Are you thinking of becoming a midwife?
Being a midwife is a wonderful privilege. It is also very challenging. The reasons why one would want to enter this incredible profession are fairly obvious. But aside from the great parts, what is it REALLY like to answer this calling? Here are some thoughts to consider...
Do you have good family support (financially and emotionally)? The lengthy, difficult, and at times expensive training process means you will spend long hours away from your family, often at inopportune times with little financial reward for years. Be realistic-this gets substantially more difficult once you are a practicing midwife as you will also be carrying the burden of overhead costs (including possibly malpractice insurance, equipment etc...), the stress of ultimate responsibility of the outcome of the deliveries, and going on even 1 week of vacation will require months of planning ahead. Even trips to the grocery store or volunteering to help at a soccer practice will have to be abandoned last minute to run to births. You must have constant backup plans for every possible scenario if you have children and are on-call for births. Be realistic. Divorce among midwives is a current hot topic in the profession.
Are you able to have frank and sometimes uncomfortable conversations with people about highly emotional issues? Midwives are privileged to be there for the most important moment for families. It is almost always a joyful occasion. However, at some point, all midwives will have to be a part of difficult times as well. You will need to be able to tell someone, often in the midst of their 'dream' homebirth that they are no longer a safe homebirth candidate. You may have to tell them their baby has died or is suffering an anomaly or disease incompatible with life. You will need to be able to cope with these losses while also supporting other people. You will need to make quick decisions that have life or death ramifications often while your client may not want to hear what you are saying or disagrees.
Are you able to function with very little sleep? You will need to be able to think straight and still be extremely patient even while exhausted and on 1-2 hours of sleep for multiple days on end. You still have to be able to resuscitate a baby on a moment's notice or take steps to stop a woman from hemorrhaging even if you are tired and just want to go home and go to bed. There is no calling in sick when someone is depending on YOU to be there. There is no taking a nap when a laboring woman needs you.
Do you plan to continue your education forever? There is no endpoint in midwifery learning. The more you do it, the more you will realize that you know very little. You must always thirst for current knowledge, continuously read new research. You will always need to know exactly what is happening in your community, the country, and the world in order to best serve women, be able to work well with other childbirth professionals (especially those you most DISAGREE with), and offer people the safest and best option for each individual you take care of. You will learn very fast that it is an artform that takes years to develop and you will be humbled by learning something new from every woman you care for.
Do you have good family support (financially and emotionally)? The lengthy, difficult, and at times expensive training process means you will spend long hours away from your family, often at inopportune times with little financial reward for years. Be realistic-this gets substantially more difficult once you are a practicing midwife as you will also be carrying the burden of overhead costs (including possibly malpractice insurance, equipment etc...), the stress of ultimate responsibility of the outcome of the deliveries, and going on even 1 week of vacation will require months of planning ahead. Even trips to the grocery store or volunteering to help at a soccer practice will have to be abandoned last minute to run to births. You must have constant backup plans for every possible scenario if you have children and are on-call for births. Be realistic. Divorce among midwives is a current hot topic in the profession.
Are you able to have frank and sometimes uncomfortable conversations with people about highly emotional issues? Midwives are privileged to be there for the most important moment for families. It is almost always a joyful occasion. However, at some point, all midwives will have to be a part of difficult times as well. You will need to be able to tell someone, often in the midst of their 'dream' homebirth that they are no longer a safe homebirth candidate. You may have to tell them their baby has died or is suffering an anomaly or disease incompatible with life. You will need to be able to cope with these losses while also supporting other people. You will need to make quick decisions that have life or death ramifications often while your client may not want to hear what you are saying or disagrees.
Are you able to function with very little sleep? You will need to be able to think straight and still be extremely patient even while exhausted and on 1-2 hours of sleep for multiple days on end. You still have to be able to resuscitate a baby on a moment's notice or take steps to stop a woman from hemorrhaging even if you are tired and just want to go home and go to bed. There is no calling in sick when someone is depending on YOU to be there. There is no taking a nap when a laboring woman needs you.
Do you plan to continue your education forever? There is no endpoint in midwifery learning. The more you do it, the more you will realize that you know very little. You must always thirst for current knowledge, continuously read new research. You will always need to know exactly what is happening in your community, the country, and the world in order to best serve women, be able to work well with other childbirth professionals (especially those you most DISAGREE with), and offer people the safest and best option for each individual you take care of. You will learn very fast that it is an artform that takes years to develop and you will be humbled by learning something new from every woman you care for.
