Women pay me NOT to do things :-)

Pondering how as a midwife, I’m hired as much for what I don’t do as for what I do do. Reminding the mamas who are waiting for little ones to savor each moment in the wait and to be thankful I’m not a “do” midwife in these circumstances

This was my facebook status on a recent morning. It had more to do with inductions but as I spent some time thinking about it and all that women pay me not to do.

Here’s a list of things women hire me NOT TO DO…
1. Make you wait a long time in a waiting room for an appointment
2. Rush you through your visits
3. Scold you for gaining 6 pounds in one month
4. Treat you like you’re ignorant or stupid
5. Order stressful “Non-Stress” tests
6. Do lots of internal exams when you’re pregnant
7. Induce labor
8. Freak out when your water releases
9. Make you wear a hospital gown
10. Think big bathtubs are for storing things in
11. Limit the number of guests or support people you can have
12. Use continuous fetal monitors
13. Require an enema to get into the tub
14. Start routine IV’s
15. Put labor on a timeclock
16. Restrict you to bed, or even a bedroom
17. Forbid you to eat or drink in labor
18. Rupture the membranes (break the water)
19. Bug you about pain
20. Talk too much
21. Keep checking dilation
22. Wait for you to fail
23. Do an episiotomy
24. Own stirrups
25. Harrass you about your choices
26. Put your baby in a warmer
27. Smash your babies face into your booby
28. Treat your baby like anything other than a brand-new human being
29. Scare, bully or belittle you
30. Separate you from your baby

Aren’t you going to “DO” something?

“What can I do?” This is a phrase I often hear as a woman nears or passes her due date. It’s more of a plea for help than an enquiry. I offer encouragement, support and occasionally a bit of bold ‘suck it up girl!” sentiments. It often takes a reminder that she’s paying me for as much as I don’t ‘do’ as I do ‘do.’

For starters, I don’t induce women. Inductions have no place in healthy, low-risk pregnancies. We live in a society where women are programmed that the due date is more of an expiration date. The EDD is not a “Use by……” date! It’s not even a “Best if used by….” date. The majority of hospital-bound women are not ‘allowed’ to go past that 40-week mark so women have become programmed to think in Cinderella terms. When the clock strikes midnight, tragedy occurs. Sadly, instead of a Prince Charming with glass slipper in hand, the result is often an OB surgeon wielding the cesarean scalpel. This kind of mentality seeps even into the minds of women where chemical inductions are not even an option and causes needles worry.

I cringe inwardly when I hear women state matter-of-factly, “I’m going to go into labor early” or “My baby will be born on the .” Often these are first-time mothers who are wishfully willing themselves out of a past-your-due-date situation. Or worse, they’ve got family visiting from out-of-town and understandably, want to have their baby ‘in time’ for the visitors to enjoy the end result. More times than I can count the family finally leaves an over-due mama and she finally lets go of all expectations and goes into the labor the next day. It’s too much pressure!

If you understand the physiology, you understand why this doesn’t work! When under stress you release adrenaline and noradrenaline. These are necessary hormones but must be kept in balance with the other labor hormones; oxytocin and endorphins. When stress, worry and timelines tip the balance, cortisol release is the result and worrying about not having your baby ‘on time’ becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy!

What advice do I have? First, don’t ‘plan’ your birth. This sounds logical but women, especially type A women, get too much in their heads and try to figure it all out. Birth is one of those wild rides where you can’t see ahead of the entrance to know what it’s going to be like. You’ve heard stories about it but you have nothing to compare it to, and nothing you do can change what lies ahead. You have to stand patiently in line until it’s your turn and be willing to go along regardless of what twists and turns await. Second, unless someone lives close by or is willing to travel without a planned return date, don’t include them in your birth. It rarely works the way you think it will and only causes unnecessary stress and worry. Third, forget about expiration dates. Think in terms of my baby will probably come sometime in the fall around Thanksgiving as opposed to an arbitrary date.

