Finished the First Semester of Midwifery Classes!

It's hard to believe that I've finished my first semester of midwifery classes. The semester has flown by. It's been difficult, enlightening, joyous, and tearful. I have learned how to perform pelvic exams, prescribe contraception, listen to a fetal heart with a doppler, measure a pregnant belly, perform a full physical exam, take a thorough health history, and diagnose and prescribe treatments for vaginitis and STIs. I have loved getting to know my patients at clinical even though clinical was just not what I had expected. I had a preceptor who did not enjoy her job. She found no joy from being a midwife, or really any aspect of her life. It was such a shame. I wanted to have an instructor who loved midwifery, loved working with women, and loved passing on that knowledge. But instead, I had a preceptor who grunted at me as a greeting in the morning and barely gave me any guidance as I learned how to take care of women at all stages of life.

That being said, I still love being a student midwife. At times I am frustrated and feel discouraged, but overall I am happy and grateful. I adore my midwifery classmates who have helped make this program so much richer. I eagerly anticipate next semester when I will begin catching babies. In January we have "birth boot camp" where we learn all of the basics on how to help a woman in labor. Then we are on call at the hospital for births! We will also still be in a clinic once a week to provide antepartum and GYN care.

Until then, I have 5 final exams to take in the next week and a half. Off to cram loads of information into my head and then 4 weeks off!