Miracles in Midwifery

I became a midwife because I was prompted to do so. It wasn't something that I needed or wanted in my life. I was a busy homeschool mom at the time with 7 children. My hands and schedule were full. But when that inspiration came, it was undeniable. Once I decided to follow that prompting, things fell into place better than I could have put them together.

In the months leading up to that prompting I kept having a feeling of unrest and urgency. As I pondered about it, I felt that there was something I was supposed to be doing that I needed to start, and I knew it had to do with education.

I have an interesting education background. I have an Associates degree in music, had been originally been interested in Music Therapy and Nursing, and chose music... but since I didn't feel right about going to the one school that had the Music Therapy degree, I decided to pursue a double-degree as an Elementary Music Specialist. In the process, I got married, was really just wanting to be a mom, but got 3/4 done with that degree when I hit some depression (infertility really threw me for a loop), and ended up changing gears to Computer Science... I ended up working as a Computer Programmer for about 3 years before our first son was born.

So when I started having those urgent feelings that I needed to be doing something, I looked back at all of those things and started crossing things off my list of what that thing was. One day I saw a post about a friend who had taken a doula training, and I knew I was supposed to go that route. I researched doula trainings, and found one I felt like I was supposed to take... but it wasn't for a couple of months. I kept looking, found a sooner one, and wanted to sign up for it, but felt a specific prompting that I was supposed to only attend the first one from that specific doula trainer. The thought of becoming a midwife kept coming to my mind...it had been in the back of my mind since I was little, but for some reason it seemed too scary for me, but by the time I attended that training 2 months later, I knew I was supposed to be a midwife. The spirit had worked on my heart and the fear was mostly gone and replaced by excitement and urgency.

I had used midwives with most of my births (all had been in-hospital), and assumed I was supposed to go back to school and become a CNM, but the specific direction I got was that NO. I was supposed to go a different route and become a CPM for out-of-hospital births. I was supposed to complete the PEP process through NARM, and acquire the skills as quickly as I could through an apprenticeship... but I knew apprenticeships were hard to find. A while after that doula training, I had been looking for and meeting with midwives, looking for an apprenticeship... and one day felt prompted to text my doula trainer, who also happened to be an amazing midwife, and ask her if she knew any good midwives that she would recommend, who were also looking for an apprentice. She immediately responded and said that she knew the perfect midwife who was looking for an apprentice....

And that midwife WAS the perfect preceptor for me, as a busy mom with a lot of kids who was also homeschooling. She was gentle and kind, had years and years of experience and skill, and urged me to make sure I was putting my marriage and family first. Which now as I know many midwives and preceptors, is pretty rare in a preceptor. She also worked at a busy birth center, which enabled me to gain skills and experience very quickly.

And that was how I stepped onto the path of this amazing journey of Midwifery. Along the path I have seen many miracles in my life, my family's life, my client's lives, and my colleagues lives. It has strengthened my faith that God knows us. He is very aware of the details of our lives and He wants us to grow, love each other, and have peace and joy.

I will include stories in this blog that relate to those miracles I have witnessed. Any stories shared relating to clients will have details changed to maintain anonymity, or they will be specifically shared with permission.

In the meantime... what are you being guided to do in your life? What things has God given you to do? Every person has important callings in this life. Being a wife and mother are my greatest callings. And Midwifery is another important one.