CPM in WA State

tb1234 · 09-12-2006, 07:39 PM

I am so torn over which direction I want to go.

Originally I thought I had it all planned out!!! But then one late evening, I come across some new message boards and find new information.

I am starting community college next week to finish up some pre-requisites and then planned on applying and (hopefully) attending SMS.

Then I come across the MTB program and all my plans go out the window. Financially it makes the most sense, but then, I don't know how accountable I can hold myself to that kind of study. Not having easy access to referrals for preceptors is another set back. I could go on, there are more cons than pros going this route.

So why am I still torn?? I also read some things about SMS becoming more medicalized, and thats nagging me.

And then to throw a wrench in the plan, I am going to throw in the CBI courses and get my doula/CBE cert in the process. I feel like I am biting off more than I can chew, but in the same breathe, hate that I have wasted so much time by starting this "late" in life. KWIM?

Thoughts on my thoughts? Someone just make the decision for me.

Gentlebirthmama · 09-12-2006, 11:12 PM

Boy have I been in your shoes, maybe still am.
I'm 41, been a CBE for over 14 years, labor assisted off and on over the years, and 2 years ago enrolled in midwifery school here in So. Oregon (moved here from Spokane).
And after my first year of midwifery school decided I wanted to be on the 'fast track' to getting licensed and hanging my shingle out so I could start catching babies!

Well, life happened and the path I thought I wanted to be on suddenly didn't look so good. It was like the Lord was whispering to me to slow down and enjoy life, enjoy my family. After all I decided babies would continue being born and if one day I was called to catch one of those babies than great. But I have decided that too many irons in the fire was causing me burnout and letting time with my kids slip away too quickly, while I tried to be everything to everyone else. So, I enrolled in the distance program at the midwifery school and then took a hiatus for a while from my studies...I don't honestly know if I'll go back.

Anyway, I can't answer your question as to where to attend school...I've known a couple midwives that graduated from SMS and they are awesome, well trained...and yet the other program's cost can't be beat and the curriculum looks very good. But one thing to consider is that I believe in WA to be able to legally practice as a midwife the only route is to attend SMS...is this wrong? I'm not positive but thought that's what I'd heard from others. Something to look into.

I think becoming a CBE and/or doula is a great way to get started in the birth field, but then for some jumping right into midwifery is the ideal way for them.

Anyway, just a bunch of rambling thoughts....
Guess my point is savor today, because who knows what tomorrow will bring.
And while we should certainly pursue our dreams or calling, we need to remember that it's not just about arriving at our destination, but about the experience of the journey.

I hope that you are able to find clarity in what you want/need to do...it is all so overwhelming at times.

sunlit_mists · 09-13-2006, 03:48 AM

Have you been to SMS's open house? I think that would be a good first start if you can work it. I went and it gave me a much better idea of their program and allowed me to ask them all the questions I had. They are patient and I found them to be very open to giving you a real view on the classes.

doula Michele · 09-13-2006, 08:51 AM

How late in life are you starting?
I understand your delema, as I have primarily been a stay home mom for 18 years, working p/t retail and admin type jobs. I have been a doula for 2.5 years, but now that the kids are on their own, it is just not enough. I need more to do.

My mom even suggested midwifery... but I am 39, and it would take years to get licensed as well as a lot of money. ( here in canada it tough) So how badly do I want to just start a career at 45 or 50..and be piled in debt from education? At a time when hubby and I get to look at maybe travelling more and enjoying a slower pace of life.

So all I can suggest is to follow your heart. And listen to those whisperings you are hearing. If something doesn't feel quite right...then hold off for a bit and give yourself time to decide what is really right for you.

