06/05/2026
Thank you to our generous donors!
We are now 2% funded for my midwifery education!
NOT ALL MIDWIVES ARE CREATED EQUAL
When I got pregnant with my 3rd child, I wanted to explore seeing a midwife. I couldn't afford an Out of Hospital provider. But my state insurance covered a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) in the hospital.
My prenatal care was mostly good. But care in the hospital wasn't much different than care with my OB in my previous pregnancies. It was quick, there was no additional education about herbs or nutrition, and it felt very routine and clinical. In fact, if I asked about herbs or nutrition my midwife said I should do my own research without offering resources.
When birth happened, I went to the hospital on the busiest day ever! Everyone and their mother was at OU giving birth that day.
I stayed with my water broken in a wheelchair outside of triage for 45 minutes waiting for someone to take care of me.
When I finally got to the delivery room, it was time to push.
The midwife who showed up to my birth was wonderful. But she wasn't the same provider who did my prenatal care.
In fact, I never met her before I was naked and pushing. (Don't get me wrong. At the time I really didn't care. π)
But after I delivered my baby, the midwife quickly left to go help another mom.
I was left with a nurse who was green. (Inexperienced.)
She didn't notice the signs of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH is Excessive bleeding after birth.) I lost an estimated 1500ccs of blood that night, that's 1.5 liters! It was one of the scariest experiences of my life, and when I was going through it I didn't think I was going to make it.
After I had time to heal, I felt that my experience could have been a lot better if I had an experienced Out of Hospital midwife taking care of me.
1. I wouldn't have spent all that time in a wheelchair, waiting for care, if I was in the comfort of my own home.
2. I would have delivered my baby safely, with a provider who I knew and trusted. Someone who I built a relationship with. Not a stranger.
3. I would have been in the care of an experienced provider who was only looking out for me. She would have recognized the signs of PPH. She could have given me herbs or medication quicker, and prevented the severe hemorrhage.
4. I would have had a safer, more personalized, birth experience. And a safer recovery and start to mothering. Instead I spent my baby's first months recovering my body from extreme blood loss, and from the trauma of falling through the cracks in the mainstream medical system.
This is another reason why I am studying to become a midwife. To offer safe, personalized, traditional care. Care that is common sense, tailored to the individual, and watchful.
With a small client load, I will be able to spend time with each of my families. Traditional midwives are experts in helping the community heal with both herbals and nutrition. And studies show that when parents can access these things during pregnancy they have less risks of developing life threatening conditions like PPH, Pre-eclampsia, and Premature Ruptured of Membranes. (The water breaking before labor starts.)
I'm on a mission, but I can't do it alone!
Becoming a midwife is a a rigorous path of didactic studying and unpaid work as an apprentice. I also need books, money for travel to placement and to skills workshops.
Please consider donating or sharing this campaign to help us improve maternal and fetal health outcomes in Oklahoma, and in the global sphere.
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