Monday, May 26, 2008
5 a day....fruits and veggies!
Catching up on some blog reading here and found this neat little post by babymidwyfe. I think it is interesting how foods effect certain parts of the body. This post gives a visual link to foods and body parts....I enjoyed it!
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Affirmations from Kneelingwoman
You absolutely must read this post!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But first, take a moment to open your heart and your mind and really listen to what she is saying. This woman puts so very eloquently into words the truth of how so many women are made to feel because of how they choose to parent/birth/breastfeed/bottlefeed/live/love and the list goes on...............
I really love the following from this post:
In the beginning, there was woman.
Before a woman is a mother; she is a woman.
Before a woman is a mother, she is someone's partner and lover.
A woman is more than her mothering; more than her birth and parenting choices.
A woman should be a free agent; encouraged and empowered by her sisters to make her own best choices in all areas.
A woman who gives birth is a mother; regardless of how.
A woman who feeds her child is a good mother; regardless of how.
A woman who takes care of her primary relationship is a good mother because the relationship between the parents' is the foundation for that child's life. Without the example of loving partnership set by the parents; the child has no ability to create or sustain relationships in his own life.
A woman who is honest about her needs and who knows how to get those needs met; is a good mother. A woman who knows her limits, chooses freely, each day, what is needed for that days life, sets an example of flexibility, openness to new ideas and creativity.
Now that you have had a small teaser.....go read the post in its entirety for yourself and ponder the things she says and really take them to heart.
But first, take a moment to open your heart and your mind and really listen to what she is saying. This woman puts so very eloquently into words the truth of how so many women are made to feel because of how they choose to parent/birth/breastfeed/bottlefeed/live/love and the list goes on...............
I really love the following from this post:
In the beginning, there was woman.
Before a woman is a mother; she is a woman.
Before a woman is a mother, she is someone's partner and lover.
A woman is more than her mothering; more than her birth and parenting choices.
A woman should be a free agent; encouraged and empowered by her sisters to make her own best choices in all areas.
A woman who gives birth is a mother; regardless of how.
A woman who feeds her child is a good mother; regardless of how.
A woman who takes care of her primary relationship is a good mother because the relationship between the parents' is the foundation for that child's life. Without the example of loving partnership set by the parents; the child has no ability to create or sustain relationships in his own life.
A woman who is honest about her needs and who knows how to get those needs met; is a good mother. A woman who knows her limits, chooses freely, each day, what is needed for that days life, sets an example of flexibility, openness to new ideas and creativity.
Now that you have had a small teaser.....go read the post in its entirety for yourself and ponder the things she says and really take them to heart.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Busy weekend!
Sorry, I've been a slacker. Not much posting lately.....school is very busy!
I just came home from a How to Start a Birth Center workshop over the weekend. I have mixed feelings about attending this workshop. First off, it was GREAT to be with fellow FSMFN students (this workshop is required for NM 601) and to be able to get to know some of those in classes ahead of me.
Secondly, the workshop was very overwhelming, especially for those of us just starting the program. I don't really think this should be required in the first year of school, perhaps requiring students to take it within the 6 months prior to clinical bound, it would be less overwhelming and feel more pertinent to what they are learning and doing at this point in the program.
I did enjoy getting to tour the two birth centers we visited and talking to the midwives that work at those centers. The CNM's for both of these centers practice at their birth center as well as the local hospitals. One of the centers has been in operation for the last 25 years and serves a very rural area, delivering about 120 babies a year. The midwives in this center also deliver about 70 babies per year in the local hospital. The other center has been operating for 17years and also does about 120 deliveries per year in the center. The CNM's in this center also deliver about 165 babies per year in the local hospital, this center is in a very urban area.
It was very eye-opening to see the struggles that birth centers go through to just keep themselves afloat financially. And how difficult it is to stay open with birth being as political as it is. All it takes is a doctor who decides to not back the center anymore to close it down. These two centers have stayed open very successfully and for such a long time because the community is behind them and they have such a good track record the medical community sees the good they do for the people they serve.
I really like this quote by Ruth Lubic, "Remember, the people you serve are your strength"
Another quote I came away from this workshop with really sums up the way I feel about attending births as a midwife, "Imagine you are a midwife. You're assisting at someone else's birth. Do good without show or fuss. Facilitate what is happening rather than what you think ought to happen. When the baby is born, the mothers will rightly say "we did it ourselves"."-Lao Tzu, 5th Century BC
Anyhow, those are just some quick random thoughts about this weekend. I have a big paper due this week and a test. I think next weekend I will pull all this birth center stuff back out, go over it and really try and process my thoughts about the workshop more objectively (right now I am just plain tired!) and do a little soul searching about my own desire to open a birth center. I have always wanted to do as these two centers do and provide women with the option of delivering in the birth center or hospital. I don't think women should be forced to choose a certain type of health care provider based on where they want to give birth, but I'll get into that more at a later time.
