While I am waiting.

[AspiringNurseMW]

I'm going to stalk this page BTW, if you haven't already noticed, at least until I start school lol.

So while I'm on my path to become a CNM, during pre requisites and nursing school what things could I do that would most prepare me and /or give me advantages? For example, becoming a Childbirth Educator or a certified lactation consultant. I already took a doula training class but with a 8 month old and a year old & school I won't be able to be on call. Any other things or courses you would recommend?

[CNMidwife2Be]

Do you have hospitals near you that have doula volunteer programs? That would allow you to do doula work without being on call. You could even approach hospitals about starting one if they don't. There's lots of evidence about the benefits of doulas.

Yes childbirth educator training would be helpful and also allows an easier schedule - you could teach privately and advertise locally or apply for positions in hospitals or centers that offer childbirth ed, parenting ed, etc.

I was in your shoes not too long ago. Im a student at Frontier and I took the pre-req, accelerated BSN route. I never worked in nursing but did doula and CBE work for several years. My recommendation is do it all. Read as many midwifery books as you can- bios, textbooks. Attend conferences, workshops, and trainings. Midwifery Today is an amazing conference. Do midwifery assistant trainings. I did as much as I could over the years as I worked my way here and it all paid off. I have so much knowledge that I acquired before from my own self study and it's helping me hugely now that I'm in school. Hope this helps!

[lmac0202]

Make friends with your local CNM's! (Potential clinical instructors) See if you can follow them, or take them to coffee, pick their brains, get perspectives... Making the connections now will give you an advantage to finding clinical sites. Also it will give you a support system... I like to call CNM friends and follow them for the day if I'm getting discouraged in my classes... Seems to help :) good luck!