Monday, October 15, 2012

Remembering the Little Ones We Have Lost

Trevor, Cooper, Hudson, David, Bethany Joy, Eliana... these are just a few of the babies who I have known who have been lost - some before they were born and some shortly after.

In my work as a nurse and midwife I have had the opportunity to walk alongside several families as they dealt with the loss of their baby or child. For many they walked into their 20 week ultrasound expecting to find out that they were having a boy or girl and some fun pictures to share with everyone. They came out knowing that their child would never live outside the womb. Others came to the hospital or the office expecting to hear the beautiful sound of their baby's heartbeat but instead it was silent.  

I wrote this in my journal after one those experiences:  Today I helped a woman give birth to her fifth child… but instead of tears of joy there were tears of sadness… instead of laughter there was crying… instead of hellos there were goodbyes. This was their fifth baby but he like all of his brothers and sisters was born still. He was perfect but too small to live. He weighed four ounces and was five and half inches long. His hands and feet were tiny and perfect as I made impressions of them in ink and clay. Together his mother and I gave him his first and only bath. We wrapped him in blue and placed the tinniest blue hat on his head. We took pictures. He will be remembered forever in his parents hearts. 

This touching and sad radio program tells the story of another midwife helping her patient through the loss of her baby and the impact it had not only on the family but the midwife.  

It has been said that when a child loses their parents, they are called an orphan. When one loses their spouse they are a called widow or widower. When a parent loses a child, there isn't a word to describe them. Every day approximately 145 babies between 20 weeks gestation and one year of age die in the United States. October 15th has been designated as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. Today around the world people will light candles and release balloons to remember those who have gone too soon and their families. Today and every day please remember them in your thoughts and prayers. 











Friday, October 12, 2012

National Midwifery Week

Did you know that this week in the United States is dedicated to midwives? 

For me it makes me think of my fellow midwives. So many memories of long study sessions with fellow midwifery students both on Skype and together during Clinical Bound. We kept track of each other as we caught our 40 babies and completed the 675 hours of clinicals required for graduation. Then we sweated and worried our way through a comprehensive exam and then our board exam. Finally, we were able to add master of science in nursing (MSN) and certified nurse-midwife (CNM) after our names. Today our class cares for women and catches babies in several states and soon Indonesia. 

A late night study session at school during Clinical Bound



Yep we all passed the test of catching the mannequin's baby























 As I have traveled this journey and shared with others that I am a certified nurse-midwife, I have come to realize that many have questions about midwives. Did you know that midwives are critically important in providing care to women from adolescence to beyond menopause, but their expert knowledge of women’s health is often overlooked? Even though the general public often associates midwives exclusively with maternity care, many women visit a midwife for a range of services before and after pregnancy. That means whether you’re ready for your first pap test, planning for pregnancy, or experiencing menopause you can choose a midwife to provide your care.  

Check out this web page for more information about midwives and to hear stories from and about them: Our Moment of Truth