Michele

douladot · 09-13-2006, 09:08 AM

I feel like I am in the same boat with a lot of you ladies, as well. I am also 39 and was wavering where I wanted my future "career" to take me. I, as well, have primarily been a stay at home mom for the past 16 years. I work part time from home in medical transcription and it works well, but it is not my "calling". I discovered the word "doula" on a midwifery website a few years ago (because I truly would love to become a midwife one day) and I thought becoming a doula would be the perfect stepping stone.....now that I am into this, I am sort of thinking along the same lines as Michele...I am not sure I want to be 45-50 or older and just starting a new career. There are so many things you can dabble in with this field (babies)...I feel like down the road I can add CBE and Lactation Educator to my credentials, but I have finally realized that I just need to slow down and realize that will be here down the road and to take it easy discovering what exactly it is that I want to incorporate with my doula practice.....I am glad this thread got started, because I have had these feelings for quite some time and hadn't been able to quite put my finger on describing how I was feeling!!

doula Michele · 09-13-2006, 09:19 AM

i'm with ya Dottie.... i feel like I am sitting in the same boat as my 18 year old... kind of. LOL only she has the benefit of time on her hands. And youth and energy!

There are just so many directions that i could go. The world is really open to me. I have grown up ( almost) kids, a supportive husband. But yet it it is so confusing!

i'm sure it will become clearer.

Michele

fearlessbirth · 09-13-2006, 09:43 AM

It can be a tug-of-war, can't it? I was actually an aspiring midwife when I found out about doulas....now I'm here. This is just the path I was supposed to take. I wanted to be in total control of the 'hows' and 'whens' of when I'd become a midwife, open a birth center, etc. Someone else has other plans

I've decided to take it easy, go with the flow. My doula work is awesome and I feel I'll learn a lot more this way WHILE being enrolled in the MTB program. We want to start a family soon as well and I know that'll sort of delay my goal of becoming a midwife. BUT I have no problem with being 40-50 and just getting licensed. It's really not 'too old' to get started. 2 of my aunts completely turned their lives around after 40 with college and new careers. When you're younger it seems far off but really you still have many years ahead of you!

tb1234 · 09-13-2006, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gentlebirthmama

Well, life happened and the path I thought I wanted to be on suddenly didn't look so good. It was like the Lord was whispering to me to slow down and enjoy life, enjoy my family. After all I decided babies would continue being born and if one day I was called to catch one of those babies than great. But I have decided that too many irons in the fire was causing me burnout and letting time with my kids slip away too quickly, while I tried to be everything to everyone else.......

Anyway, just a bunch of rambling thoughts....
Guess my point is savor today, because who knows what tomorrow will bring.
And while we should certainly pursue our dreams or calling, we need to remember that it's not just about arriving at our destination, but about the experience of the journey.

I hope that you are able to find clarity in what you want/need to do...it is all so overwhelming at times.

You are genius. Simply genius. And totally right. I am not sure what my rush is.

Sunlit-I've not yet been to an SMS open house. I am about 3 hrs away from them, and just haven't considered it yet. But yes, I do need to go there and check it out.

Michele-I turned 29 this summer. It was very tough for me. I think most people have a tough time with 30, but for me, I think 29 will be the tougher. And then I look at it, I will be in my mid-30's by the time I get this completed. Yet, my kids will still be young and in the house and perhaps another little one will have been added to the fold as well.

Thank you ladies for your thoughts. Its given me some great clarity. I think that I am confident in this path, and will just stay the course for now. Things fell into place for some reason. No need for me to rock the boat at this point.

tb1234 · 09-13-2006, 04:28 PM

Oh oh, as far as licensing in WA state, as I understand it (which isn't totally trustworthy) isn't the NARM the licensure for WA state? Or is there a separate test? If I have my NARM (which, using MTB would mean doing the PEP route and blahblahblah) isn't that it? Or not.............not sure now that I've typed it out. LOL I do meet with an LM on Friday morning. I read somewhere that LM hold more water than CPM in WA state. And I delivered my last son in a birthcenter that had two LM's and the lady I am meeting with Friday is as well. So I am hoping to pick her brain then. Perhaps even open up some doors?? We'll see.

Gentlebirthmama · 09-13-2006, 05:49 PM

Well, from my training so far, having a license as a midwife does hold more water so to speak with others, primarily the medical community, and if you want to legally carry O2, Pit and perform suturing etc. then you need a license because otherwise it's considered practicing medicine w/o a license.

You take the NARM exam to become a CPM, then if you want to become licensed in your state, you take the licensure exam for your state.
Going the PEP route for NARM doesn't eliminate the need to take the NARM exam...it just shows that you have completed all the NARM requirements for taking the test.
Then to become licensed (at least here in OR) you have to then attend so many more births and there may be a few more requirements needed before you can sit for the licensure test.

