Student midwife recap, 2016

Hello all! I wanted to pop on here and give an update for anyone even slightly paying attention to my midwifery journey. I have just completed my first year at Midwives College of Utah. This college is MEAC accredited and I am pursuing my Bachelor's of Science in Midwifery. After I graduate, I will take the NARM exam to become a CPM (Certified Professional Midwife). Due to previous experience and college credits, I am on course to finish this degree in 3 years. I have 2 years left, starting in January. The school runs almost continuously from January to December, with 2 week breaks between the "trimesters" and slightly longer over the Christmas holiday. It is demanding and rigorous but that is to be expected from such an important field of education. I completed my NRP and CPR training earlier this year, as well as certification for placenta encapsulation and my observe phase for the clinical portion of the program. I am awaiting approval for the assist phase. The "assist" phase simply means I can get credit for some of the things I do in clinic and at births when helping my preceptors. 

As of this week, I am honored to be working with 3 amazing local midwives. They are beyond generous to open their practices up to me and invite me in to learn midwifery from such great practices. I am humbled and appreciative of them. This step has most definitely taken the dream into reality. Watching these women run their personal practices, interact with expecting families, overcome obstacles and always remaining ever supportive and encouraging is inspiring. I thank them from the bottom of my weepy student midwife heart. 

My favorite class to take this year was a tie between Midwife's Assistant and Herbology for Midwives. Anyone that knows me knows I love plant medicine. For this course, I was *requried* to plant a midwife's garden! Can you believe it! My favorite herb to grow by far was chamomile. I am also eagerly awaiting next year to harvest from my Vitex tree. Midwife's Assistant was really fun. I learned some basics and got to walk through case studies. 

Captured by my husband, while I studied late one night. 

My chamomile garden! I made tea, tinctures and glycerites from this amazing crop of herbs. 

My most challenging class this year was Prenatal Care. This was the very first "midwife" specific course I took. I was required to think like a midwife and with that brought the enormity of what I am actually doing with my life. While I love the piles of books that sometimes even contradict each other, I really enjoyed the live conferences I had for this class. When you're in such a diverse group of people, some of whom might have even been practicing as a midwife already, it's really nice to be able to ask people who have more first hand knowledge than myself what they might do in a given situation. 

In August, 2 other local student midwives and I attended a week long school conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, where the school is located. It was so nice to be with a group of student midwives who love to learn! We had great meals, met other amazing women, experienced growth and increased our knowledge. Salt Lake City is a beautiful, albeit hilly, place to visit. Wear your most comfortable walking shoes and take in the view. On our last night there, a group of us took a moonlight hike. It might have been my most favorite thing we did. We sat as a circle of women, at the top of the beautiful Red Butte Canyon, honoring the earth, the importance of our work, and each other. A truly spiritual experience. On the way down, the full moon showed her stunning self over the top of the butte. 

Holding sweet baby Dash as he sleeps, while his mama holds his sister. 

Our charming Air B&B, located a few blocks away from the retreat center our conference was held at. 

Amy, practicing IV skills on me. We did a lot of hands on learning over the course of the week. 

One of my successful placements! Thanks for the amazing arms, Libby. 

Great food. Great women. Great friends. 

Looking into the city from our hike.

The full moon, lighting the way for us. 

This year was interesting. I learned a lot about myself and my ability to learn. I have always been a fantastic student but this learning while holding down 2 jobs and raising 3 boys with a husband that also has a full time career thing is hard! I realized my limits include needing to leave the house to get anything done. I split my study time between the doula offices at Thrive Mama Collective, Panera Bread and All About Cha (get the Goguma latte...it's fantastic!). I also learned I actually retain more than I thought. This in itself is the highlight of my year because I thought 3 pregnancies made my brain a sieve. 

Study time at Aspen Coffee Shop. 

Looking forward to next year, I am excited to get more core classes under my belt, as well as working more consistently beside my preceptors and more closely with local expecting families. I am very thankful for the guidance of my preceptors and fellow student midwives, as well as their friendship. This is a hard road and we only make it by lifting each other up. This entire journey would not even be slightly possible without the support, love and encouragement of my amazing husband. I am away from my family often and he ensures the children are well taken care of and the household runs smoothly on a daily basis. He is my rock and I appreciate all of the sacrifices he makes to pave the way for me to move forward in this career. I am lucky to have him and thank him from the bottom of my heart for all the ways he stands beside me. 

My super amazing partner in crime. 

OKC Doula

Being a holistic doula is a wonderful, fulfilling calling. It's a job that demands a lot of me but rewards heavily. I am fortunate enough to serve Central Oklahoma, including OKC, Edmond, Norman, Yukon, Guthrie, Midwest City and the surrounding areas. As a holistic doula I attend all births; including hospital, natural, planned cesarian, VBAC, medicated and home birth. 

Often, I feel it's assumed that doulas only attend natural births. This is not true. How can I help you in a planned cesarian? The same way I would in a natural birth, by providing unlimited emotional, physical and educational support. Each birth is different but support can look the same over a variety of situations. Being able to think on my feet is an asset that has served me well as a doula. As a highly intuitive person, I have found myself able to properly support parents well even if I have no experience with their situation. 

As a certified holistic life coach, I bring aspects to my doula work that others might not. I've been trained to help others reach their goals. Proper communication with my clients is very important to me. Meeting that client where they are helps them know I am there to support them. 

In addition to being a life coach, I am a certified raw food coach. Health and nutrition are the building blocks of our lives. I do my best to offer simple, manageable suggestions to others on improving their diet. Eating healthy during pregnancy and breastfeeding is absolutely vital. I'm always happy to offer ideas and recipes to enhance a diet. 

