Question for the midwives....

Specialties CNM

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Just wondering, did all of you that are midwives have L&D experience before becoming midwives?

I am struggling with why I'm not totally happy in nursing. I think part of it is b/c I always envisioned myself delivering babies...I mean, I could live on those birth story shows alone!! Problem is, L&D jobs around here seem to be like apt shopping in NYC....like a nurse has to die off the L&D unit before I spot is open....and they absolutely will not hire someone without L&D experience....So, I have done many things along the way in nursing, but nothing I really want to do. I started thinking maybe it was just nursing, but I think if I could be involved in pregnancy and labor/delivering I would be happier than a pig in you know what :)

I have been looking at some of these midwifery programs...there are even some that are distance based(and endorsed by the am college of midwives). The admission criteria does not say that you have to had L&D experience. So, I was wondering, for those who have done it, is it necessary? I'm sure it would be helpful...but can you becomse a good midwife with no previous L&D experience? Can you really learn all you need to know between the cirriculum and the many hours spent with your preceptor?

I would appreciate all the info I could get?

Kathryn RN

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

Many will actually say having L and D experience is not only NOT required but not helpful .......

Some will say L/D nurses have bad habits they need to break if they go into midwifery.....

Others say it's a boon and critical----that the experiences we pick up as L and D nurses is so valuable and important.

There was a VERY heated debate on this board a while back on this very thing. I will try to find the thread to point it out to you.

You can decide. If nothing else, you can talk to some midwives in your area and get their opinions. Maybe one will let you shadow him or her so you can see what it's really like, what they do!

Good luck whatever you do decide.

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Thank you for the posts...and the links....all very good info to think about. I had no idea there was such a debate about CNM's and previous L&D experience...although should have known...leave it to nurses to always make things so difficult for one another :p

I have always thought that you should have L&D experience...I was actually quite pleasantly surprised to read some of the links that said there were CNM's who became great midwives without that experience. My problem is that even having wanted that experience...can't get an L&D job around here...as noted in my OP. I mean, what can I do about that?

I found that site for that Frontier school last night, which is what got me thinking about achieving what I'd like to do by some other means. If I could work L&D in the hospital I might would be content with that, but I think I would like to be involved in other aspects of women's care...such as the CNM's are involved in.

Again, thank you for your assistance

Kathryn RN

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

It truly is up to you. I say shadow a few, interview them. See from the "horses' mouths" what it's all about. And good luck to you, whatever you do pursue, Katwoman.

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I am one person who doesn't think experience is mandatory, but I do think it would be more important if you are choosing to do a distance based program.

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Specializes in Gerontological Nursing, Acute Rehab.
Just wondering, did all of you that are midwives have L&D experience before becoming midwives?

I am struggling with why I'm not totally happy in nursing. I think part of it is b/c I always envisioned myself delivering babies...I mean, I could live on those birth story shows alone!! Problem is, L&D jobs around here seem to be like apt shopping in NYC....like a nurse has to die off the L&D unit before I spot is open....and they absolutely will not hire someone without L&D experience....So, I have done many things along the way in nursing, but nothing I really want to do. I started thinking maybe it was just nursing, but I think if I could be involved in pregnancy and labor/delivering I would be happier than a pig in you know what :)

I have been looking at some of these midwifery programs...there are even some that are distance based(and endorsed by the am college of midwives). The admission criteria does not say that you have to had L&D experience. So, I was wondering, for those who have done it, is it necessary? I'm sure it would be helpful...but can you becomse a good midwife with no previous L&D experience? Can you really learn all you need to know between the cirriculum and the many hours spent with your preceptor?

I would appreciate all the info I could get?

Kathryn RN

You know, I was wondering the exact same thing not too long ago. It's very difficult getting into L&D in my area as well (or at least getting in one that's in a decent hospital) and sometimes I wonder if I ever wanted to go into midwifery if it would be required to have worked L&D. It's good to know that it's not necessarily mandatory. Also, I wish (and I know, wishful thinking) that they would hire and train "new" (or new to L&D) nurses right into birth centers.....I would love that!

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

yes they do:

look for hospitals that have residency programs for new nurses in L/D, Mother-Baby or NICU.

good luck.

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You want to deliver babies???? :uhoh21: :sofahider :eek: :nono:

arrggghhhhh (running in the opposite direction). :)

Best wishes though, really. :balloons:

steph

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Just wondering, did all of you that are midwives have L&D experience before becoming midwives?

