for my gen eds! Freaking out a bit!

congratulatins for taking the plunge!!!

I have no desire at all to be a midwife. I am a doula. I am satisfied.

I have no desire at all to be a midwife. I am a doula. I am satisfied.

I'm with Georganne...thank heavens for midwives but I don't want to be one. But, I am not content with being a doula as I want to be a childbirth educator as well. But I think that is less about doula work and more about family life. While my children are young I think the CBE work will take me away from them less. When they are older I can definitely see myself as one of those doulas who sign on 4 to 6 clients a month. I actually see myself with my own doula business with multiple doulas and apprenticeships etc. . Should I call myself a doula madam?? :bugeye

I'm with Georganne...thank heavens for midwives but I don't want to be one. But, I am not content with being a doula as I want to be a childbirth educator as well. But I think that is less about doula work and more about family life. While my children are young I think the CBE work will take me away from them less. When they are older I can definitely see myself as one of those doulas who sign on 4 to 6 clients a month. I actually see myself with my own doula business with multiple doulas and apprenticeships etc. . Should I call myself a doula madam?? :bugeye

LOL! Oh, I'm also a Certified Breastfeeding Educator. I used to do classes but am not currently. I'll probably do them again sometime in the future.

Should I call myself a doula madam?? :bugeye


That is hysterical :rofl :lmao
Ash

I've just started midwifery training with newlifehomebirth.com. I'm going to a weekend workshop in August, she holds them twice a year, and then we do a lot of self-study. A week from Thursday, I'm going up north of Birmingham, AL, for the MANA southeast conference. Ina May Gaskin is going to be there. I've seen her speak twice, once I was her "doula." I brought her water, held one end of her quilt, and was her timekeeper. She's pretty interesting, I loved her talk on sphincter law. Anyway, my hubby and I are making it a honeymoon weekend, if I can pawn off my last two children. I split them into twos and give them out.

I did wonder if I was ready to make this jump, but several things just lined up and dropped in my lap, so I figured I'd keep going until I hit a roadblock. :)

How exciting Val!!! You'll have to tell us all about it!!

I have sent in my stuff to NMI and am anxiously awaiting the materials. It's been 20 yrs. since I was last in school so I am a little nervous but my friends are telling me I already know most of it so I shouldn't worry. Are there any yahoogroups or forums specific to student midwives anyone can direct me to? I'd love a more active midwifery forum.

Also, I have a 2 pg list of books to get/read! Anyone know of a discount place for buying midwifery books?

Matrona is in Ashville, NC but they aren't MEAC accredited.

I am happy being a doula at the moment. But I feel a natural progression into midwifery is best for me, starting w/ CBE. I am a SAHM. Then when my kids are older and I have more time I definitely want to pursue midwifery. I keep telling my hubby, that I'll have a new career when he retires. I am not putting a time limit on becoming a midwife. In the meantime, I try to be proactive politically in keeping midwifery an option, and more accessible to women. Homebirth is illegal in Rhode Island.

Vbac mom, EBAY!! lol www.fetchbooks.com

I know I have replied to this thread many many months ago but now I am also going to go through the midwife to be program. I am in the process of getting my books together, which is a challange for me since money is real tight but I will start this program for sure by Jan 07!:woohoo

I would like to become a midwife eventually... I have only just been to my first birth as a doula so I have lots of time to make that desicion. I think it could definattly be something that would happen in the future. I live in NC as well though and I do not know what is offered here.

I have gone back to college after years and years of swearing it off. I am completeing my Bachelors Degree in Alternative medicine and then I am going to go on and pursue a masters in Midwifery.... If that is what you want to do... Do it!!!

Once I got the bug, one door after another has opened up for me. I homeschool my two girls and take online courses for now. By the time I am ready to be more active in school with the masters my girls will be old enough to practically school thenselves and I will only need to keep them on track. I am very excited about my decision and the way it is all developing.

I've been looking into midwifery schools. I have 3 small kids and was looking to get my pre-req's (hopefully on-line) done so that when I decided to go full-time I wouldn't have as much to do. I'm still in the very long process of deciding which route to take. But I also love being a doula and taking care of my "families". I wish you all the best in whatever decisions are made on your paths....

I intend to apply to Midwives College of Utah next fall. I'm active with the local midwiferey community and see preciptorship as my biggest hurdle. I hadn't noticed MCU's course for mw assistant, I think I'll look into that!

I wanna be a midwife someday, but when the kids are older and I have taught a childbirth education class for a few years.

I´m starting nursing school in February. I´ll be a midwife in about 6 years.

