Tag: apprenticeship

My first Amish prenatal

jmacmidwife

The midwife picked me up at 7:10 and we began our long day first by stopping by the farmhouse to pick up some items. It was so awesome to drive with her and to be able to learn her philosophy and management and style.  She seemed to be quite together for having such a busy practice.  Our first prenatal was at a young Amish couple’s house. I was so nervous and excited. I had not been to prenatals in a long time, so I was unsure of just how this would go and usually it was for English people who were comfortable with everything from bubble gum to tank tops. The couple was cute, polite, and attentive. It was their first baby and there house was immaculate.  I took care of the urine dip. Squinting, I could make out the colors and realized I needed way more sleep than I was getting if I was going to make this apprenticeship thing work, especially if I was to try and see in the dark. The midwife was awesomely cool and allowed me to feel this mama’s baby belly, except for the fact that I said ‘oh, there is nothing in there.’ Ok. Deep breath. Breath out. Check connection in brain to make sure filter is being applies to EVERY word coming out of my mouth. DUH. I know that I don’t say this to moms, ever and I just did. Way to go. (Shaking head). Thankfully, the midwife was uber kind and said you know these Amish women hang on every word we say. Yes, I understand and will remember lesson one. At least the other student had called in sick to clinic today, so I got to look foolish in front of one less person.

We had a breastfeeding call to attend to after this visit, so we went over and visited a mama with a 1 year old. She had a suspected clogged duct and I got to take BP and pulse again. And boy was I rusty. I kept forgetting which way the air thingy was turned so I was pumping it up a bit much I think. Poor mamas. I need to get my act together. I don’t think I was hurting them, just annoying I am sure, or at least they were looking at me like that. I ask the midwife if I could offer a piece of advice for the mom after she disclosed that she did not have a pump and her baby was not breastfeeding anymore to get the milk out effectively. I had learned an old trick to take a warm canning jar—a big one—maybe a quart and heat it up with warm water then quickly dump the water out and apply the mouth of the jar to your breast. This heat will act like a suction and draw out the milk. Now hopefully these women will not scald themselves, but this technique seemed right up their non-electronic alley.

I was a bit surprised to see how different each Amish house was. I guess I had a preconceived notion that they were these entire hand hewn log house with huge wood burning stoves and kettles—nope, not all. Their houses are open though and the bedroom seems to have a movable wall made of doors? I saw this in two houses today. I was also surprised by the cribs in the parents’ room. I guess I would have thought they co-sleep with their kids. I guess you learn new things everyday.

Substitute Apprentice

jmacmidwife

Got a call this morning from my teacher and I nearly died. You just don’t expect your professor to call you at home on a Saturday morning.  After playing phone tag for what seemed like an eternity, we connected and discussed me filling in temporarily for a fellow 4th year student who needed an emergency leave.  So, I was jumping up and down, well as much as my old legs could jump. How exciting! I had never been to the farmhouse, well, I had never done anything with a Wisconsin midwife as of yet and I was excited to be able to help, even temporarily.  I called the midwife and she was super sweet and explained that she needed someone to be on-call for births for 4 days and to attend a prenatal day on Monday. ACK. How exciting! And I was just saying I didn’t want to jump into a full-blown apprenticeship, but wanted to start. I guess someone is listening?!

 I had lots to do before then.  I got right to my homework so I could have that piece of the puzzle figured out. My oldest daughter had to go to a slumber party that night, so if I had to go to a birth, my little one would have to stay at my neighbor’s house.  I had to go and figure out those logistics.  Plus, my youngest daughter was supposed to go to church the next morning with a friend and I had to drive her. Would I be here to do that? Additionally, I had to hem my daughter’s costume and iron it. Luckily, I don’t mind sewing as it can double as doing something related to midwifery—lacerations, right?  I had to pick out my clothes for the morning, make lunch and get my kids organized as I would be leaving be they would be and arriving home after them. Oh and one last item on my list of things to do was to make a snack for my daughter’s class. Fortunately there are only 17 students.