Off to snuggle with my Lover and drift off to sleep in his arms
I just came home from a How to Start a Birth Center workshop over the weekend. I have mixed feelings about attending this workshop. First off, it was GREAT to be with fellow FSMFN students (this workshop is required for NM 601) and to be able to get to know some of those in classes ahead of me.
Secondly, the workshop was very overwhelming, especially for those of us just starting the program. I don't really think this should be required in the first year of school, perhaps requiring students to take it within the 6 months prior to clinical bound, it would be less overwhelming and feel more pertinent to what they are learning and doing at this point in the program.
I did enjoy getting to tour the two birth centers we visited and talking to the midwives that work at those centers. The CNM's for both of these centers practice at their birth center as well as the local hospitals. One of the centers has been in operation for the last 25 years and serves a very rural area, delivering about 120 babies a year. The midwives in this center also deliver about 70 babies per year in the local hospital. The other center has been operating for 17years and also does about 120 deliveries per year in the center. The CNM's in this center also deliver about 165 babies per year in the local hospital, this center is in a very urban area.
It was very eye-opening to see the struggles that birth centers go through to just keep themselves afloat financially. And how difficult it is to stay open with birth being as political as it is. All it takes is a doctor who decides to not back the center anymore to close it down. These two centers have stayed open very successfully and for such a long time because the community is behind them and they have such a good track record the medical community sees the good they do for the people they serve.
I really like this quote by Ruth Lubic, "Remember, the people you serve are your strength"
Another quote I came away from this workshop with really sums up the way I feel about attending births as a midwife, "Imagine you are a midwife. You're assisting at someone else's birth. Do good without show or fuss. Facilitate what is happening rather than what you think ought to happen. When the baby is born, the mothers will rightly say "we did it ourselves"."-Lao Tzu, 5th Century BC
Anyhow, those are just some quick random thoughts about this weekend. I have a big paper due this week and a test. I think next weekend I will pull all this birth center stuff back out, go over it and really try and process my thoughts about the workshop more objectively (right now I am just plain tired!) and do a little soul searching about my own desire to open a birth center. I have always wanted to do as these two centers do and provide women with the option of delivering in the birth center or hospital. I don't think women should be forced to choose a certain type of health care provider based on where they want to give birth, but I'll get into that more at a later time.
Off to snuggle with my Lover and drift off to sleep in his arms
Friday, May 2, 2008
What's up?
What is going on? Where have House of Harris and Minority Midwifery Student gone? Why have you ladies decided to make your blogs private?
I have enjoyed both of those blogs so much and am very saddened by this. I hope it wasn't due to any flack you were getting from others. I just hate that some people who blog their opinions get attacked by others.
Opinions are like arses, everyone has one!
So, why must some people think that it is their duty to attack those who are willing to put themselves out there and voice those opinions. Everyone is entitled to say what they want to say and if you don't like it, go elsewhere! It's their blog! Go get your own blog and voice your opinions there (without the personal attacks please, that is just tacky!)
I am just annoyed today, sorry for the rant
I have enjoyed both of those blogs so much and am very saddened by this. I hope it wasn't due to any flack you were getting from others. I just hate that some people who blog their opinions get attacked by others.
Opinions are like arses, everyone has one!
So, why must some people think that it is their duty to attack those who are willing to put themselves out there and voice those opinions. Everyone is entitled to say what they want to say and if you don't like it, go elsewhere! It's their blog! Go get your own blog and voice your opinions there (without the personal attacks please, that is just tacky!)
I am just annoyed today, sorry for the rant
Friday, April 25, 2008
Beautiful Cervix
I love this site, it's a photo journal of a 25 y/o midwifery student who has never given birth. Great for those who are very 'visual' learners. http://mybeautifulcervix.googlepages.com/
Saturday, April 12, 2008
First week of school
Wow, the reading in this program is huge!! I knew there would be alot but I think I spent the first three days this week feeling very overwhelmed and like...what on earth have I gotten myself into.
The one sunny spot in the week was some reading for the health promotion class. We had to choose a book from a list we were given and read for pleasure...what a relief. Now, it was for pleasure but had to be read critically because we have to write an essay regarding our cultural awareness and how it has evolved..changed...been more enlightened or whatever based on our readings. I chose the book I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. It was a very easy read...so much that once I picked it up I couldn't put it down and finished it in one day. I recommend it, if you have not read it already. I think I may find another book or two from her to read....when I get some free time.
I am finishing up a one page paper for patho on Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and then will prepare to take my first exam next week.
I have some more required reading to do for health promo before I can do the essay but should turn that in next week.
I have barely skimmed the reading for the role class (the role of midwifery and birth centers in America) but need to get on it and start making notecards for my first paper, due in three weeks on the historical development of midwifery. That should be very enlightening.
Work this week was busy. We did have a wonderful natural delivery of a first time mom who birthed a 10# 1oz baby after only actively pushing 4 times. What a woman!!!!!!
