This week is National Midwifery Week. A week to celebrate and promote the services rendered by midwives, created by the American College of Nurse-Midwives – my old organization.
Even though I haven’t attended a birth as a nurse-midwife in probably eight years, midwifery is very much alive at Amma. According to the ACNM, midwives “affirm the power and strength of women,” and the midwifery model of care:
- Promotes a continuous and compassionate partnership
- Acknowledges a person’s life experiences and knowledge
- Includes individualized methods of care and healing guided by the best evidence available
- Involves therapeutic use of human presence and skillful communication
What a beautiful way to sum up what we strive to do in our classrooms here at Amma! Through evidence-based teaching, a compassionate approach, and connection with other human beings we “midwife” parents into their new lives.
When I think back to attending births, my favorite moments were spent a few feet away from a woman’s bedside, watching as she worked through labor in the presence of her partner or family. Knowing that she didn’t need me to pick her up and carry her, but walk next to her on the path. Knowing she could do it herself. I had a keen sense that I didn’t want to be too much a part of her memory of her birth when she looked back over the years – I wanted her to remember how strong she was, rather than how I had helped her.
I feel many such moments in the classrooms at Amma. It’s such a gift to see a new mom have an “ah ha” moment about how to take care of her baby, or see a new dad get that swaddle just right. Amma just sings when it’s full of parents- meeting new friends, playing with their babies, learning from us and each other. But honestly, we just provide the space in which you blossom into parents – the accomplishment is all yours.
We’re just lucky enough to be there when it happens.
Has your life been touched by a midwife? Join Team Midwife and help promote midwifery to your friends and family. We’d like to see 20% of all births attended by midwives by 2020.
And…. Happy Midwifery Week!