How do midwives juggle their time? This was a lesson in time management, one I need on a constant basis. My goal this week will be to get as much done as possible and stay as relaxed as possible. Can this be done? Thankfully, this opportunity was coming during a week we had no homework in Antepartum. But I was still not able to do everything I needed to do this week as it is grant season in college.  This means my husband and his colleague’s send me grants to review and edit.  Although they have shortened from 25 pages to 12 in the last year, it is still a lot of work.  I only got to my husband’s colleague’s grant and can’t finish his. *sigh*

Apprenticeship is about to sail

jmacmidwife

I got an email from a potential preceptor yesterday, so I called her this morning, but I forgot to ask, if she was available to talk at that moment, which she wasn’t.  DOH!  I remember reading that in the handbook.  It is one of the first things I am supposed to do!  Preceptor 1, apprentice 0. I can’t believe I didn’t ask her that, but I was so excited and nervous, I just didn’t think. *sigh* I can take the embarrassment; I just don’t want to embarrass the program.  However, she called me back and she wants to meet me as soon as possible, which is jaw-dropping awesome, but it will take me all day and night to be mentally prepared for what to say during out meeting/interview!  AHHHH!!!  And I thought I was going to study tonight!  There is NO way I will sleep tonight!  I am waaaaaaaay too excited!

My potential preceptor-to-be called me this morning as I was pulling out of the driveway. *sigh* apparently a birth was going down in Iowa and my appointment was to be rescheduled at a later date.  It wasn’t rescheduled then, much to my sadness, but I understand that she doesn’t know when her next free moment will be; however, it doesn’t make it any less easy to deal with.  I hope I didn’t sound too disappointed on the phone, after all I hadn’t had any caffeine or any food for that matter.

For whatever it is worth, is this whole adventure really feasible?  The thought of attending a clinic is comforting in its stability, but the thought of attempting to attend births is mind-boggling.  Will I make it to most of them?  Or will I just be wasting a lot of gas, time, but beefing up my postpartum and newborn skills?  I shouldn’t worry about this now.  But will the births or clinical visits in Minnesota or Iowa even count towards my required hours in Wisconsin?  This seems strange to me.  Just go with it I tell myself.  Just go with it.  First get preceptorship, and then worry about logistics. I need to find a good match though, someone who is compatible with me and who I am compatible with.  I don’t want to drive anyone crazy.  Yes, I am a good person, but after my experience with midwives in Louisiana, I am scarred.  I fear judgment and maybe in a way I fear that relationship which is involved with a preceptor and apprentice?  Some relationships of other preceptors and their apprentices seem more equal.  I don’t know if I will deal well with someone who puts me in my place often; is it oxymoronic to say I don’t need coddling, but I do like direction and directness?  I can’t read minds.  I will try my best not to ask questions in clinic and to be respectful of the client relationship. I do realize what a big commitment it is and how emotionally draining, time consuming, and burdening it can be to take on an aspiring midwife.  I get it. I do, but don’t make me feel that way is all I ask and I will try my best to not make you feel that way.  What will her expectations be?  Will she be overly religious or spiritual?  Will she declare that I am full of negativity like my counterparts in Louisiana have?  Not knowing this woman who has graciously accepted to meet with me has me jumpy and nervous.  I have little to compare her to except to my warped perception of Louisiana midwives whom, while legally licensed, are not free to practice.

I am taking this ‘day-off’ as a sign that I need to get my immunization paperwork caught up—last I heard my MMR titer was too low.  I called the Grant County health department and I can come in today to get my shot.   I mean, yes, I read about them in the program handbook and maybe this is where Louisiana and Wisconsin differ, which would be fantastic, but it seems uneasy to me since I have put so much stock into getting an apprenticeship.  Maybe I am putting too much stock into it?  My friend is sending me my CPR card that I left at her house after taking the class.  I should have gotten it before leaving for Wisconsin.  It should be here today, so I can go ahead and download the forms necessary for my temporary permit. YAY!  I guess I need a back-ground check too?  So many forms, so little time…