Suggestions for volunteer work opportunities?

[feetinthedirt]

I am hoping some folks may have some insight on a question I have. I am will be entering an accelerated nurse-midwifery program next year, and I would like to get some experience outside of a hospital environment. I have been trained as a birth and postpartum doula and have attended several births in hospitals. I also completed Elizabeth Davis' Heart & Hands Midwifery Intensives, learning basic skills like taking blood pressure, pulse and fundal height assessments, fetal heart tones, pelvic and cervical examination, and suturing.

Right now, most of my energy is going into getting my pre-requisites completed in a good way, so a traditional apprenticeship doesn't make sense. I am interested in any work that I could do as an intensive experience in late summer, between school quarters for a month. I have considered going to Maternidad La Luz, but I think I need to up my Spanish skills before that would be an appropriate choice. I am flexible and open to a wide variety of experiences. Any suggestions? I am based in the Pacific Northwest (Seattle/Olympic Peninsula) but can travel. Thanks in advance for your insight.

Sincerely,

Kelly

[Abby Normal]

I am not a midwife, but I have volunteered while I was taking two classes (one a lab), working full time+ and applying to grad school. So I understand time pressure!

I honestly think that volunteering someplace locally, even if it's three hours a week, over many months, building relationships, seeing people over the course of their pregnancies or watching them and their babies, or watching their emotions change after a miscarriage, is really an extremely valuable experience. Not only that, it lets you get closer to the staff, and see what each person in that office does, what the files and bills look like, how people handle situations that come up. It always takes awhile for everything to sink in, and for people to trust you.

You might volunteer at a Planned Parenthood, if that fits in with your beliefs. I have heard they allow a lot of patient interaction. You might find a teen or migrant pregnancy outreach/education or similar project, a high risk pregnancy or other research opportunity through a hospital or university that needs people to go out and do the surveys. Any Spanish you do know will help, but it's not total immersion.

But I honestly think you will learn more and do just as much good a little bit at a time closer to home rather than airdropping in somewhere where you'll barely get to know anyone's name before you have to go home, and only get to see the pushing. If this is in part for an admissions essay (though it's obvious you wouldn't go to all this trouble just for that!) the schools want to know you're in it for the long, boring slog without the exotic location. Or you might consider doing both.

You sound like you have some great skills, and probably some great contacts through faculty and sites. I'd start calling people up, reminding them of your skills, telling them you'd love to give them free help or asking for an introduction or recommendations for projects they think you should look into.

Focus on what would be your dream assignment, but that you have some flexibility -- don't just say "oh, anything", because then that person draws a blank on who to call. Specificity helps them say "Oh, she said X. Johnna's the chief of X, she can make this happen."

Good luck with whatever you choose, and with midwife school.