Forget about trying to get things going on your own. Homeopathy is considered safe and will nudge things along if you’re ready. If you’re not ready, it won’t work. When it comes to herbs, castor oil, and other concoctions meant to get labor going, leave those to the circumstances where there are issues that need to be dealt with. These only lead to further disappointment if they don’t work. If they do work, women often experience longer than necessary labors that fizzle out, again leading to more discouragement. Trying to fix a non-existent problem often leads to creating a problem that didn’t need to exist.

What does help? For starters, sex. What helped the baby get in often helps the baby get out. Again, that physiology thing. Make sure the baby is in a good position. Do everything you can to ensure an optimally positioned baby. Visit the chiropractor, osteopath and the www.spinningbabies.com website.

Get a massage. Go for a walk. See an acupuncturist. Listen to Hypnobirthing CD’s. Watch a funny movie. Do something for someone else to get the focus off your belly.

If you’re a believer in the Word of God, spend time with the author. Pour out your heart to him. Lay your expectations, desires and dreams at His alter and surrender it all. This time of waiting is preparation of our spiritual walk. It’s one of those times where your faith will be tested. Study for scriptures that deal with waiting, resting and hoping. Rewrite them, pray them, memorize them. Sing songs of praise and worship. “I waited” comes to mind.

Lastly, give thanks. Be thankful to have a Creator who knows and cares. Be thankful you have the blessing of a little one in your belly. Ponder all the positive things that you can do with the baby still on the inside and cherish these last days and moments of solitude, bubble baths and quiet reading times. And don’t forget to be thankful that you’ve hired a midwife who has walked in your shoes, understands your complaints and will continue to smile sweetly while reminding you why she doesn’t ‘do’ something!

Luke 12: 22-31 Do Not Worry
Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

Turning the Tide

It’s time I experience a Turning of the Tide in my professional and personal life. The verb Turn the Tide has one meaning; a complete reversal of the circumstances.

For many years now I’ve sworn I would never work with anyone again. I tried that a couple times and it didn’t work out so well. Once upon a time I opened my practice to two other midwives. We worked together for a few years before ‘issues arose.’ It’s complicated is putting it mildly but those issues evolved into something that split not only our professional relationship but our personal ones. I walked away from a business that I had started many years prior to working with them. My attorneys said I’d win a battle for the name but the fighting would have taken a lot of finances and time but more importantly, it would have cost me so much in the spiritual/emotional realm that it just didn’t seem worth it. My hubby said if I could build the business up to the place where it was being fought over, then I could do it again. And so I limped off, spent a year working through the betrayal and pain and starting over again.

I spent a lot of time meditating on the word of God. Whenever I heard rumors about myself or felt frustrated because of the circumstances, I was reminded about a scripture in the old testament; Jeremiah 6:16. The preceding verses talk about the wickedness of Jerusalem; their greed, deceit and lack of shame – things that were too close to home and tender. But then it says, “This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Rest for my soul is exactly what I needed! The verse became a theme for me. Each time hurts flooded back, I had to choose to take the good road where I’d face my Savior, where peace could wash over me and bitterness be washed away. It was a choice I had to make over and over again. That Ancient Path led to healing and became the name for my new practice. It seemed fitting!

Eventually the new business flourished and the emotional wounds healed. I became a little more business savvy but promised myself I’d never work with anyone again. That would just be asking too much! Through the years I went from 20 births a year to over 60 a year – doing it all by myself. In mentoring midwifery students through all of that I met some doozies which just confirmed my stance on not working with anyone again. There were a few amazing women who could have made me reconsider but they were either involved in overseas missionary work or moved out of the area. And so I just kept plugging away, working hard, doing the best I could possibly do and being grateful for a family who supports and loves their midwife mama. I like working by myself, I do what I want, when I want, how I want and am pretty happy doing it. After a lot of rough storms, the waves of my life were pretty calm – smooth sailing as they say. And then I met her.

