Become the Change You Wish to See

I think that "being the change" is a pretty common saying...but how many people actually do it? I am compelled, pulled, destined to become the change that is needed in MS with concerns to midwifery.

As of right now, there are 12 midwives that "admit" to practicing in the state of Mississippi. Here is the thing about MS right now...anyone can call themselves a midwife. I could put an add in the paper tomorrow advertising myself as a midwife if I wanted (though, trust me, I am not going to). This is not the safest of situations.

Now in 2010 a bill was put forward that did not go into law...thank God. It basically stated that only licenced Nurse-Midwives would be allowed in the state, and only hospital births allowed being closely overseen by doctors. In other words, home birth would become illegal (as it is in Alabama...another bone of contention with me, since I go to school in Alabama). Direct-entry midwives would be in danger of being arrested and charged with the felony of "practicing medicine" without a licence. (By the way, midwives do not, nor pretend to, practice "medicine"). But as I said, this bill died in committee.

This year, a much better bill was put forward at the urging of those 12 midwives and their many supporters in the state. This bill would require all Direct-Entry Midwives (also known as "lay" midwives) to register with NARM (North American Registry of Midwives). Doing this would require them to take a test, both written and practical, and stay current with their registration (every 3 years I believe). They would also register with the Health Department and submit records for the public to access through the DOH. The bill "died" this year, but received quite a bit of attention, which perhaps will help next year.

This bill would have done several things. The most important being that women choosing a midwife would know what her education and qualifications are. She would be able to see their history of births and outcomes and make an educated decision. The next thing it would do is protect the art of midwifery in the state. Midwives kicked out of other areas for bad outcomes would not be able to come to Mississippi expecting to hide (as they could now, since there is no regulation). Midwives would also be protected from arrest and prosecution, which has been a problem in other states where the situation is similar to ours.

The issue is this. Women in this state need to write, call, email, and generally badger their representative. Many people, and especially many of the men in the legislature have no idea about the benefits of midwifery or the need for the service they provide. If they are not presented with the information they may never look for it themselves. It is our job as thinking women to help them gain the knowledge. Perhaps next time a bill comes forward to help midwifery, they will remember a letter from us and know what they are voting for.

So, women of Mississippi (and everywhere really) stand up! Shout! Make noise! You may feel like one drop of water in the ocean, but waves are made up of drops of water. Lets become the wave that washes out the bad birth vibes in this state and improve the outcomes for mothers and babies.

Hopes

I hope:

That I am a good mother
That I am a good wife
That I create a loving "bubble" around me
That I remember my friends and call them enough
I go to Paris one day
That I get my doula business off the ground in the next year
That I get an etsy store started
To have 4...maybe 5 kids
I create a good impression
I change the world, one birth at a time
To meet Ina May and have her as my midwife for my next baby
To have a homebirth, legally!, in the state of AL or MS, meaning I need to start badgering the legislature

What do you hope for?

Home again, Home again, Jiggity Jig

I now live back at home. It is so nice to be back home...it is an adjustment, being an adult in my parents house, but it is nice to have the help. My husband is looking for work here, and then we will get our own roof over our head.

Me, Myself, and I

Over the course of this last school semester I have taken a class titled "Entrepreneurial Marketing." I was expecting a course based on marketing a business that was created by me or someone I am working for (such as a "mom and pop"). However, in the process of this class we have learned an even more important skill: how to market ourselves. Being an entrepreneur is really about marketing yourself, and our instructor has tried to point us in the right directions about how to do that.

As I have mentioned in the blog before, I plan to become a doula over the next year. This line of work is basically all about marketing me as a woman and a support system. If I do not show people my true self, I will not get many clients. So world, here it is...a little about myself and my skills.

I truly believe that my greatest strength is my passion. I have a passion for the things that stir my blood, make me think, and bring a fire to my soul. Pregnancy and Childbirth do that to me. Knowing that we mothers and women are part of a sisterhood spanning back to Eve makes me feel so small, yet so powerful. In our bodies we have ability to help God create a miracle. Childbirth is the greatest gift that a women can give to herself and the world...new life, a new soul.

