I don’t talk a whole lot about my job on this blog. It’s pretty personal. It’s an emotional job to have and it’s often pretty politically charged, as well. I am also a midwife apprentice and am enrolled in a 3-year degree program. It’s birth, birth, birth all the time, people. If you’re squeamish, skip this post.
My family is pretty supportive and flexible. My husband no longer bats an eye when he has to push a placenta aside to grab a beer. My kids no longer freak out when I need to rush out the door as a babysitter runs in.
It’s really a great gig and it’s the only thing I could ever imagine doing. So here are some things that have happened in the past few months. It’s a new year and I am halfway to having my midwife wings.
I mixed up some herbs to tincture for my etsy shop and for clients.
Postpartum sitz baths.
Notes.
Sometimes I go to births at night. (View from Prentice women’s hospital.)
And sometimes during the day. (Also a view from Prentice women’s hospital.)
Preparing a placenta for encapsulation.
Finding the vein in preparation for an IV.
IVs are messy. You know, I felt pretty bad about this at first. But the more I watch nurses do IVs in the hospital, the more I realize that IVs are just messy most of the time, no matter what.
Organizing my study materials.
At the end of a long on-call shift, sometimes you need wine.
I didn’t muster up the courage to have a home birth until my fifth. I friggin’ loved it! My husband was actually the one who encapsulated my placenta for me. I would have never imagined him doing it or me taking it, but something about natural childbirth really changes the way you view childbirth and family. Best wishes on your journey!
that’s lovely! your husband is way more tolerant than mine would have been. I never encapsulated my own placentas since i was always engorged and never suffered from mood disorders, but looking back I probably should have since i tended to be anemic.
You know, this just reminds me that I want to be on that path. I don’t think I could ever be a midwife, but I’d love to be a doula. It’s like you’ve just reminded me that I need to stay focused and be on that road. Thank you for sharing all of that!
my pleasure. it’s a lovely job. good luck to you!