I am happy being a doula at the moment. But I feel a natural progression into midwifery is best for me, starting w/ CBE. I am a SAHM. Then when my kids are older and I have more time I definitely want to pursue midwifery. .
:yeahthat
I am a second year midwifery student. It was a gradual procession from a Bradley method teacher, to doula, now midwifery training.

I really believe this is my calling and over the past few months have been doubting it or just scared of it :scared, but the more I pray and think on it, the more I see the doors opening for me and I've decided to stop letting fear immobilize me and to step out in faith and just go for it! :D

We'll see where life takes me, but for now I'm ready to live it. I don't want to wake up one day and wonder "what if", I want to be an old woman who knows for certain that she lived her dream. :yes

Blessings!
Amy
:yeahthat I'm so with you two on this issue. For me, I want to wait till my children are older before I dive in. I'd like to become a CBE along the way. Maybe a Lactation Consultant or LLL leader also. The lack of info around here is just screaming for these kinds of services.
I especially like the comment about waking up to the what ifs. I've done that before, I don't want to make that mistake again. So with a little encouragement from you great gals here on :alldoulas these things might happen sooner than I think!

I thought this was the road I was meant to go down...after two years of midwifery school, the birth of my second son, 93 hours worth of birth-related work in 120 hours...not for me. It was a difficult choice to leave but it no longer fit my life. I have profound respect for those who are called to midwifery and their sacrifice to continue providing such amazing care to women. I have watched close friends and classmates struggle to survive this profession...for me this is a problem and a real loss.

I feel very called to midwifery and am on my way! I'm enrolled in Heart & Hands with Elizabeth Davis right now, and will be starting prereqs for a direct-entry nurse-midwifery program this month.

AAMI all the way, baby!
I became a doula mostly to get my feet in the water while I'm studying to be a midwife. I LOVE AAMI and LOVE Carla and LOVE midwifery.
When I become a midwife (5 years is my goal, including school time and apprenticship time (hoping to start that SOON!) I will cease doula-ing exept for special cases, mostly because doula clients would take away from midwifery clients, and running a concurrent business like that would be taxing, b/c in midwifery you have this model of care which is NOT what they do in the hospital (mostly there are some bad midwives and some really good hospitals... lol...) and its hard to switch into "not the practitioner..." mode. That wouldn't be fair to anyone, esp. me!
I hope to have a family in the nearer rather than further future, so I'm wanting to get this done soonish, so that I can not have to go through school with little kids/babies. I know that it is hard to do that and I know I wouldn't be a good enough mom/wife or student. I'm a 100% gal, so I need to pour into midwifery, then a family.
That's my plan anyway... we'll see what HaShem has though! He tends to have other plans for me most of the time!
:wiggle
~Neshama~

I just started with AAMI.

I feel very called to midwifery and am on my way! I'm enrolled in Heart & Hands with Elizabeth Davis right now, and will be starting prereqs for a direct-entry nurse-midwifery program this month.

Elizabeth, which direct entry program? I'd love to do Heart and Hands but haven't budgetted for it. My goal is to find some sort of student loan this year. :)

I want to be a midwife someday. I am hoping to finish my doula training and have maybe 2 births a month, then use that income to put myself through midwifery school. I still wouldn't want more than two clients due in a month, and I would only want to offer home-based care, where I go to their houses or they come to mine. You're on call all the time as a doula anyway; it's just more work as a midwife because you have to do prenatal care, too.

I'm another AAMI student :heartbeat

:wiggle

Well, my plans were to finish my CBE training, get a LLL Leader training done, and then start working on midwifery. I did my doula work, and at the time I started it, was approached to be a LLL Leader, for which I completed the training last November, and have been co-leading a group with my best friend since then. THEN AAMI decided that, as of January, they were raising their prices. Not much, but enough to make a difference as to whether it could be in my three year plan. So, I took the plunge, applied at AAMI, was accepted, and am on the payment plan. I was STILL going to wait until I finished my CBE cert to start the midwifery studies...but it's sooooo exciting and, well, like a vortex. It just draws me in. I am still working on the CBE stuff, because it'll be valuable in many ways to finish it. However...I'm starting as a midwife's assistant in July for a midwife who keeps her business down to about ten births a year. This will allow me to continue to doula (I'll have to back off from three clients a month to two, but the third birth will ALWAYS be a homebirth!!!), will allow me a liiittttle bit of time every month to learn hands on (or at least eyes on!) from a very experienced homebirth midwife whose philosphy matches mine, and still allow me time to do the prereqs for AAMI to get my curriculum.

