today my midwife had a midwifery (i love that word, it’s pronounced midWIFFeree, like wiffle ball) student shadowing her and she was so sweet and enthusiastic and NEW to the whole thing that i almost wished she were my usual. of course, part of this probably had to do with the fact that upon measuring my belly, she proclaimed it to be a “beautiful belly!” and then got all excited when the sprout kicked her (as he is wont to do) and declared him to be a very active and strong baby with a great sounding heart, as though she didn’t see/feel/hear this all the time. i think my midwife maybe could tell i was having more fun that usual, because she told the student not to give me a big head about my lovely belly. hmph!
she’s not bad, though. actually, i’m glad i’ve got the most experienced of the midwives (or so i’ve been told) in the practice. it’s just nice to be treated like an impressive specimen every once in a while, even if they are just being nice.
June 5, 2009 at 5:26 pm |
i’ve heard through the grapevine that sometimes midwiffery students are required to do internship-like stints with new moms at home post-delivery to aid during that period of adjustment (?) so that they can get further experience helping new moms get-in-the-swing-of-things, and that these services are often free or discounted. just thought i’d put that out there (though maybe you were already aware). it’s an experience v. ambitious and unjaded point-of-view decision for sure.
love,
a
June 5, 2009 at 10:17 pm |
Valerie, this is the sweetest story. I recently left my law firm job of five years for a sabbatical, and have been strongly considering making a career change to nursing/midwifery. It’s been a life-long dream of mine, and reading about your experiences with your midwife only reinforce what a meaningful, amazing profession it is. I wish you all the best of luck in your final month–you will be great! On another note, I love your new heart dress…your little man is going to be so lucky to have such a talented maker for a mama. Take care!! Kristien
June 5, 2009 at 11:14 pm |
i was lucky that i knew the midwife who helped deliver leon. my regular was a much older and experienced midwife, but thankfully i had had two appointments with the midwife who was on call that night.
the one thing that was a bit nutty about the experience was that my midwife was filling out paperwork while i was laboring. that’s what happens when you don’t call the hospital until 1 hour before you arrive fully dilated. i had no idea i was that far along. it hurt like hell, but i kept assuming that it would hurt EVEN MORE. by that point, i was ready to push.
sigh. it’s only been 3.5 months, so the experience is still pretty fresh in my memory.
your belly is very cute, and i’m glad that your boy is strong and healthy. i hope this next month goes smoothly for you!
kristien–
i would have been lost without my midwives. they are truly amazing! and my doula was wonderful, too. she was the one i really interacted with the most.
June 7, 2009 at 5:41 am |
thanks meels! my mom is going to come up when the beebin’s born, so i’ve already got an unpaid, short-term assistant! but that’s good to know for sure.
kristien! wow…that’s a huge career change! but if it’s what you’ve always dreamed of, you should totally do it. i’ve encountered a few students/midwives in training during my visits and they are all so bright-eyed and really seem to love every aspect of midwifery. it’s definitely one of those fields that people become very passionate about. thank you for the sweet words!
erica, your birth story is a particular comfort to me since i haven’t read many from the midwife + hospital perspective and that’s what we’re (hopefully!) doing. sounds like you did the right thing by waiting as long as possible before going in! we’re pretty far from our hospital so i’m a little worried about panicking and trying to go too early. it’s too bad there’s not like, some digital device that can tell you how dilated you are. ha!
June 9, 2009 at 9:07 pm |
oh you have a midwife, i love it, so did i, & i don’t think enough women do!
ps. i bet you’re belly is very lovely!
June 9, 2009 at 9:11 pm |
oh ps. i had a midwife/hospital birth, & i never saw any of the pesky hospital staff ever, it was just my ol’ man, & two midwives, it was perfect, & w/out any mess at home, of course that’s not the real reason i had a hospital birth, i was of a high risk for postpartum … but it was just amazing in the hospital anyhow