Midwifery Apprenticeship

The foundation of every midwifery education is apprenticeship. The student finds an experienced preceptor to take her under her wing and teach her the practical aspect of being a good midwife.

From what I have heard from sister midwifery students, the apprenticeship usually starts the second year of midwifery school. I have also heard that some preceptors are booked with students sometimes YEARS in advance!

So even though I will not be starting midwifery school until August 2009, I figured that maybe I should call the midwife I would like to apprentice with NOW so I can book her for next year.

I called her this past Friday and left a long, detailed message (so long, in fact, that her answering machine cut me off! How embarrassing!), and then promptly forgot about it. I was having a pretty crummy day and fell asleep on the couch immediately after lunch. During the middle of my nap, the phone rang! I answered it still half-asleep, and it was my future preceptor midwife!!!

Oh my goodness, she was EVERYTHING I had hoped she would be...and more! She was inspiring, encouraging, thoughtful, funny...and very professional! She told me the names of other midwives in my area who I could interview about an apprenticeship, so at first I was worried that she'd tell me she didn't have room for me. But then she went on to tell me about how she works and what she expects of her apprentices, and then she said she'd love to have me on board!! She said that most students start apprenticing in the second year, but that she'd like to at least get me out to a few prenatals soon. YES YES YES!!!!!!!!! I am going to call her again in December, and we are going to meet in person to talk more. I AM SO EXCITED!!!!!!! :D :D :D

So then I got to thinking...why do midwifery students usually start apprenticing during their second year? Why not their first? Hmm...well, that's probably because most midwives would like their midwives to have a general idea of the profession of midwifery before they start apprenticing. That way, the apprentice will be able to help instead of just observe. So I thought...what would help me be a more useful apprentice...to the point where I might even get to apprentice during my first year of midwifery school? How can I learn to be a more helpful apprentice??

Then it hit me. Maybe I could look into taking a training to become a Midwife's Assistant before I start school in the Fall!! I want to apprentice NOW, but that's not feasible because of my full-time job. But gosh, I'm just so ready to work in birth. I want to help women so much! So I started looking for midwifery assistant workshops, and what on earth did I find?!

Midwifery Assistant Workshop at The Farm in Tennessee!!! The workshop in April will be exactly one year since I was last at The Farm, for my Birthing From Within training! I *loved* The Farm and the people who live there. It's a beautiful place full of energy and down-to-earth people (believe it or not). I have decided that I am going to take the Midwifery Assistant workshop there in April 09, to help me become a better apprentice and to further my knowledge of midwifery to better prepare me for school in the Fall.

Now if only I could forget my love of birth just long enough to keep up at my job so I can be less stressed all the time! :p