Otherwise, it was induction city. Why, oh why can't we just let women go into labor on their own. I'm beginning to hate working Sunday night thru Wednesday night because all we do is admit 7-9 inductions each night, not to mention the ones that actually do come in already in labor or the four that are still laboring when we come onto the shift so we have to get them delivered, recovered and passed off to the postpartum so that we can get the inductions in and started on time (in order to avoid the wrath of certain physicians). Those kind of nights go by quickly but give me no opportunity whatsoever to develop a real rapport with my patients, and that is very disconcerting to me.
Just two more years....just two more years.....it will be sooooo worth the hard work!!!
The one sunny spot in the week was some reading for the health promotion class. We had to choose a book from a list we were given and read for pleasure...what a relief. Now, it was for pleasure but had to be read critically because we have to write an essay regarding our cultural awareness and how it has evolved..changed...been more enlightened or whatever based on our readings. I chose the book I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. It was a very easy read...so much that once I picked it up I couldn't put it down and finished it in one day. I recommend it, if you have not read it already. I think I may find another book or two from her to read....when I get some free time.
I am finishing up a one page paper for patho on Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and then will prepare to take my first exam next week.
I have some more required reading to do for health promo before I can do the essay but should turn that in next week.
I have barely skimmed the reading for the role class (the role of midwifery and birth centers in America) but need to get on it and start making notecards for my first paper, due in three weeks on the historical development of midwifery. That should be very enlightening.
Work this week was busy. We did have a wonderful natural delivery of a first time mom who birthed a 10# 1oz baby after only actively pushing 4 times. What a woman!!!!!!
Otherwise, it was induction city. Why, oh why can't we just let women go into labor on their own. I'm beginning to hate working Sunday night thru Wednesday night because all we do is admit 7-9 inductions each night, not to mention the ones that actually do come in already in labor or the four that are still laboring when we come onto the shift so we have to get them delivered, recovered and passed off to the postpartum so that we can get the inductions in and started on time (in order to avoid the wrath of certain physicians). Those kind of nights go by quickly but give me no opportunity whatsoever to develop a real rapport with my patients, and that is very disconcerting to me.
Just two more years....just two more years.....it will be sooooo worth the hard work!!!
Friday, April 4, 2008
You too can have a vaginal delivery.
Unintended vaginal deliveries......that seems to be the theme for this week.
We had a patient scheduled for repeat c/s on Tues morning who came in saying she had not slept all night d/t an upset stomach and constipation (this pt is also an MD). The patient kept insisting she really needed to go to the bathroom, she said she just felt sooo bloated and constipated. The monitor showed she was contracting q3 minutes and they were palpating strong, but she kept denying even feeling them. She had only been there about 20 minutes and had refused a vag exam because she didn't think she was in labor. Finally the nurse absolutely insisted on a vag exam to evaluate and let her MD know what was happening. Well, turns out the gal is complete and +2 with a BBOW. She ends up with a precipitous VBAC (RN caught baby) and mom and baby are both doing great.
We had a G1P0 come in on Thursday morning for a scheduled primary elective c/s for suspected macrosomia. Turns out she had SROM a few hours prior to her arrival and since she was already contracting regularly decided that she wanted to attempt to labor and deliver vaginally. She did wonderfully, got an epidural @6cm and once she was complete labored down for about an hour then pushed for 35 minutes to deliver a very robust 9#7oz bundle of joy. Her labor was a total of 12 hours from the time her water broke and she started contracting. Not bad for a primip!
Guess they got the macrosomia right......too bad there isn't a little more trust in the body's ability to birth the baby that it grows.
We have had a surprising number of vaginal deliveries this week compared to what we usually have when the census is as high as it has been. Hmmm, maybe I need to check our stats for this week. The less time I spend in the OR the happier I am!
We had a patient scheduled for repeat c/s on Tues morning who came in saying she had not slept all night d/t an upset stomach and constipation (this pt is also an MD). The patient kept insisting she really needed to go to the bathroom, she said she just felt sooo bloated and constipated. The monitor showed she was contracting q3 minutes and they were palpating strong, but she kept denying even feeling them. She had only been there about 20 minutes and had refused a vag exam because she didn't think she was in labor. Finally the nurse absolutely insisted on a vag exam to evaluate and let her MD know what was happening. Well, turns out the gal is complete and +2 with a BBOW. She ends up with a precipitous VBAC (RN caught baby) and mom and baby are both doing great.
We had a G1P0 come in on Thursday morning for a scheduled primary elective c/s for suspected macrosomia. Turns out she had SROM a few hours prior to her arrival and since she was already contracting regularly decided that she wanted to attempt to labor and deliver vaginally. She did wonderfully, got an epidural @6cm and once she was complete labored down for about an hour then pushed for 35 minutes to deliver a very robust 9#7oz bundle of joy. Her labor was a total of 12 hours from the time her water broke and she started contracting. Not bad for a primip!
Guess they got the macrosomia right......too bad there isn't a little more trust in the body's ability to birth the baby that it grows.
We have had a surprising number of vaginal deliveries this week compared to what we usually have when the census is as high as it has been. Hmmm, maybe I need to check our stats for this week. The less time I spend in the OR the happier I am!
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