I just watched this brief clip about orgasmic birth as an alternative to medicalized birth. Things I already knew, but wanted to share for those of you who had never seen this movie or heard of the concept. You will have to copy and paste the link...Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_0FLuu3VmY&feature=player_embedded
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
Midwifery School Fall 2010
About a week ago the midwifery school of my choice emailed me to ask if I would be signing up for my last prerequisite coming up at the end of this Summer and also if I intend to start the three year midwifery program with the 2010 Fall cohort. My stomach flip-flopped and my heart raced. My smile got way too big for my face and I'm sure my eyes were huge as I started at my computer screen. How to answer? What to say? My first response was a definite "Yes! All of it! Sign me up!" and my second was "How the heck am I going to come up with all that money?" I mean, I can make the time commitment. I can do the work. I can attend births as an apprentice, be sleep deprived, do the research, write my papers, be engaged in the on-line classroom, and still balance my family, my partner, and (hopefully) my sanity...but it's really the financial part that gets me. Michelle says, don't worry and there are plenty of ways to get the money for school especially since I am close to being considered a single mother of two young kids with hardly any income to speak of. Sure, I get paid for my work as a doula, but at this point it's not a living wage. It's enough to get groceries, gas and pay a bill occasionally. It will also be a lot easier to get financial assistance once this school is accredited, which will hopefully be soon. I have already met the woman who started the school when I attended the Midwifery Today conference last year in Eugene, Oregon. I actually stayed on her son's couch for those three nights and he and his housemates were VERY sweet and welcoming to me. At that conference I also spoke with one of the women who decides who gets into the midwifery program and she said to just complete my application and do the interview and she was sure I would get in. These things make me quite hopeful that somehow it will work out.
I emailed the school back and told them that I intend to do both; my last prerequisite and start the midwifery program in the Fall. The registrar emailed me back the same day with the list of things I needed to complete in order to apply for the program. I need: two letters of recommendation (that I just sent off to two wonderful and supportive women in my life who agreed to fill out the form), proof of high school graduation (easy), to write a personal essay about why I want to become a Certified Professional Midwife in around 1500 words, to upload a recent picture of myself, and last but not least, complete a 15-30 minute admissions interview over Skype. It all sounds quite doable. I'm thinking I should start on my essay today. Maybe Michelle would do a photoshoot for me so I can get some good recent pictures of myself? I would love to do a photoshoot on one of the beautiful days around here. We have so much beauty on the property with the mountains in the background, the stream, the open fields...pictures in front of our fireplace could be really pretty too.
It's fun and scary at the same time to get this ball rolling. I want to be a midwife so badly! I know this is going to take huge commitment and I understand the enormity of it all. It's one thing to know or think I know what it will be be like and it's another to live it and do it. I believe I have the drive and the passion to see it through. So I'm calling in all the abundance I need to make it happen; health (physical, emotional, and mental), family and friend support, financial, and time. I'm focusing on all of these areas. I will have the abundance I need to persevere and live my dreams. Midwifery school, here I come!
I emailed the school back and told them that I intend to do both; my last prerequisite and start the midwifery program in the Fall. The registrar emailed me back the same day with the list of things I needed to complete in order to apply for the program. I need: two letters of recommendation (that I just sent off to two wonderful and supportive women in my life who agreed to fill out the form), proof of high school graduation (easy), to write a personal essay about why I want to become a Certified Professional Midwife in around 1500 words, to upload a recent picture of myself, and last but not least, complete a 15-30 minute admissions interview over Skype. It all sounds quite doable. I'm thinking I should start on my essay today. Maybe Michelle would do a photoshoot for me so I can get some good recent pictures of myself? I would love to do a photoshoot on one of the beautiful days around here. We have so much beauty on the property with the mountains in the background, the stream, the open fields...pictures in front of our fireplace could be really pretty too.
It's fun and scary at the same time to get this ball rolling. I want to be a midwife so badly! I know this is going to take huge commitment and I understand the enormity of it all. It's one thing to know or think I know what it will be be like and it's another to live it and do it. I believe I have the drive and the passion to see it through. So I'm calling in all the abundance I need to make it happen; health (physical, emotional, and mental), family and friend support, financial, and time. I'm focusing on all of these areas. I will have the abundance I need to persevere and live my dreams. Midwifery school, here I come!
