What Being a Midwife Has Taught Me

I began my training in midwifery in 1997 after being a nurse for over 13 years. The journey was not easy and still is challenging. It truly is a calling. After my first two home births in Austin in 1993 and 1994, I had this crazy idea that I wanted to be a midwife. Of course, life had other plans at the time, two babies only 11 months apart, purchasing land in the Texas Hill Country, and building a home a little at a time. This meant roughing it at times: living in a shell of a house, no electricity, and hauling water. So, my dream of being a midwife was put on hold. I would often think it was way too much responsibility (and it is) and shove the idea away in a "little box". Then, the desire would surface again, again, and again only to be suppressed.

Finally, in 1997, everything fell into place and I began my midwifery journey. It took 3 years to complete, including having a third child at home with midwives and returning to my midwifery training after within 3 weeks of the birth.
I have had the honor of witnessing close to 900 births and I am in awe of women every single time. Whether they have a fast precipitous birth or a long labor that ends in an unscheduled/non-emergency c-section. Women are powerful in birth!

Lessons and truths I've learned from midwifery:

• Life is one transition after another. Trust the process and allow it to unfold.
  
• Don't have expectations about birth or in life. You will only be disappointed.
  
• Be in the moment. Always. Stop worrying about the past and the future.
• Birth will get your ego in check.
• We are the same deep down no matter our race, color of our skin, gender, religious and spiritual beliefs. Treat each other with kindness and love.
• Healing touch is powerful. It doesn't take special skills.
• Sitting quietly for hours and being patient is life transforming for all who have the privilege of experiencing it.
• Listening is more important than talking.
• Being on call 24/7 and not knowing when you will go to work can break you and relationships around you. Learn to embrace it. Give back in big ways to yourself, friends and family when you are able to.
• Meditate. Do yoga. Pray. Eat healthy. Drink lots of water. Exercise.
• Sleep is underrated.
• Coffee is medicinal.
• Only drive 5 miles over the speed limit. Even if she's pushing.
• Keep air in your lungs and teach others how to do so as well. It's all about the breath.
• Birth is not a mental thing. Thinking too much can get in the way of the process. Our brains are powerful.
• Communication is key. 85% of communication is non-verbal.
• Midwives aren't perfect and shouldn't be expected to be perfect. We are human too.