Practicing Midwifery?

What are we practicing anyway?

If it is to paying attention to the unique needs of the woman sitting in front of us, then count me in.
As I see it, the goal of midwifery is to recognize how we can best serve women at any given moment, not just to check the boxes off on a to do list of midwifery care. Those to do's may be important and I may certainly do them...but that is not the end all for me.

Physical assessment can give us a lot of clues, but in my admittedly short time of practicing, I have learned that the really important clues come from the time you spend that sits outside of the clinical aspect of the visit. During that time, over laughs and a cup of tea, you learn what this beautiful woman is dwelling on, worrying over, and letting go of. In between the lines you may have an aha! moment that far surpasses what you will learn from her fundal height.

There are times when busy midwives may not be able to just sit and chat, but I feel that it should be our goal. Even when there is no mystery to unearth, there are golden opportunities to educate and/or help to strengthen her trust in herself. I love those moments when a simple prenatal visit becomes a defining moment. Midwives are so blessed to bear witness to the powerful process of pregnancy and birth. I for one want to make sure that I don't miss an opportunity to learn from my greatest teachers...my clients.