I am struggling with why I'm not totally happy in nursing. I think part of it is b/c I always envisioned myself delivering babies...I mean, I could live on those birth story shows alone!! Problem is, L&D jobs around here seem to be like apt shopping in NYC....like a nurse has to die off the L&D unit before I spot is open....and they absolutely will not hire someone without L&D experience....So, I have done many things along the way in nursing, but nothing I really want to do. I started thinking maybe it was just nursing, but I think if I could be involved in pregnancy and labor/delivering I would be happier than a pig in you know what :)

I have been looking at some of these midwifery programs...there are even some that are distance based(and endorsed by the am college of midwives). The admission criteria does not say that you have to had L&D experience. So, I was wondering, for those who have done it, is it necessary? I'm sure it would be helpful...but can you becomse a good midwife with no previous L&D experience? Can you really learn all you need to know between the cirriculum and the many hours spent with your preceptor?

I would appreciate all the info I could get?

Kathryn RN

I can only give you my opinion based on 20 years experience. I have been in L&D for 18 of those and have worked with many many CNM students over the last 10 or so years. It is ony my opinion but.....the CNM students with previous L&D experience are far better students (clinically) than those who have not had the same experience. Everyone gets better with the more experience they get, but as students, I feel that those with previous experience do better and have better skills on general.

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You want to deliver babies???? :uhoh21: :sofahider :eek: :nono:

arrggghhhhh (running in the opposite direction). :)

Best wishes though, really. :balloons:

steph

LOLOL :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Wishing I didn't since I seem to have an easier time falling into jobs with old people or the dying...or just paper work jobs.

I can definitely see where most people are coming from...obviously those who have worked L&D would definitely have an upper hand with alot of the assessment skills...and just being familiar with situations that could arise. But obviously there are alot of people out there becoming midwives who aren't nurse (CM and DEM)...so obviously THEY didn't have any L&D experience....

I almost feel like going this route is the only way to get to do it, since, as I said earlier, L&D jobs are nearly impossible to come by....and I guess since there is no shortage of L&D nurses in this area...they can require previous experience...and the rest of us are SOL :rolleyes:

I am really wrestling with this....I seem to keep roaming from one job to another that I hate...alot of times b/c of situational stuff (like kids), but...I don't know...I'm just frustrated.....and have been trying to mentally talk myself into finding ways to like/pursue/advance myself with regards to the areas that I have been involved with, but I'm miserable at the prospect of continuing to do stuff I don't really enjoy....I sorta came up with idea while I was actually looking at possible pursuing something other than nursing altogether....when I stumbled upon the midwife programs, It sorta hit me again that that's where I have always wanted to be....and I guess I have sorta just suppressed that idea b/c the notion of ever really achieving it has long since fell by the way side b/c it has seemed impossible.

I don't know...I know this is not a huge problem in the grand scheme of life...but I've been really thinking about "what I want to be when i grow up"...and I'm just currently not anywhere close.

And again...how do you get the L&D experience if they won't hire you? I'm not adverse to it...but I can't exactly make them.

Thanks everyone

Kathryn

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LOLOL :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Wishing I didn't since I seem to have an easier time falling into jobs with old people or the dying...or just paper work jobs.

I can definitely see where most people are coming from...obviously those who have worked L&D would definitely have an upper hand with alot of the assessment skills...and just being familiar with situations that could arise. But obviously there are alot of people out there becoming midwives who aren't nurse (CM and DEM)...so obviously THEY didn't have any L&D experience....

I almost feel like going this route is the only way to get to do it, since, as I said earlier, L&D jobs are nearly impossible to come by....and I guess since there is no shortage of L&D nurses in this area...they can require previous experience...and the rest of us are SOL :rolleyes:

I am really wrestling with this....I seem to keep roaming from one job to another that I hate...alot of times b/c of situational stuff (like kids), but...I don't know...I'm just frustrated.....and have been trying to mentally talk myself into finding ways to like/pursue/advance myself with regards to the areas that I have been involved with, but I'm miserable at the prospect of continuing to do stuff I don't really enjoy....I sorta came up with idea while I was actually looking at possible pursuing something other than nursing altogether....when I stumbled upon the midwife programs, It sorta hit me again that that's where I have always wanted to be....and I guess I have sorta just suppressed that idea b/c the notion of ever really achieving it has long since fell by the way side b/c it has seemed impossible.

I don't know...I know this is not a huge problem in the grand scheme of life...but I've been really thinking about "what I want to be when i grow up"...and I'm just currently not anywhere close.

And again...how do you get the L&D experience if they won't hire you? I'm not adverse to it...but I can't exactly make them.

Thanks everyone

Kathryn

From all the posts I have read here, there are many facilities that will hire nurses without L&D experience into L&D. We did a couple of years ago. None were new grads, but none that we hired had ever been in L&D before. Bear in mind, however, that it takes at least a year to even begin to feel comfortable with L&D and labor management in general.

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