My apothecary space. 

As a certified home apothecary and certified space cleanser, I will help the energy in your home and body. I believe the earth has many powerful medicines for our healing and enjoy helping others find the right plant ally for their issue. When energy gets stagnant or feels negative, I offer space cleansing to others to clear and reset. It's a noninvasive way of equalizing the air. 

Midwifery is my next step in birth work. I have plans to attend Mercy In Actions distance learning program. I am excited to serve Central Oklahoma as a home birth midwife and continue to offer holistic modalities to compliment my birth work.  

I would love to hear from you. What is something you've always wanted to ask a doula but were afraid to? Have I offered you a different perspective on doulas? Did you use a doula for your birth? Tell me about it. 

Divine Feminine: a retreat

Recently, I was honored to be invited to a special retreat held for local birth workers. The Divine Femine retreat was soul-opening and (little did I know) very much needed. My good friend, Brittany Fitzgerald, felt called to lead this retreat in her own journey as a birth worker. She pulled it off beautifully and I believe found her lifes calling in the process. This 2 day event touched parts of my soul I thought were ok, parts I thought were healed and parts I didn't realize I needed touched. I am forever greateful to Brittany for her dedication to our community and am so excited to see where this journey of hers leads.

Day 1:

We participated in a lot of soul searching. We meditated often. Brittany chose a special, handmade mala for each of us to use. It was such a touching offering and I will treasure the one she chose for me.  

a handmade mala. gifted from Brittany. 

I haven't meditated in a long time and what it reminded me is that I crave meditation. At the end of the day, after my feelings bubbled to the surface multiple times within the group, I felt calm and centered. My evening with my family went smoothly. I could feel the energy at work. I am thankful for the reminder to meditate and how it is so beneficial to my well-being. 

We did a wonderful exercise in listening and sharing. When I shared, I stumbled over my words and couldn't elaborate what my heart was feeling in words. While holding the light for my sisters, I felt at peace. While being the active listener, I heard the affirmations I needed to hear for this time of my life. Hearing that what you do matters is so validating. Hearing that you should follow your dreams, no matter where other peoples journeys take them, is epic. 

Day 2: 

I could feel the energy buzzing when I stepped into the room on day two. I was eager to participate and keep chipping away at things that my soul was hiding. Brittany read us a Feminie meditation that was beautifully written by her own two hands. It was absolutely perfect.  We kept the moodlight and uplofting with a dance session right before we moved to another location to begin our intuitive painting process.

Whenwe arrived at the place that was to be our studio for the afternoon, we were fed nourishing foods and got to laugh with each other while we ate. After lunch, we discussed the ins and outs of intuitive painting. Intuitive painting is when you sit in contemplation before your canvas, releasing all expectations, then just let the paint flow. Below is my painting. It's very feminine, which is a oart of myself I tend to diminish. It sits on my dresser so I can see it each morning and night.

If you ever are presented with a chance to attend a retreat such as this, I highly encourage you to go. Sitting with like-minded women is nourishing to your soul. It's something I intend to do more often. 

Holistic Care for Birth Workers

For centuries, women have passed their childbearing wisdom down from grandmother to mother to daughter. Today, we are lucky to have a plethora of (mis) information via the internet and from each and every woman who has given birth within a 50 mile radius around us. Women are usually eager to share their birth experiences. Sadly, most of them are enveloped in fear, degradation and regret. My drive for becoming a birth worker was to prove to women that you could have an empowering, fulfilling, even painless, birth. I have easily incorporated holistic ways into my client's information because that is the lifestyle I lead. It just seems natural to include it. 

Dandelions from my middle son, age 2. Loving nature comes naturally to him. 

As a doula, I have learned many things about Holistic Care as it pertains to pregnancy, birth and postpartum. It is not always teas and tinctures and sage and prayers. Sometimes, it's simply doing nothing. Taking in the "whole" situation and filling in the gaps to complete that circle of support.

I have also learned (through trial and error) how Holistic Care should look for the doula herself. When we are on our last legs, we are of no use to a mother who has been in labor for 48 hours straight. She needs you most in those final moments. Be present for her. Here are a few points that have shaped me along this journey:

1. Prepare for the unexpected- All of the affirmations in the world will not help you if you have not prepared for the unexpected. I have faced several such events over the last year and they have knocked the wind out of me, literally and figuratively. 

2. Listen to your intuition- Always. We are so connected to our intuition but often dismiss it because we feel silly, or don't want to hurt someone. Your intuition is your checkpoint. Always, always trust it. 

3. Sometimes, do nothing- This one is difficult. We are programed to help, to assist, to encourage. But sometimes, nothing is exactly what is needed. 

4. Never underestimate your energy and how it shapes a birth experience- One of my favorite sayings is "Please take responsibility for the energy you bring into this space." I find this really is poignant when attending a birth. My goal is to always bring pure, positive energy into a birth. And when the unexpected happens, I maintain that. 

5. Self care is important- As a birth worker, we are often running on protein bars and day old hospital coffee. This does no one any good. Be prepared with healthy snacks, a refillable water bottle, comfort measure for a quick nap, a toothbrush for those long births. Take the time to take care of you, so that you may take care of others.  

Always learning, I might look back on this list in 5 months and decide it is not longer valid. For now, it is. As I learn and grow, I hope to change as well. To fully immerse myself into this birth community and to watch it rise with love and hope. There are big changes on the horizon and I am elated to move into the next chapter of this calling.