The baby oh yea the baby

Having taken the Neonatal Resusitaion Class yet again I am reminded of the need to take a pause. Karen is such a good teacher to all of us as homebirth midwives and she really reminds us to remember the baby and the need that both baby and mother have to take a pause in life.
As I have seen post partum moms, you students included, I have watched that moment of birth and the need to integrate what just happened. The baby who is adjusting to outside life is also taking a moment to gather up it's senses to integrate with the world. Together a mother and baby find there way to looking into each other eyes and to tell each other that their journey has been a powerful one. The baby has a story to tell of i't journey through the mothers body and into their arms. What then is our role as midwives at this amazing jucture of life?

We must also pause. Yes we are to be sure the baby is doing well and the mother is too. Yet our role is to stand back, and give the couple and baby the space to share and greet each other. To touch and explore the newness, the softness the perfection. Take a breathe and so will everyone else.

We have begun anew

It is the beginning of autumn and the leaves are changing the world to some amazing colors. Colors that I do love so much. The wind is blowing and the rain is washing all the world of its hard work during spring and summer. Then the earth will rest a season. Midwifery, birth and mothers are like this too. The creation of a tiny human life is like spring. All dressed up and know one can tell yet. Then summer comes and there is time to play with the baby in the belly and to enjoy pregnancy. Then the change of seasons of the wonderful colors bring the change of the life. The baby is born and is full of amazing experiences. The woman must come to her willingness to change and accept the newness of life and the need to scale back and to stay home and to be with her baby. Here baby is asking for the mother to breath and take a pause in her day to sit and marvel at the magnificent being she has welcomed.

As new students have begun the creation of their journey to midwifery they too, you are in a creative time. See that time as moments to reflect on who you are and what life is teaching you. As you meet each new mother who is eagerly anticipating this new life to move and grow within her, be in awe of her excitement and joy. You are growing a new life, "midwife" inside of you. You are nourishing her, loving her and listening to her as she grows. It is a longer gestation than babies. It is a lifetime of learning and listening. Every woman, every baby and every student will teach a midwife something new, only if they are willing to learn. Humility is a main element of a midwife. She must always be willing to learn.

To stay on track with your studies is giving you an increased ability to help women stay on track with their labors. It takes determination even when things are making you question. It takes loving the road and the journey and especially creating it in your mind. Seeing yourself along the path and already finished as well educated, well trained and skilled practitioners.

So as you allow the growth, the change, the beautiful colors emerge may you find joy, excitement and wonderment everyday.

The Village is Growing

Each of you are amazing. We have another new midwife in training who will join our group. Sometimes as we learn we gain experience to share with our clients/families that will support them in being moms and dads. Sometimes we need others that have skills that compliment our own.  We as midwives have our skills and talents. We learn when to refer out to others who have other talents that can support our families. Together we make a great community of resources.
Breast feeding is instinctual for a baby and learned for a mother.  Sometimes a milk supply issue is really a baby with a tight jaw or tongue tie or cranial bones out of place. So our job as midwives is to make assessments, use our skills and know when to call the IBLC ( International Board Lactation Consultant). They too are unique and each have their own strengths. We have a few in our area that are able to look for more than just a latching and milk making issue and find the deeper core problem and help a family find the help from an alternative therapy.  Once seen they miraculously fixes the sucking problem and walla...... a baby is milking and getting fed and the mamma is full of confidence once again. Thank goodness we each have talents to share.
Today I give you the choice of being a village. The village supports each other. The village feeds the children and nurtures them to wholeness. We create wholeness by honoring the individual talents and gifts of each person and bring them into the wholeness of the village.

In a Father Heart

We often share that birth at home will give a husband the opportunity to gain respect and love for his companion in a way that nothing else in life can do. Today a new father shared his thoughts on this with us. He has always had so much respect and love for his wife and now after going through labor, birth and now this new little baby he shared with us that it had grown so incredible.  His sweet wife hearing this, is teary as she feels this mans love and joy in being a part of this experience.

This is part of birth, the connections and dedications of relatioships. Birth teaches a woman about herself and gives her the confidence and courage to parent. It connects relationships to companions, family and friends. Then you look into her eyes and you see the wisdom of life. She knows something that is unspoken wisdom, wordless in expression, it is a breath.

You who are about to embark on your journey into midwifery are on a path that is more than pee stick and blood pressure readings, more than listening to heart tones, more than understanding a newborns adjustment to life, you are part of the creation of a family. The creation of an empowered woman and the relationship between she and her partner. The connection of the village to each member that is in it. You are the hub of wisdom, skills and experience. You are the safety, the sole and the celebrator. You are the one that bows out quietly, as the mother and her baby lay blissfully asleep in their own bed while the sun begins to rise over the trees. As the home is all clean, your instruments resterilized and your bags repacked you breath and smile as you remember that you just witnessed a miracle, a moment in time, a life as it first began.

So learn, learn all you can learn. Study and love every minute of what you learn. They be ready to apply all you learn to each and every woman and baby. And they will continue to teach you more and more everyday.

Smile and breath today is only one day, what would you like to exchange your day for.