First, let's bring up a few of the reasons you might be reading this post. You have a passion for serving families that are interested in the midwifery model of care and you're thinking about becoming a midwife, or perhaps you're struggling as an apprentice and would like to find out what's helped someone who's been there? I can relate ... becoming a midwife is tough ... so I hope this helps.
I love homebirth - I have loved it from the first time I was exposed to it, which was at the age of ten when I watched the video of a younger cousin being born. I married at eighteen and had my first baby at home at nineteen. There was no question about what I wanted, and my husband was down for whatever. (Maybe I can convince him to write a guest blog post!) Sometime after my wonderful experience I asked my midwife for the opportunity to apprentice, but she wisely declined, noting that I had young children and directing me to become a Doula. This was great advice. I got the feel of what it would be like to be on-call and it made my passion for serving women and babies grow.
Years later that same midwife asked me if I was still interested and this led to the start of my journey in Midwifery. I have since been in three different preceptorships, and from each of them I gained wonderful skills while encountering challenges. These experiences have helped mold me into the midwife I will be, so I want to encourage all the wonderful, zealous, on fire, and optimistic future midwives not to get too overwhelmed. Just chill and let me help you navigate this wild trip.
I love homebirth - I have loved it from the first time I was exposed to it, which was at the age of ten when I watched the video of a younger cousin being born. I married at eighteen and had my first baby at home at nineteen. There was no question about what I wanted, and my husband was down for whatever. (Maybe I can convince him to write a guest blog post!) Sometime after my wonderful experience I asked my midwife for the opportunity to apprentice, but she wisely declined, noting that I had young children and directing me to become a Doula. This was great advice. I got the feel of what it would be like to be on-call and it made my passion for serving women and babies grow.
Years later that same midwife asked me if I was still interested and this led to the start of my journey in Midwifery. I have since been in three different preceptorships, and from each of them I gained wonderful skills while encountering challenges. These experiences have helped mold me into the midwife I will be, so I want to encourage all the wonderful, zealous, on fire, and optimistic future midwives not to get too overwhelmed. Just chill and let me help you navigate this wild trip.
You Can Be a Wife, Mother and Midwife. (Yes it's True)
In this line of work family often comes second to a birthing mother, by necessity. However, there are ways to juggle a family and an apprenticeship ... it can be done, and it is extremely important that you become very efficient with your time so that you are there for your family. Use a crockpot, refrain from zoning out on the computer, and have back up plans for birthdays. When I am loving my husband well he is more supportive of aspirations and more willing to help me succeed.
My first apprenticeship quickly became imbalanced. I was devoted to giving all of my extra time to my midwife and my home life suffered. Eventually I walked away. It was difficult but it was for the best, so learn from my mistake and...
My first apprenticeship quickly became imbalanced. I was devoted to giving all of my extra time to my midwife and my home life suffered. Eventually I walked away. It was difficult but it was for the best, so learn from my mistake and...
Set Clear Boundaries
In any healthy relationship their are boundaries. This goes beyond just a written contract which can be helpful, but also reinterpreted or ignored. Make sure that you know what the preceptor expects from you before you begin the apprenticeship, and that this aligns with what you are actually able to commit to. You'll have to be realistic if you ever want to finish. Perhaps someone will let you start slowly... perhaps what they require from you will change and increase to fast ... but don't worry, because it's good to have...
More than one Preceptor
As one of my Preceptors stated, "My job is NOT to make you me, it is to help you learn and grow into the midwife YOU will be." Some of you don't have many choices in your area for preceptors. Have you considered traveling to a high volume birth center for a few months? Or even if you are in a great situation, you might still want to experience a birth center for a few weeks or at least birth assist with other local midwives. When I began my journey I didn't plan on having more then on preceptor, but I have learned so much from working with multiple ladies! When I got to the birth center I got to work with five different midwives and it was AWESOME! The time there refined and emboldened me. And, its good to experience things that build you up, because ....
You are Valuable
I had a preceptor teach me that I was valuable. Me, the student? I had to get use to that feeling, but you do bring value to a preceptor's practice and you may find that their clients really like you and want you to be at their birth. There are midwives that pay their students, so don't be afraid, to discuss that with potential preceptors. Also, the knowledge that you are learning in school is valuable to the midwife. Midwives are always learning and keeping up with studies and having a student that is keeping up with the newest and latest is a benefit for her! And since you are awesome and valuable be sure and...
Get your Paperwork SIGNED!
You NEED it! And if you have a bunch of skills that have not been signed off on and, something happens to your preceptor, you will have nothing. I have been with some great preceptors that took time after each birth to sign paperwork, even at three in the morning! They understood its importance and respected my needs. So make sure you have a preceptor that is going to sign promptly, instead of using it as some sort of leverage to keep you in their service. This is a good thing to cover with them when establishing your boundaries.
Becoming a midwife is difficult, so make your journey easier on you and your family by having a well thought out plan. This is my first Blog Post so give me some comments and question. And there will be more to come, so please come back, and feel free to share!
Becoming a midwife is difficult, so make your journey easier on you and your family by having a well thought out plan. This is my first Blog Post so give me some comments and question. And there will be more to come, so please come back, and feel free to share!
Thanks for Reading!
| April Brake |  Christian, Wife, Mother, Student, Entrepreneur, Dreamer ... |
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