I'd like to comment about the age thing...as I continue to look towards midwifery for myself and think time is running out if I'm ever going to become a midwife because I'm already in my early 40's I remind myself that the midwives of yesteryear were the grandmas, the older women that had raised their families and were now helping their grandbabies into the world. I find it interesting how there is a trend towards younger women becoming midwives, many that haven't even started families. I think midwifery is being seen as a career choice where it wasn't looked upon like that years back. It was something you were called to do or fell into. And please know that I'm not saying it's a bad thing that younger women are coming into this field...there is definitely a place for all ages in midwifery.
And trust me, life doesn't end at 29!

The years ahead of you will give you the life experiences needed as a midwife, and now that I'm in my 40's I realize now that I most likely won't be pushing up daisies when I turn 50!

I wonder though, do my kids think I'm old like I thought of my mom when I was a teen??

BTW, just curious where you live in WA?

Amy
I still have another few good years left but for me right now, my children are my priority.

tb1234 · 09-14-2006, 01:27 PM

Yeah, I know 29 isn't the end of the world........but just in the moment, sometimes it does. KWIM?

I am in Eastern WA, but west of Spokane.

Gentlebirthmama · 09-14-2006, 03:14 PM

Yeah, I totally understand!
Just curious which midwives you're meeting with? Is it Linda & Beth in Spokane?
I used to teach classes at their birth center before I moved.

tb1234 · 09-15-2006, 05:11 PM

Actually, they are who I delivered my last son with, but no, I met with a Naturopath that went to Bastyr and her name is Elizabeth Trautman. She was awesome. So great to have her as an option in town. She does more naturopath than midwifery (for a reason) and just got her first OB client actually. She plans on just doing a couple a month at the most. But it was great to connect with her.

And she did confirm that I can only go thru SMS or Bastyr and be able to sit for licencing in WA state, so there goes that dilema! Problem solved.

What a relief. LOL

emmabella · 09-17-2006, 02:37 PM

I'm living in the Seattle area and have attended several seminars at SMS (doula, CBE & breastfeeding). This summer I decided I'm going down the path to midwifery and automatically assumed SMS was the only option for me. After doing some research, SMS is now fourth on my list and probably wouldn't be if it wasn't so close to home. I don't think they are teaching "traditional" midwifery there anymore; from what people have shared with me it sounds like they may as well be a CNM program. Not that the midwives who graduate from there aren't well qualified or fantastic women (my midwives are SMS grads and I love them to pieces). Personally, I also don't like their "low residency" program. I'm a hands on learner and I don't think I could become a fantastic midwife as easily with a mostly online self-paced program. I want to be learning in the classroom every week from professional midwives, interacting in person with the other students. To me, midwifery isn't something you can learn from a study guide.

Anywho, I'm also second guessing practicing in WA state. Yes, we are "progressive" but I have also heard some very distressing stories about the restrictions that are now in place. A CPM doesn't automatically "cut it" here, you have to become licensed through the state in order to practice legally. I've heard that WA pretty much makes anyone who studied anyplace other than SMS jump through ridiculous amounts of hoops in order to get their license... but it is possible. You can read all our state laws about midwifery here: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?Cite=18.50 (specifically "credentialing by endorsement").

I am highly considering practicing in Oregon once I am done with school. Licensure is voluntary there, meaning they don't prosecute midwives for practicing without a "state" license. Midwives are also able to attend a larger variety of births such as VBACs, breeches, twins, etc. In WA they are prosecuting midwives for attending these women.

Gosh, I'm totally raining on your parade, huh? I would just really encourage you to check out all the schools available to make sure you are finding the program that fits your needs and goals.

tb1234 · 09-17-2006, 09:30 PM

Thank you for your post. I had also heard that about the way they were teaching, but I will pick and choose how to use that information, KWIM?

Low -residency is what is going to allow me to even do midwifery, seeing as the school is over 2 hours away from me. And moving out of WA state, another non-option (at this point)

As far as jumping thru hoops to get licenced, I am no mood to do that at this point in my life. I want to assist women giving birth, and figure this is the best route for me. I'd be interested to hear the order of operations in order to get licenced in WA state if you haven't attened SMS or Bastyr.