The Clinic
As I was driving up the pavement to the clinic, I was greeted by 100 pounds of Great Pyrenees.
Technically, this big guy is just out of puppy-hood. He's a year old. Sweet as all goodness, but damn, was he stubborn. He was laying in the exact middle of the driveway as I pulled up, and refused to move. I slowed my car down to less than five miles an hour thinking that as I got closer he would get up. He didn't. I ended up having to inch my way around him. When I got out of the car, he and another Pyrenees, as well as a beautiful yellow lab met me at the car and proceeded to sniff my luggage to make sure I didn't have my dogs stowed away in one of the bags. I'm sure they could smell my pack, and it was funny to watch them attempt to climb into the trunk to investigate. Off to my left was a goat pen, so of course, I had to go say hello. I told you that there was a bit of country in me, but I always notice it more when I'm presented with a real farm.
I was enthralled by the beautiful countryside every day I was there. The second morning I was sitting in my car waking up with a cup of coffee and I was drawn to the dew on the grass. I had left Minnesota in the heart of fall, and when I got to Tennessee it was still very much late summer. It was so beautiful. Little did I know that when I returned to Minnesota, I would have missed Autumn all together. It was SNOWING at home that morning! 
I have to say that when I was sitting outside enjoying the mornings, I was also smoking cigarettes. I was horrible embarrassed by that the entire time I was there. I hate that I have such a terrible addiction to nicotine. My insurance will only pay for me to attempt to quit once a year, and January is coming soon so they will pay for medication one more time. This attempt will be much more supported. I'm going to attempt the regular medication route, but add in some alternative health options as well. Hopefully that will increase my chances of a healthy quit.
The Women
The beautiful, amazing, intelligent, loving women that I met during the workshop have changed me. They touched my heart deeply.
From left to right: Joy, Andrea, Misty, Leah (holding Eowyn), Linda, Gay (holding Sophia), and me
It is very rare for me to feel as though I "fit". I tend to feel very much like an outsider no matter where I go. I've gotten good at blending, even when I'm obviously the sore thumb that sticks out. But I didn't feel as though I had to do that. I felt like we were all very different and very unique women, but that there was something bigger than all of us that had drawn us together and made us all part of something special. It made us all "fit".
We all laughed and cried. We sat up talking through the night about our lives and our experiences. We shared meals and "space". We formed a good sized family for the two days we were together.
These women inspired me and reinvigorated the passion that I have for midwifery. I try desperately not to become jaded in this world, but it's difficult at times. These women reassured me of the fantastic love and joy in the midwifery community.
What We Learned
The learning happened so organically and instinctively. We learned through conversations, stories, and hands on experiences.
Andrea and Misty, the midwife's apprentices, were incredibly talented at pulling learning opportunities out of each and every conversation. They found things that peaked our interest and elaborated on it. They took time to help us go over our NARM application packets so that we would be able to navigate the complexity of all the paperwork.
We learned universal precautions and sterile technique. We practiced basic physical exam skills on each other. Two beautiful mamas came in to the clinic to give us the opportunity to learn basic prenatal exams, including Leopold's Maneuvers and fetal heart rate monitoring. A delicious little two week old boy came in so that we could learn to do a newborn exam. I couldn't help but spend some time sniffing his little head.
I have always had a deep fear about my ability to use needles, either for injections or to draw blood. It just wasn't something that I could imagine myself being able to learn. Yet, I did. With a very patient Joy and Misty, I was able to draw blood for the first time. Now that I've actually done it, I feel like I could do it again. It was just getting the feeling for the vein and knowing that I could do it. Confidence!
I have to say that my favorite part of the workshop was the time we got to spend exploring placentas. The two most recent mamas to deliver with Linda donated their placentas to the workshop. It was fascinating! You can read about anatomy all you want, but you never fully understand it until you can witness it physically. And with placentas....wow. There is just such a power in that little organ. There is something almost magical about it.
The Tree of Life
(see those gorgeous veins that look like branches?)
Ms. Linda talking to us about cord attachment
Me, exploring the amnion and chorion
Andrea and Misty, the midwife's apprentices, were incredibly talented at pulling learning opportunities out of each and every conversation. They found things that peaked our interest and elaborated on it. They took time to help us go over our NARM application packets so that we would be able to navigate the complexity of all the paperwork.
We learned universal precautions and sterile technique. We practiced basic physical exam skills on each other. Two beautiful mamas came in to the clinic to give us the opportunity to learn basic prenatal exams, including Leopold's Maneuvers and fetal heart rate monitoring. A delicious little two week old boy came in so that we could learn to do a newborn exam. I couldn't help but spend some time sniffing his little head.
I have always had a deep fear about my ability to use needles, either for injections or to draw blood. It just wasn't something that I could imagine myself being able to learn. Yet, I did. With a very patient Joy and Misty, I was able to draw blood for the first time. Now that I've actually done it, I feel like I could do it again. It was just getting the feeling for the vein and knowing that I could do it. Confidence!I have to say that my favorite part of the workshop was the time we got to spend exploring placentas. The two most recent mamas to deliver with Linda donated their placentas to the workshop. It was fascinating! You can read about anatomy all you want, but you never fully understand it until you can witness it physically. And with placentas....wow. There is just such a power in that little organ. There is something almost magical about it.
The Tree of Life (see those gorgeous veins that look like branches?)
Ms. Linda talking to us about cord attachmentMe, exploring the amnion and chorion When I left the clinic on Saturday afternoon to head to my hotel in Nashville, I must admit that there were tears in my eyes. I was so incredibly joyful and empowered. The experience changed me, and I can't quite even explain how. But it did.
Thank you, Tennessee for showing me your beautiful land. Thank you to the other student midwives for sharing your wisdom and your babies with me. Thank you to the Universe for the opportunity to learn and grow. Thank you to Andrea and Misty for sharing your mentor, and for putting so much of yourselves into helping us learn. And mostly, thank you to Linda for the delicious food, comfortable housing, wonderful stories, and for having faith and hope for the future of midwifery.
Thank you, Tennessee for showing me your beautiful land. Thank you to the other student midwives for sharing your wisdom and your babies with me. Thank you to the Universe for the opportunity to learn and grow. Thank you to Andrea and Misty for sharing your mentor, and for putting so much of yourselves into helping us learn. And mostly, thank you to Linda for the delicious food, comfortable housing, wonderful stories, and for having faith and hope for the future of midwifery.
0 comments:
Post a Comment