With my midwifery student out on maternity leave and a super busy season of babies around the corner, I began to look for someone who could help me out for a few months. I inquired to a few of my midwife friends and had one particular midwife recommended to me by a couple of them. I had met her at previous CMI conferences. She seemed nice enough although I didn’t really remember much about her except she looked like a sweet homeschooled girl . I asked my friend, “Are you sure? Her?” She assured me she was a very nice young lady with good qualifications and known to be of good character. I still wasn’t convinced and set to prayer about it. My logical side reminded me that it was only a temporary thing and I really was feeling weary from being on-call 24/7 and birth after birth. It would be nice to have a ‘real midwife’ and not just a helper as I faced a dozen or so births in a short period of time. I contacted her and asked if she would be willing to come work with me during this season. To my surprise, she didn’t have any clients of her own due during that time and was willing to come.

She arrived just days after Christmas and I know this sounds weird, but our souls just connected. If there is love at first site between friends, this was as close as I’ve ever got. The next days were a whirlwind of prenatal and postpartum visits combined with snippets of sharing ourselves with one another. Just three days after she arrived we did our first birth together. I was in awe at how well we meshed right from the start. She was helpful, encouraging and graceful. The second birth we did together I remember thinking, ‘she gets it’. In such a short time, she observed, performed and remembered. It amazed me that I didn’t have to tell her much, she just did, and she did everything in a way that impressed me and my clients. Could this be real?

I think it was somewhere around the second or third birth that I blurted out that I wanted her to stay and not leave, that I wanted her to work with me. Not FOR me, but WITH me – BIG difference! Where had that come from? I shocked myself! I’m not usually that impulsive. And I certainly wasn’t planning on extending any such invitation. This was cut and dry – she works, I pay, she goes home, I continue doing my thing. No questions asked and if all turns out well, then I have a new friend in another state. If it didn’t turn out so well then it was only eight weeks; I could put up with someone for eight weeks.

But my clients loved her – and so did I! She made me laugh and brought me a new sense of joy. We found ourselves finishing each other’s sentences, laughing at our jokes that sometimes we were the only ones to get. She wasn’t the stodgy, fuddy-duddy I thought she was. Instead there is life, joy, vitality and a depth beyond her years. We share a bond of brokenness, an understanding that comes from living similar circumstances combined with an understanding of our need for something beyond this world. Through Christ we are sisters and understand that we are nothing without His grace.

By divine intervention our lives connected, the waters of our lives swirling a bit faster than we anticipated. At the end of her service, we talked in earnest about her really coming back to California to work with me. We agreed to both pray about it and see how we felt when life returned to normal again.

By early May, we had an agreement. She’ll work through the summer on getting her CPM and CA license and then join me in the fall for a one-year assignment. This one-year agreement is open-ended and we’re going to take it one day at a time. What it does is help me to spend more time with my family. My son will begin a higher competition level hockey season in October requiring additional travel through the Western States. And we will be able to spend much-needed time with my Father. His health has been declining these last couple of years and although he only lives 2 hours away, two hours can mean the difference between attending and missing a birth. On my own, it’s hard to take that risk very often. With her help, I can safely make my Dad a priority without compromising my clients.

It scares me a bit to think that I’m putting myself out there again – opening up my practice that I’ve built up, allowing everything I do to be scrutinized, shared, changed. Instead of fear though, I’m excited. At times the waters seem murky; how will this all work? Where will the money come from to pay her what she’s worth? How will we split the work load? At other times I feel like I can see an island off in the distance – can make out the outlines but I know it’s so far off yet. The next five months will go both dolphin fast and sea slug slow!

At times I feel so unworthy to have her in my life. The scar tissue on my heart reminds me of my past. Then I’m reminded of the words of the prophet Micah. “Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.” Into a sea of forgetfulness he casts my sins. If my God can forgive me and carry me beyond the messes I make then who am I to hold stubborn to the past and not trust Him for my future? For years the trade winds have been carrying me happily along. But there has been a complete reversal of circumstances – the tides are turning and I’m ready for the adventure……

She shares my love for dark chocolate and got me hooked on Dove. As my most recent wrapper says, “Don’t settle for a spark….light a fire instead.” Keep your eyes open; there’s going to be 2 HOT midwives in Chino come November!

