Pursuing Nurse Midwifery?

AspiringNurseMW · Mar 17, 2015

Hello! I just got accepted to nursing school and will start in the fall. I am going to nursing school solely because I want to be a Midwife, at least it's why I started pursuing it. The more I learn about the nursing field in general the more I am confident in my choice (at least in my area).

My path really started 5 years ago when I got pregnant with my oldest. I could not read enough about pregnancy and birth, unfortunately I ended up with what I consider and unnecessary c section. 2 years later I became a doula after the company I worked for at that time closed. The first two births I attended were homebirths and I feel like it ruined hospital births for me, lol. Then I got hired to an administrative position at a birth center and in the same week found out I was pregnant. So for the next 9 months I worked with CNMs at work and hired 2 for my HBAC.

After I had my HBAC I decided I HAD to be a CNM, I wanted to help others have that same experience, have those feelings, regardless whether it's at their home or hospital, whether or not they have a doula. I know that a provider can make or break the Childbirth experience.

A few months after the birth of my daughter I moved to NEPA where getting into nursing school is easier and hospitals still hire ASN s, and cost of living is low enough that I only have to work part time. I have a job working from home...... assisting with insurance billing for homebirth midwives in NY.

Sorry for the length... this is what happens when I'm up at 430 with nothing to do lol.

nlitened · Mar 17, 2015

I actually didn't even think of nursing as a career until I became pregnant with my daughter. I had a few complications during the pregnancy so I spent many hours at the hospital and with my CNM (yes a midwife...even though I was having complications I refused to have a MD touch me). I learned a lot about nursing and midwifery and fell in love with the idea of maybe being one some day. My CNM and the nurses made the joy of being pregnant, even with complications, a pleasure. And that experience is now why I am in nursing school.

I want to say though that I am interested in women's health as well. So if I end up in either I am sure I will be happy.

JulzMendoza · Mar 17, 2015

I think it is so amazing how each one hears that "calling" to midwifery. It is so different then a lot of other career paths. I will share a little more about my reason to pursue midwifery!

I was about 15 when I decided that I wanted to become a midwife. I was able to do some job shadowing with a local birth center and loved it. The mamas would specifically request me to be at their births! I was so intrigued with birth and the beauty of seeing a family created, welcoming precious new ones into the world.

Then in 2011 I decided to do an overseas apprenticeship in the Philippines and pursue the CPM (certified professional midwife) route. I was there for 3 months and saw some amazing and also horrific births.

When I came back to the USA, I got married and we started our own family. My first birth was AMAZING. I had a home water-birth and it was so beautiful. Then I found out at 3 months PP I was pregnant again. My IUD had fallen out without me knowing. OMG, I was so shocked, but I knew I wanted another home water-birth. My hopes came crashing down at 33 weeks when I developed pre-eclampsia. I went into pre-term labor around the same time and I delivered Sofia at 34 weeks 0 days. I didn't even get to see what she looked like, as she was rushed up to the NICU. We had only a short NICU stay of 2 weeks but it was an awful, un-expected, and definitely I had been un-prepared to birth in such a way. I had a lot of PP depression and also had a difficult bonding experience with Sofia. (Now, she is my little angel, nothing can separate us! )

You wouldn't believe it, but I got the IUD again (because there is no way I am going to get pregnant on it again). 4 months PP I started experiencing pregnancy symptoms! Went to the doctors and sure enough I was pregnant with number 3! They had to remove my IUD. My pregnancy was carefully monitored by a high risk OB and a CNM. It was a great experience, I made it to 37 weeks before needing to be induced because of liver failure and had a beautiful hospital birth. So much different then my first hospital birthing experience.

I decided that I did not want to just be a CPM - I needed and wanted more knowledge. I want to study pre-eclampsia, I want the right to work in hospitals with mamas that can't have homebirth experiences because they have had issues that make is unsafe. The more and more I reasoned within myself, the more I realized that my calling was Nurse Midwifery.

While I am nervous about the intensity of nursing school and midwifery, I am so excited to be on this journey and want to connect with others pursuing the same goals!

Blessings on all of your journeys!! xoxoxo

klone, MSN, RN · Mar 18, 2015

Wow, that's quite a story! I would suggest maybe a contraceptive implant as your next BC choice :) I say that totally with kindness and joking - I work in outpatient OB/Gyn and it wasn't until I started in this area of nursing that I came to realize how many IUDs fall out without the woman even realizing it!

I always knew I wanted to work in women's health/OB-Gyn, and although I've worked in several different areas of nursing, they have all been within women's health. At one point, I was in midwifery school at Frontier, but I realized after my first year that I really didn't want to be a midwife, but I work closely with them, and support them in every way possible, and I adore CNMs. :)