The passion that I have for this area simply brings out my other strengths. For instance, I am very creative. Creativity and the willingness to "step outside the box" is very helpful in childbirth. For instance, during the birth of my son I was looking for a way to focus on something other than the contractions...I ended up having my husband pour ice-cold water slowly down my face during each one while I was in the hot bath. The cold water was more than enough to help me stay in the moment and focus on something else. Being comfortable with unorthodox methods will help me to be able to suggest things to women in labor, giving them relief during a moment of weakness.

My stubborn ways will also be an asset to myself and the mothers I serve. Being able to stand up for the woman and her birth will help protect the "bubble" of safety and calm needed to have a peaceful, easy birth. This stubborn nature will also help me to work my way into a system that in many ways still views childbirth as a dangerous and painful process. Breaking into an area where the natural process of birth is not respected is an uphill battle at times and requires a stout heart.

Through my experiences and the experiences of other mothers I hope to move this nation one step closer to a normal birth community, one that is already in place in many other countries. Somewhere along the road of medical advances, maternity care hit into high gear and began to forget to ask itself one simple question: "Does this technology actually improve normal birth for the mother or baby?" Unfortunately, many of the things that are "normal" now in hospital delivery rooms are not improving the outcome for the mother or baby. Through my skills as a doula and the platform of education that it provides, I hope to reach out to communities and bring normal birth back to its rightful place.

I know that with my passion and knowledge of this wonderful process, I can change lives. I can change the lives of mothers. I can change the lives of fathers, families, and babies. I can change the opinions of nurses and doctors. I can slowly, one baby at a time, change the world of childbirth in this country. I hope that you will join me.

If you are interested in this "world" please feel free to contact me or search these other sources.

One World Birth Site

DONA International Site, for more information on doulas

A book that changed my life and my birth experience

Also, Please watch this video! It shows the movement that is happening in this country and across the world. This is what I am working towards. One grain of sand, one drop of water...slowly but surely we will change the world of birth.

 One World Birth Trailer

Growing Love Birth Services

What do you think? That is going to be the name of my Doula service/business.

Yep. I am going to start my certification process this summer. I am so excited. I would love to become a midwife, but with the malpractice insurance situation in the country, it is a hard thing to get into financially. Being a doula allows me to be "up close and personal" with birth and with birthing women.

Women in this country need more support than ever now...not becuase we have grown weaker, but becuase the health care system has totally taken away the rights and autonomy of the pregnant and birthing woman. I want to be part of what changes that. I can change the outcome for individual women and I can take a larger stand in the birthing community. I am so looking forward to this!

I am going to start with doula certification (through CBI) and then I will work on my childbirth education certification. Until I have that, I will offer one-on-one childbirth education sessions with my clients to answer any questions they may have.

I'm so excited! Here is my logo:

Do you see the relation to my background on this blog? That is where I got the name from--the picture I took of my painted belly when I was pregnant with my son. And his birth opened my eyes to my calling. It all comes full circle.

Family

Why is it that when we become adults we assume we can do this on our own?

Granted, when it was only my husband and I we had things under control. Living far from home was exciting and wonderful. We could visit when we wanted but had our space, our own city, our own state.

Then we started a family. From the moment I saw the positive I wanted my mom and dad. I never really envisioned having a family without them. I miss them so much my stomach hurts and I want to cry at sappy commercials.

I have learned you are never to old for family.

A Beautiful Time

I just had the most wonderful nursing session with my son.

Breastfeeding is always a bonding experience, but sometimes he just melts into me and we look into each other's eyes, and I just feel so....I don't know. Like Mother Earth I suppose. I feel like I am the center of his world and that I am directly making him grow and thrive.

Breastfeeding is an art, and one that has to come from the heart. I think that breastfeeding truely feeds the baby and the mother, the tummy and the soul.