Disclaimers and Assumptions

It’s come to my attention over the last weeks that someone I worked with ‘once-upon-a-time’ is trying to stir up trouble for me. Not sure why after nearly 11 years she is even remotely interested in me or my practice – should I be flattered or feel stalked? Whatever!

Apparently she is saying that I am misrepresenting myself as something I’m not. I googled myself and found that I am listed on a couple search sites that list and grade doctors and I am listed as “Dr. Lori Luyten” or “Lori Luyten CNM”. I have never placed myself on these sites – the address is incorrect and it is my very old business phone number from many years ago. I’ve managed to get some of these sites such as Health Grades and doctors.at to update my information so at least they have my certifications correct (well almost correct – doctors.at changed me from a doctor to a “Midwife – Certified” so that is ‘kinda’ correct). The Healthgrades.com site was gracious to change me from a doctor to my actual profession and I found that I have several good reviews – so thank you reviewers for that! Other sites I have been unsuccessful in getting any response or changes made, so I continue to be listed incorrectly.

I also discovered today that I am listed on other search sites that I did not put myself onto. In speaking with a representative of the customer service center today, I was told that it appears that I have been ‘hijacked’. I am not the account manager on these sites, the email address listed is not mine and therefore I can not access them to change the information listed. They can’t just change it to me because they have to verify that I am indeed me. Two of these search engine sites are investigating the ‘owner’ and will be getting back to me. Most of the information listed appears correct – verbage is almost identical to ads I have placed, but there are things that aren’t correct that have been added and I’m unable at this time to get that changed.

So, the best thing I can figure to do is put disclaimers all over my website and here on my blog. If the person above mentioned decides to report me to the Medical Board for fraud, well, I’m making a paper trail showing that I’m trying to fix things, and if the fraud leads back to her, then there will be consequences.

Here’s the disclaimer:
I, Lori Luyten, am a LICENSED MIDWIFE and CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL MIDWIFE. I am licensed in the State of Ca to practice midwifery. I am certified by the North America Registry of Midwives as a CPM, recognized in North America.

I am NOT a medical doctor (or even an Osteopathic physician) and have never claimed to be one. I don’t even play one on TV! I have a couple really good friends who are doctors; we facebook and text each other, hang out together and go on spa days together but I’m not a doctor by association with these awesome docs. I don’t call myself “dr Lori” or any silly thing like that.

I am NOT a Registered Nurse or a Certified Nurse Midwife, also known as RN and CNM respectively. I have never been an RN or CNM, nor have I ever used RN or CNM after my name. My high school yearbook says that I wanted to be one though. I started out on that path, but as my website bio says, I got a little sidetracked by this hot Dutchman, got hitched and had his babies instead (paraphrased). I think it was fate – back when I graduated college, there was no such things as LM’s in CA; that didn’t come about till 1993. If I’d followed that route I’d probably be working at Kaiser somewhere, caring for drugged-up, numbed-up mamas and doing all kinds of things I now consider nasty.

I HAVE worked in the medical profession – but NOT as a Doctor or a CNM/RN. I do have a background working in doctors offices, hospitals and health clinics which I believe gives me insight and experience that compliments my Licensed Midwifery practice. So when you find these sites that list me as such, use some common sense, check out what I HAVE listed on my own personal website and if you have questions, ASK me!

And while I’m listing disclaimers here I’ll put it down for the record – my clients sign informed consents allowing me to post birth announcements. They don’t all sign so there are babies that I am honored to catch that I don’t get bragging rights to. That’s ok too, just wanted ya’ll to know that the ones I do brag about – their mamas gave me written persmission – and even enjoy their 15 minutes of adorable, baby-love fame.