This all kind of fell in my lap, once I decided that this is the work I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Funny, because though I have degrees in Education, Psychology, and Political Science, I never felt about those professions the way I do about the midwifery model of care. It's what I 'm about. I trust birth, and I am excited to do my job every day when I wake up. My kids and my husband get sucked into it, too. :) My husband even asked a sister-in-law who was complaining that she was ready for her scheduled cesarean section because she was DONE being pregnant, "Yes, but is the BABY ready to be born yet? If it was, you'd have had it by now!" Now, five years ago, he'd have just said, "Huh. Hope it goes well..." :lmao

I DO have young children, and do most of my study-life at night when the house is asleep. I homeschool. My goal is to be ready for an apprenticeship about the time my kids are hitting upper elementary, so that I can give them assignments and go to a birth or prenatals, and come home to whatever help is needed. My husband is also a great help if needed when it comes to the kids...schooling and all, so, as we're a great team, I'm less worried about my work affecting their education and overall development. He's pretty much the only one to take care of them right now when I'm gone. I know that will change when I have an apprenticeship...but we'll cross that bridge in five years or so when we come to it!

Congratulations...it sounds like things are just falling into place for you! Not that it isn't hard work but it is nice when the doors open in such a way as to let you know that these are the right things at the right time.

Yup. THanks! When I decided to be a doula, it was like somebody had rested their hand on my shoulder and said, "Child, this is for you..." And it's just taken off from there. I am truely blessed. I just need to get off of my butt and re-read "birth as an american right of passage" (oh the horrors! I am a cerebral person and this book was SOOOOO DRY! Even though the information/premise was facinating it had to do it in fifteen minute chunks) so I can get on the road to done with the CBE cert! But, yes, it does seem that this was meant to be.

I am an aspiring midwife in training. Looks like I am one of the few around here. I became a doula on the road to midwifery for the practical experience and because I really wanted to be as invovled with Birth as soon as possible. I too am from Ontario and I would not let the competativeness of the program sway you away from your passion. I am now living in California and you might want to look into training in the US at an accreditted program. If you graduate from a MIDWIFERY program like Seattle or VT or Miami Dade and then go home, you will be most likely admitted into the final year of Ryerson or McMaster or Laurention. THen you would be legal to practice at home. ALSO, just so you know - You can study through Seattle while living in London. You don't have to move because MOST of the programs across the US are distance orriented now so that you do not have to move. You would need to find a midwife willing to take you on as a preceptor, but I would not imagine that it would be overly difficult. LOOK INTO IT. Also I want to comment that I do not think its SELFISH to not want to be a midwife. I beleive its a calling like many other vocations where one is required to devote a large portion of their lives. Its not the right path for everyone. If it was... who would be the doula's and coaches and assistants and other very important people we need in birth ;)
BTW - I have no children and a very supportive husband.

I am a trainee doula from London u.k, I am so happy supporting mums as doula.

congrats mammamay! sounds like things are just falling in natural for you!

I sent in my application to womancraft few weeks ago :) it starts in June. I'm pretty excited. I should be done with my CBE training in May, with exception of doing the trial series, so it works out well. I also hope to find a midwife that I can apprentice with that has a slower practice.

Doulamama, I'll cross my fingers for you. It really seemed to work out perfectly for me. I actually missed out on an opportunity a couple of months ago that I wanted reeeeaaaalllly badly to work out, because I had a birth and couldn't attend the meeting. It was a very busy midwifery practice that was looking for a couple of doulas to act as assistants, and then possibly morph into "something more" (an apprenticeship) if the "chemistry" was right. I knew that, if I ended up in an apprenticeship with them, I'd be done with my births relatively quickly, as they are just really busy. I also knew, deep down, that it is too soon in my children's lives to have the responsibility of an apprenticeship in that busy a practice. They have three or four clinic days that are full days, plus births. I wouldn't be able to doula at all, and I'd never see my family. So, I think that the birth I attended instead of the meeting (you only got one chance to attend...they knew they'd have plenty of candidates from whom to choose) was really divine intervention.

Now, this assistanceship has really fallen into my lap. The midwife is a friend of a friend and my friend is a Bradley instructor and a fellow LLL leader, and a client of this midwife, as well. She heard that this midwife needed an assistant, called her right away, and recommended me. When I called to talk to her, I guess that I came so highly recommended that all I really had to do was agree on a start date. I have heard GREAT things in the Midwifery community about this midwife, and it's PERFECT that she has pared her practice down to a slower pace. It gives me family time, doula time, and study time, and she has basically said that she'll teach me whatever we have time for and I'm willing to learn while I'm there.

