Prepping for the NARM and getting more than I expected

It's been a while since I posted. I have decided today is my errands day so my posting won't be displacing any studying, which is why I've taken a blogging break lately. With less than a month until the NARM exam, I am doing everything within my power to study as much as I can. (this is also because I didn't get as serious about studying until much later than I had planned). Now with some caffeine in my system after a not-so-busy-but-still-didn't-sleep-much shift at the clinic (wah wah wah, I'm such a whiner! Isn't this what I signed up for when I decided to become a midwife?), I am hoping a quick update post will follow...

I booked my flights to the US! I'll be flying in/out of Seattle and staying with friends before and after the test, which will take place in Portland on Feb 17. My mom is coming to Seattle to see me and will join me for our two-day trip to Portland plus a few days before and after. I'm so excited! I think it will be really fun. I will have about 4 days in the states to get over jet lag before we drive to Portland and then 5 days after we get back to hang out and enjoy time with friends. It's going to feel great to have this test under my belt!

In anticipation of the trip, I recently emailed a nurse-midwife contact I have in Seattle to see if she'd meet with me while I'm in town. I had met her years ago back when I was getting my nutrition/doula business going. She was going to refer some of her patients to me - until I soon decided to leave the country. Oh well. She was very kind to give a chance back then to an inexperienced "professional" trying to get her feet wet and so I was glad when I remembered her and decided to email her. She quickly responded and she is willing to meet with me next month. I told her how I am just dying to speak to a midwife practicing in North America (she's the only one I know) and be able to discuss my experience in the Philippines and how it compares to birth in the States. I have already started a list of questions!

As it turns out she has a licensed midwife working with her now who apparently also trained in the Philippines. I bet she has some interesting perspectives to share as well. I'm hoping I'll get to meet her, too. And who knows? If I ever get to practice midwifery in Seattle, these will be good contacts to have. It's never too early to start networking.

This meeting will be timely. Especially since lately, I've been pouring over every detail of the book, Heart & Hands by Elizabeth Davis, an American home birth midwife. Mel, you should check this book out. It is seriously inspiring me to want to be a home birth midwife! It is the most holistically-balanced midwifery book I've read so far. It includes all the pertinent evidence-based medical material (without it being overly technical) plus almost as much information on the impacts of emotions on pregnancy and birth and how to deal with them. This aspect is underestimated in medical texts yet plays an enormous role in the pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum experience. It also includes much on non-allopathic (herbal, homeopathic) remedies, and the impact of nutrition is not underestimated. There are maneuvers to correct malpresentation (such as when the baby's head is deflexed) and so many "tricks of the trade." This book epitomizes what is called, "the art of midwifery," something that is getting lost in our culture. I have learned so much stuff that I haven't gotten out of any other midwifery text.

I suddenly feel equipped with so many tools and I'm excited to try them out. Just last night, the way I dealt with our patient in labor was different because of what I've recently read. Too bad I don't get to be there for her whole labor to really play an impactful role. And so it goes with shift work. You only get to experience a slice of the labor sometimes. There's another reason why I'd really like to provide continuity of care as in a home birth practice. Besides it's hard to detect and help correct emotional issues/barriers in a laboring woman you've never worked with before! I think I could really enjoy the experience of caring for a woman from start to finish. There really is much benefit to that.

So I'm working two more shifts this week and then I should be off until I travel. I had all last week off, which was great as I got a ton of notes taken, ready to be committed to memory (I hope!)