And here’s another; just cuz I have pictures of TWINS on my birth announcements doesn’t mean that I caught those babies. Often when I discover a client is having twins, I continue to provide co-care with the perinatologist. This allows them continuity of care with me, we provide nutritional counseling and help these women have the best ‘high-risk’ pregnancies possible. I may be able to serve them through their hospital birth experiences and then provide them with postpartum and breastfeeding support too. Out of respect and privacy, I’m not going to put where the babies were born and especially not HOW they were born – it’s just none of your business! Even though I may not have ‘caught’ them, they are still ‘my’ babies and their mamas are still ‘my’ mamas! So, remember that old saying about what happens when you ‘assume’ – well, you know how it goes.

And here’s to the two midwives who I KNOW follow my blog and website in stalker-like fashion (there are tracking things you know!) – why don’t you just worry about and spend your time creating the BEST midwifery practice you possibly can. As a Christian, all I can do is continue to pray blessings over you (bless those who curse you) and let Psalm 140 comfort me when it says,
Rescue me, LORD, from evildoers;
protect me from the violent,
2 who devise evil plans in their hearts
and stir up war every day.
3 They make their tongues as sharp as a serpent’s;
the poison of vipers is on their lips.[b]

4 Keep me safe, LORD, from the hands of the wicked;
protect me from the violent,
who devise ways to trip my feet.
5 The arrogant have hidden a snare for me;
they have spread out the cords of their net
and have set traps for me along my path.

6 I say to the LORD, “You are my God.”
Hear, LORD, my cry for mercy.
7 Sovereign LORD, my strong deliverer,
you shield my head in the day of battle.
8 Do not grant the wicked their desires, LORD;
do not let their plans succeed.

9 Those who surround me proudly rear their heads;
may the mischief of their lips engulf them.
10 May burning coals fall on them;
may they be thrown into the fire,
into miry pits, never to rise.
11 May slanderers not be established in the land;
may disaster hunt down the violent.

12 I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor
and upholds the cause of the needy.
13 Surely the righteous will praise your name,
and the upright will live in your presence.

To all the birthing women out there – blessings be poured out upon you,
Lori Luyten, LICENSED (non-nurse) MIDWIFE.

Welcome Izabella Michelle

Izabella Michelle was born on February 17th at 12:19 am. She weighed 8’7″ and was 20 inches long. Congratulations to first time parents Michelle and Daniel!

Welcome Lily Katherine

Lily Katherine, weighing 8’14″ was born February 1st at 1:46 am. She was born in water at the birth center. Congratulations to Natalie and Joe!

Welcome Jack Walker

Another beautiful baby born in water at the birth center. Welcome Jack Walker who was born on January 24th at 5:59 pm. Jack weighed 8’4″ and was 20 inches long. Congratulations to Nicole, Max and big sister Lila!

Welcome Nathan Garrett

Congratulations to Stacy and Mike who welcomed a son, Nathan Garrett on January 16th at 2:45 am. Nathan was born in water at the birth center and weighed 8’14″. He is little brother to Abigail who was also born in a birthing center.

Nathan

Dangerous or Safe, Part III

I’ve talked at length with some really awesome midwives and we’ve all came to the same conclusions and encountered the same problems. There are two major issues with the midwifery profession that seems to be the same whether you’re in California or Georgia or anywhere in between. Both issues stem from the training and nature of what midwives do.

Midwifery seems to draw two types of women – amazing, hardworking women who sacrifice a lot for the sake of midwifery. Most midwives fall into this category and are loving, caring and almost universally express a deep desire, or calling, to do this type of work. On the other hand, the other type of woman borders on what we call the ‘crazies’ – women who have deep-seeded need to be loved and validated through others. You probably know the type – they are the ones that people envision when they think of midwives and become afraid for their daughters. These women might be too odd, too illiterate, too lazy, too you-fill-in-the-blank but they wouldn’t be the ones who could get into medical school or even a good nursing program. Midwifery is an easier path into the health care professions. There typically aren’t prerequisites or degrees required other than a passion and willingness to learn and it can be done fairly quickly compared to nursing or becoming a doctor. Birth is some heady work. There is nothing more amazing than bearing witness to the miracle of birth, new life emerging and taking its first breath. For the unstable, it is an easy draw into what can be a very powerful position that often flies under the normal radar. These midwives NEED the validation that comes with being a caretaker or even worse, the savior figure. These ladies are the ones that I believe Carla Hartley describes in a recent Facebook post.

