Me & Midwifery

A friend shared a vision of us becoming a midwifes. I had been very excited about beginning the journey to become a midwife...even if I had to do it alone. Anyway one of the test before I signed the dotted line and committed myself to school for midwifery training, was participating in a live birth. Now the last birth I saw was 1998 my god-daughter, and the last birth I had was 2002. So needless to say, it has been awhile. A dear sister in the Lord was planning a home birth with a midwife and I wanted to be apart of it. Remember this is my test. I had hoped the birth would be on a weekend and it was Saturday! Anyway it was amazing! It was a water birth, which I have never seen before. While observing the labor, it brought back the memories of when I gave birth. I understood and remembered the joy and of course the pain. Then I understood what husbands all over the world must feel when their spouse is in labor....HELPLESS! All you can do is give an encouraging word here and there, but that pain she had to bear all by herself.

Back to the whole midwife journey... I am purposing simply to watch to see if I could stomach the whole thing. Then the midwife put me to work! She was aware that I was interested in becoming a Midwife so immediately she had me doing stuff. Clean this, pick that up, watch this, she was full of wisdom and expertise. I learned so much...I have had three children and had no clue about some of the things I learned that day. For that I am very grateful.

I had been debating between becoming a doula or midwife. What is a doula? I know, I know! I did not understand at first either. Simply put the doula is the mother to the mother.

Doula: A non-medical assistant in childbirth. A doula is not the father but is usually a woman who is experienced in childbirth. The role of the doula is to provide the mother with physical and emotional assistance before, during, or after childbirth. Also known as a birth assistant, birth companion, childbirth assistant, or labor support professional. From the Greek doule referring to a woman who was a slave or servant.

The midwife is the "doctor" to the mother.

Midwife: A person trained to assist a woman during childbirth. Many midwives also provide prenatal care for pregnant women, birth education for women and their partners, and care for mothers and newborn babies after the birth. A midwife may be a man or a woman. Depending on local law, midwives may deliver babies in the mother's home, in a special birthing center or clinic, or in a hospital.

Most midwives specialize in normal, uncomplicated deliveries, referring women with health problems that could require hospitalization during birth to a hospital-based obstetrician. Others work with physicians as part of a team. Legal qualifications required to practice midwifery differ between the US states and various countries.

Okay so you have all the details..you know the difference between a midwife and a doula. So at this point I am praying about the direction the Lord would lead me in. I am very open and simply longing for the Lord's will to be done in and through me.

Birth is an amazing process that all by itself brings GLORY to GOD! Take some time to think about it. The husband gives you a piece of himself then the wifes body nurtures and brings forth the husbands seed! AMAZING! God equipped us with everything we needed to bring forth life...anyway that is why I am interested in the whole process. However I am unsure which end (doula, midwife) to fully embrace. I'll keep you posted on this as I am more aware of the Lord's will for me.