Monday, June 7, 2010
Next Steps
I've been on the computer now for hours. Checking emails and responding, reading blogs, checking facebook, and researching my next step in my midwifery education. The next class I need to take (my last prerequisite) is A&P II and it starts on August 16th. It costs money, as most education does. Which is fine, besides the fact that I'm running pretty low in that department. I keep trying to focus on abundance and know that when I put myself out there and state my needs, they will be met. I love thinking about being a midwife and the busy practice I will have someday with the glowing mothers and healthy babies. Empowering women to birth the way they choose and be that supportive woman right beside them with the knowledge and experience they can draw from when they question themselves. That I will be that quiet voice that says, "You know you can do this. You are doing this. Your wise woman is powerful. Listen to her." I can visualize it so clearly. I love what I do. I really believe that it is my calling and when I listen and do it, I feel infinite.
As I work toward becoming a midwife I also want to continue building my doula practice. My goal is to be busy with clients. I envision having two to four due dates on my calendar a month and also have a couple of postpartum clients, as well as continuing to sell and make baby slings. I want to make this blog beautiful and full of interesting information about all things natural momma/baby related. Another goal is to have an actual website dedicated to my business and create more of an on-line presence. These are things I will need help with since I don't consider myself incredibly computer or internet savvy.
A new friend (also recent client) came over for dinner last night. It was so nice to have her and her sweet baby girl over for a visit. It brings me so much joy to see the babies I help birth, grow. And it's so nice when I have that unspoken connection with the mother. It is such a huge thing to be part of a woman's process as she gives birth. I am so humbled every time I witness that miracle. This new friend is so fun to be around. She is such a light. My partner and I had the joy of doing her last postpartum visit together so that Michelle could get some more practice with her camera and do a photoshoot of them for free. When she came over last night we gave her a CD with all of the pictures on it. There are some with me in them and I asked if I could possibly use one or some for my promotional material. She said yes and now I just need to go through them more carefully and see what would work. I also want to put it out there, that if I have been your doula in the past and you have pictures you would like to send me or you are okay with me using, please let me know. I would love to compile pictures of past clients for a photo gallery on my (eventual) website.
I'm just thankful for all of the women who have let me be with them for their births and all the rest to come. I hope I can help make your journey the best it can be. I know from personal experience that a positive birth lasts a lifetime and can be so empowering and healing.
As I work toward becoming a midwife I also want to continue building my doula practice. My goal is to be busy with clients. I envision having two to four due dates on my calendar a month and also have a couple of postpartum clients, as well as continuing to sell and make baby slings. I want to make this blog beautiful and full of interesting information about all things natural momma/baby related. Another goal is to have an actual website dedicated to my business and create more of an on-line presence. These are things I will need help with since I don't consider myself incredibly computer or internet savvy.
A new friend (also recent client) came over for dinner last night. It was so nice to have her and her sweet baby girl over for a visit. It brings me so much joy to see the babies I help birth, grow. And it's so nice when I have that unspoken connection with the mother. It is such a huge thing to be part of a woman's process as she gives birth. I am so humbled every time I witness that miracle. This new friend is so fun to be around. She is such a light. My partner and I had the joy of doing her last postpartum visit together so that Michelle could get some more practice with her camera and do a photoshoot of them for free. When she came over last night we gave her a CD with all of the pictures on it. There are some with me in them and I asked if I could possibly use one or some for my promotional material. She said yes and now I just need to go through them more carefully and see what would work. I also want to put it out there, that if I have been your doula in the past and you have pictures you would like to send me or you are okay with me using, please let me know. I would love to compile pictures of past clients for a photo gallery on my (eventual) website.
I'm just thankful for all of the women who have let me be with them for their births and all the rest to come. I hope I can help make your journey the best it can be. I know from personal experience that a positive birth lasts a lifetime and can be so empowering and healing.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)