With birth endorphin and oxytocin levels at all-time highs, women typically become very bonded to the ones caring for them. Robert Bradley, MD talked about this effect and was instrumental in getting the fathers into the delivery room in an effort to redirect their passions back to their husbands. Take someone with a narcissistic personality and you’ve got the perfect birthing cocktail to quench her thirst for being needed, validated and loved.

Virtually every seasoned midwife that I know and respect has had issues with midwifery students. Partly because the crazies can be hard to distinguish until you’ve spent some time with them and partly because the ones who aren’t bordering on the edge of being a good CSI character fall into the other student category – the ‘midwifery is a really cool way to make money’ mindset.

Over the years many midwifery students have passed through my doors. Some have gone on to become midwives, many have not. Sadly a few have ditched the hard work of apprenticeship and gone on to ‘practice’ without finishing their training. These are the scariest and most dangerous of all! One student attended about ten births with me over a 6 month period. After completing a few weeks of midwifery school, she felt she was competent enough to become a ‘spiritual midwife’ which knowing her, I translated as too lazy to do the work, can’t wait that long, my husband wants me to earn money type of midwifery. She hung out her shingle and took on clients. One of her ‘clients’ told me about her birth and the horrors she endured under her care. After a long, arduous labor and against the midwife’s persistence, the client went to the hospital and ended up with a cesarean. It was found that she was experiencing a uterine rupture. Had this woman not listened to her own body and intuition, the results could have been disastrous. As it is, it was another blow to the competency of ALL midwives in the eyes of the medical establishment who cared for the client upon her transport.

I’ve trained some pretty amazing midwives and after many years have come to the conclusion that it really doesn’t have much to do with me or the training I give them. It has to do with their commitment, their drive, dedication and passion combined with a stable homelife and supportive family. I don’t make great midwives; great women learn to be midwives! Wonderful women like Debby Hervey, Lisa Showalter and Jeanne Anderson who I am honored to have been part of their midwifery training. These three women exemplified what it takes to be a good, or SAFE midwife. Secure in who they are, they didn’t need midwifery to make them feel more important, they understood what dedication entailed, they were willing to do the hard, tedious tasks and put in long, hard hours in spite of long drives and physical ailments.

On the flip side I’ve had students who gave many excuses why their coursework wasn’t completed. It’s hard work for sure. I spent nearly 30 hours a week reading, studying, answering questions and writing papers when I was training to be a midwife. I had four children at the time and was homeschooling as well. Often I would sit on the floor with my toddler playing and infant nursing reading a midwifery textbook. Each night my family would go to bed at eight and that’s when I would begin my computer work, answering questions and writing term papers until midnight. I know it’s not easy, but it can be done if you’re determined to do it and are striving to be a SAFE midwife. One midwifery student spent two years giving me every excuse possible why she couldn’t get her coursework done and finally asked me if I could just sign her off without her doing the work. It was silly of me to think that after two years things would change and she’d step up to the plate of responsibility. Instead she was looking for entitlement and handouts, neither of which I was willing to give her. The final blow was asking to be paid for the privilege of catching my clients babies in order to get her numbers. Another student out my door – another student now playing midwife, taking clients for pay and not willing to do the hard things required to provide the best possible care.

I wish I had answers in how to deal with these problems. Don’t tolerate their bad behavior and you’re labeled as mean. Attempt to hold them accountable and you’re accused of being a bully. I agree with Carla Hartley’s statement, “I am convinced that the only way to eliminate a dangerous midwife is to educate parents so that they ask the right questions and choose their birth attendant carefully. After a while, the dangerous midwives’ business will decrease and people will be choosing someone else. Then she will have to decide to change or quit.”

