How does one become a midwife?

Specialties CNM

Published

You are reading page 2 of How does one become a midwife?

SmilingBluEyes

20,964 Posts

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I thank you for the respectful answers, mitchsmom and parteira (means "midwife" does it not?). I can understand this, in a way, really.

BUT-----If you have read many of my posts, you know how I don't like a lot of hospital practices and very much respect desires of birthing families, and incorporate them into my careplanning whenver possible. I think you will also find MANY other nurses like me. We can and DO think "outside the box" despite some suffocating hospital policies under which we are sometimes forced to practice. There are tw sides to that coin, and I don't mean to start a debate about these, or where the best venue is for giving birth! (huge can of worms in and of itself I can honestly see room at the table for us all. Certainly, I can understand the philosophy of hospital birthing is undesireable, suffocating, or intimidating to some birthing families and midwives, too.

But I can't help but say the CNMs I have seen "in action"--who were ALL prior RN's by the way, were the BEST. I can't believe any school would really think to exclude from admission someone like me, with 7 years of good experience as an RN in several L and D settings.....some of which include helping out midwives, who in the middle of the night, brought in patients who for one reason or another, could not complete their homebirth at home. We are seen as both "enemy" and yet "saviors" in some situations. I find it interesting, to say the least....... :coollook:

I only speak for myself here but: Unlearning bad habits is not hard to do, if they are truly bad, and evidence supports not doing certain things anymore. In other words, show me I am wrong and watch me change my ways, fast. Anyhow I digress...... :)

It was just the first time I had heard anyone say university CNM/midwifery programs sought to exclude prior RN's due to bad habits they may have. I guess I am behind the curve. Thank you for helping me see the logic here.

Anyhow, I again thank you for the thoughtful, respectful responses. I am always glad to learn something new or hear from a viewpoint different than my own!

parteiranagua

59 Posts

Yes parteira means midwife and parteiranagua means midwife in the water..:-))

hence the dolphins ...

i know u guys r out there!!!! Thank God!!!! And Thank you!!!!

Always will be happy in keeping the dialogue!!! And yes there is so much that I learned from ladies like u!!

Ginny

mitchsmom

1,907 Posts

Specializes in OB, lactation.

Oh, Smiling... I am sure that they want experienced RN's.. I'm sure the school must have just meant it kinda like the FBI did... more of an acceptance of inexperience than not accepting experience (even if it may have not been the best phrasing). Most RN's are doing a great job and I'm sure they bend over backwards to get them!! :)

epiphany

543 Posts

I am just sharing what I've learnt from personal research. I wanted to know what next step should be right out of BSN, so that I would be on the right track, so I inquired into these schools, and interestingly, they have different approaches as well as different curricula, so it will behoove anyone of us, who are thinking about it, even still an undergrad like me, to investigate to schools we might want to apply to at this early stage. The person I spoke to is actually the director of the school, and it's a major school in a major city.

I just wanted to share my experience and be of some help, so even though I am high opinionated about L&D vs. MW approaches, this is not the place to work out this issue. In the end, it all comes down to our personal core values and outlook. However, I could see the school's point of view. I had interned at L&D, I was saddened to see that natural birth was not encouraged , and most of the approach was aggressive "just-in-case" intervention. I can see how, if I stayed in that environment, eventually I, too might lose confidence in a woman's ability to perform a very natural act. So maybe not all hospitals are that aggressive, but I certainly can see validity of the school's position.

ps.

By the way, I don't think the school prohibited applicants who had L&D experence already - and l, too, am sure that they'd be clamoring for anyone applicants who come with L&D experience.

fergus51

6,620 Posts

I heard that about one school too Deb. They didn't want us nurses who had been sucked into the medical model applying. I think it's a shame there is so little room for middle ground with some people. I certainly always advocate for less interventions, but my time in high risk L&D taught me when they were needed and if I ever go on for my CNM, I know that experience will serve me well.

SmilingBluEyes

20,964 Posts

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
I heard that about one school too Deb. They didn't want us nurses who had been sucked into the medical model applying. I think it's a shame there is so little room for middle ground with some people. I certainly always advocate for less interventions, but my time in high risk L&D taught me when they were needed and if I ever go on for my CNM, I know that experience will serve me well.

I agree; extremes on either end can lead to dangerous consequences and bad outcomes. This much, experience has taught me well.

SmilingBluEyes

20,964 Posts

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Thank you for your answer, epiphany!

parteiranagua

59 Posts

I certainly always advocate for less interventions, but my time in high risk L&D taught me when they were needed and if I ever go on for my CNM, I know that experience will serve me well.

Hello!!!

I can relate to this statement, but it is important to remember that the hallmark of MW care is the physiologic aspect of childbirth in the low risk population, and not the high risk population who is not the majority of the pregnant population.

High risk OB is not in the scope of practice of MW.

The MW ,at her beginning level of practice, is taught to recognize danger signs in AP care or IP care, in order to be able to refer or transfer the patient who will need it to an OB practitionner.

Ginny

fergus51

6,620 Posts

Hello!!!

I can relate to this statement, but it is important to remember that the hallmark of MW care is the physiologic aspect of childbirth in the low risk population, and not the high risk population who is not the majority of the pregnant population.

High risk OB is not in the scope of practice of MW.

I certainly agree there. But like we all know, low risk can become high risk in about 2 seconds. Ask my cousin who had a cord prolapse with her second homebirth! I am glad her midwife didn't just have experience with low risk deliveries and the outcome was a healthy girl. I've seen one really nasty outcome thanks to a midwife who didn't recognize the danger signs for her patient. I don't think midwives need to know how to treat high risk women, but I would think that having looked after those women as a nurse certainly helps them to recognize the signs that a referal is necessary.

parteiranagua

59 Posts

I. Ask my cousin who had a cord prolapse with her second homebirth! I am glad her midwife didn't just have experience with low risk deliveries and the outcome was a healthy girl. I've seen one really nasty outcome thanks to a midwife who didn't recognize the danger signs for her patient. .

yes agreed, as i was saying they r taught to recognize dangers signs...and what to do next...

nasty outcomes happen everywhere, even with nurses!!! and sometimes u can cannot prevent them!!! :uhoh21:

Ginny :)

fergus51

6,620 Posts

Definitely Ginny! All we can do is practise according to the most current knowledge out there and pray for the best. It is heartbreaking to see when a practioner doesn't do that.

SmilingBluEyes

20,964 Posts

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

We have had to come to the rescue for cases where things went wrong in attempted homebirths, for example, just months ago, an undiagnosed twin breech gestation who failed to progress at home. This midwife was not in the habit of doing U/S on anyone.... We thought we were getting ONE baby, when it was TWO, not to mention the cord having prolapsed in the 2nd case. The midwife was very non chalant about this whole situation, which to me, was concerning.

Truly, It's not fun on our end to get these things unexpectedly. No, I am not saying we don't have room to improve as nurses or in the hospitals. That would be naive and untrue. Let's just admit bad outcomes CAN happen in any setting. People can make mistakes, bad habits are everywhere, and negligence occurs in many venues, unfortunately. We can agree we all want what is best for mom and baby, even if philosophies do differ. I really don't want this be an "us versus them" thing.

+ Add a Comment