Some days it feels like I am attending medical school with all these huge terms and words I can barely pronounce and other days it feels like I am technically not even attending a school. Today felt like the latter as a dentist and high school student came to visit. Now, don’t get me wrong, it felt really good to have a day like this. It definitely helped me not feel so overwhelmed and anxious, but makes want to wake the world up with a big bullhorn and say—stop being so ignorant!
So after our preterm labor power points, a local dentist came to visit. He was old and cute. He didn’t really have any idea what we were or parameter surrounding our profession, but that is common. He admitted his ignorance; although, personally I would have rather him just read the pamphlet found just inside the building before arriving to our classroom. Guess I can’t have everything! Some interesting things he discussed were: gingivitis in pregnancy is linked to pre-eclampsia and premature birth. Also a 2007 study found that motherbabies with threatened premature birth, 33% had bacteria in their amniotic fluid! That is a great finding, in my opinion! This is a good reason to insist on good oral hygiene for motherbabies in my practice! Another Turkish study found that via nonsurgical means, if gingivitis was reduced then preterm births were also reduced by 50%. It was good to know that (for his practice at least) he can perform most dental work anytime in pregnancy up until birth. Likewise, if teeth are badly damaged, they can remineralize with a good diet and healthy habits. Plus it was good to revisit the idea that teeth form in early embryogenesis!
While it was nice to have youngsters visit our program and want to be midwives, it is equally frustrating to hear why. We had a high school girl visit (probably as a class assignment), but oh my goodness, she was not dressed to impress. If I was going to a college, I dress like I am going to college. I know I may have to keep it in perspective that maybe she did not have the clothes, but surely some teacher of hers would have suggested looking serious as a criterion for visiting campus? I don’t know, maybe that is just me? So, she gave reasons for wanting to be a midwife like she likes babies and she saw many births on TV. Time out. What? Seriously? Where is the disconnect between what midwives really do and what people think they do? I can think of no other profession that is clouded in mystery as the midwife. Well, maybe a spy? HMMMM. Maybe we are just birth spies? Oh, that thought will have to wait for another post. This just baffles me and makes me want to take out a public service announcement to shout to the world that we don’t work 8-5 Monday through Friday and we don’t get to hold the babies. But for now, I need to tackle my perinatal infection paper. Providing clarity to the world will have to wait for now…
My Journey as a Licensed Midwife in Louisiana 