So I will continue to educate women and families to ask the right questions. Don’t be afraid to ask about training, experiences, transport rates, etc. The internet is also making it easier to get referrals and learn about problem midwives. Even a good, safe midwife can’t please everyone all of the time so an occasional or odd complaint might not mean much. Once I googled myself and found a disgruntled ex-client had written all kinds of nasty about me on a mothering board. She neglected to mention that she hadn’t paid me a penny for her birth, was sent to collections and then became infuriated when I refused to care for her next pregnancy until she paid for the first one – or that any of her complaints were fabricated in retaliation. But if you find repeated complaints about a certain midwife, then take heed. Another good source of recommendations would be childbirth teachers and doulas.

Bless the women who have what it takes to be good midwives! Bless Debbie, Jeanne and Lisa who have gone on continue to do the good work. May God bless you and the women and babies you serve!

Jeanne and Lori

Lisa

Dangerous or Safe? Part Two

I was pleasantly surprised to read a blog post by Carla Hartley entitled “Dangerous Midwife or Safe Midwife”. She says in her blog, “I am in a position to hear about all kinds of midwives, all kinds of apprenticeships, and all kinds of information about childbirth educators and doulas. A big part of the enormous amount of emails and texts and calls I receive every day have something to do with dangerous midwifery practices.” This is one of those taboo areas in midwifery and I applaud Carla for taking a stand on it. Through the years (14 now) that I’ve been involved in the birth field, I’ve seen my share of wonderful midwives. But sadly I’ve seen an equal share of what I call ‘scary midwives.’

Early in my journey I worked with midwives who had no formal education. This in itself isn’t a bad thing; there are many wonderful midwives who did not complete any formal education programs. Through really good apprenticeship training, many well equipped midwives have emerged. I also acknowledge that attending a good school doesn’t make a good student. That being said, there are some pretty scary things going on out there that shouldn’t be done, regardless of training or licensure!

Recently I reconnected with a woman on Facebook that had taken a childbirth class with me about 13 years ago. She asked if I remembered her. I could never forget her or her appalling story. She planned a homebirth with a midwife but the midwives were not happy with her progress and were giving IM injections of Pitocin to make her labor progress. I thought that was an isolated instance but sadly while apprenticing I witnessed midwives doing things they knew they shouldn’t be doing.

The “Ghost” was a common practice amongst the older midwives. One instructed me how to do it by taking a piece of gauze saturated in pitocin and while doing a vaginal exam, insert it and place it over the cervix. She said later you could remove the gauze and the mother would never know. As a baby midwife I was too stunned to respond to her ‘wisdom’ but knew in my heart that I would not follow down such a deceptive and dangerous path. Other times I just saw really shoddy practices; fundal fiddling (massaging the uterus before the placenta separates/delivers), nasty cleanliness habits (packing away bloody instruments to be brought out and scrubbed, then boiled at the next home birth – yes that was my apprentice duty before I integrated the homebirth toothbrush concept and began cleaning instruments BEFORE packing them away, sigh) and just plain ignorance in a variety of things.

Other times there was outright deceptive practices meant to ‘beat the system.’ A former colleague would intentionally instruct all women to clean the vulva with obstetric towelettes before obtaining a GBS culture – the towelette removes the bacteria, ensuring negative results. How many women have falsely believed to be GBS free because of this ‘simple’ yet erroneous practice? This same midwife would not begin to chart second stage until well over an hour and sometimes two, of active pushing. Something simple but if a baby isn’t moving down the birth canal or making progress, what’s the difference if it’s two hours or four hours? This might not seem like anything big, but it’s the little things we see, the big things are often hidden.

I think I’ll leave this here and pick it up again later. Maybe I’ll talk more about the big things and about students. I’m happy to hear your thoughts as well. Blessings!