Um, can you tell I'm excited? It really does seem like this is meant to be. As I said, I'm crossing my fingers for you that you get the apprenticeship that's just right for you, too!

I started out wanting to be a midwife UNTIL my precious midwife's life(and health) was totally distroyed by a doc who was out to get her. Around here the doctors really don't like midwives! She was convicted of "injury to a child" and put on probation for 4 years over a transported baby that ended up dying.IT WAS AWFUL!!!

Now I don't want that responsibilty! I'll just be involved this way instead.As a doula,that is.

I'd still like to learn how to do all the things they do, just incase I need to know someday.

:fingerdance I am interested in midwifery and just contacted Ancient Art Midwifery Institute. If you are looking for schools. Try going to meacschools.org. That will be a good start.

I'm interested in becoming a midwife too! :D If that isn't already obvious enough...that's all I've posted about. :lol:

Like some of you other ladies, I am a student/apprentice midwife! Actually, that came first, and being a doula sort of happened by accident along the way. As an apprentice, one of my jobs is 'labor-sitting' from the time mom first calls the midwife until it's appropriate for the midwife to come. I go to the house, take heart tones, listen to/watch some contractions, maybe check her cervix, and doula away! I suppose my role is acutally much more that of a monitrice than a doula actually. I've attended hospital births and home births, vaginal births and trials of labor before c-section, and homebirth is truly where my heart is.
For you ladies who want to be midwives but don't have a school close by, have you looked at BirthWise's new Apprenticeship Program?
(Sorry I can't post links yet :cursing, but if you go to BirthWiseMidwifery.org you will can find info on it)
I am starting that program next March. I love the empirical model of training that I've been through so far, and I'm excited to be a part of the slightly more structured model that Birthwise has to offer.
Is anyone else here in school to be a midwife?
Laura

Both Jackie (beautifulbirth) and I start our apprenticship tomorrow. WooHoo I am sooo excited!!

Oh yes I would love to become a MW. I discovered how deeply when I attended a home birth and the MW told my client to call when she was 5 cm's. Well, of course I dont do VE's and I had to rely strictly on moms breathing, labor cues, my intuition, etc. When my gut said to call, my client's DH called, however the MW lived about 50 minutes away.... By the time she arrived, mom delivered in about an hour. I think the reason it took that long was when the MW did arrive the tempo changed in the room and it took a bit to get the rhythm back. My clients afterward said man we liked our MW but if you become a MW we will hire you for next time for that job. You would be awesome. I realized that yes, I DID really want to be a MW someday. My kiddos have to be a wee older (from 5 to 11 in age) before I can find a preceptor, but my DH is all for it....

:cloud9

Desirre

I Am most definitely going to be a midwife eventually! I'm getting my doula training right now so I can afford my apprenticeship, since I really dont have any other skills that would let me get a decent paying job To save up for my application fees and tuitions etc. I figured becoming a doula would go hand in hand with an apprenticeship, and it gives me some experience in the birthing field. Right now I am doing a lot of self study on top of my doula studies so that when I do apprentice I will have some backgroung and knowledge in what I am doing. Its also more convenient for me to wait on my apprenticeship, as I am 11 weeks pregnant with my 4th baby, and I want to wait until this one starts school in about 5 or six years. Gives me plenty of time to figure out what kind of midwife that I want to become. Becoming a doula will help greatly with that too, give me a chance to experience many different births with many different clients with many different care providers. I truly dream of having the privledge of supporting a woman with an unassisted birth.
Love and light to all
Denise

I'm an aspring midwife. It's how I imagine my future, but I want to have 2 more babies first so I know it's a long way down the road.

My school (I'm attending grade 12 as an adult student) set up a job shadow for me with a local midwife and I am SO excited. I am crossing my fingers she will agree to a full work experience credit, which would be 100 hours. I would just be doing office work and stuff, but I think it would be a wonderful way for me to learn what goes on 'behind the scenes'.

YES!!
I've been comtemplating it since my 1st was born 4 years ago. I have finally come to a place where I know what I want - to be a midwife and I will no longer put it on the back burner!

I am going to start at the Florida School of Traditional Midwifery this fall! :yes I'm kind of excited - can you tell?

It's something I throw around every now and again. I haven't sussed it all out yet. ;)

Hi All,

I am considering getting my RN because I want the medical backing and I have always wanted to be an RN. But I really want to be a midwife too. I DO NOT want to become a MED-WIFE which I am afriad I will become if I become a CNM. I want to do homebirthes. If I am an RN and a LM will that mess up my nursing license???

Any and all opinions are appreciated :blush