If you think a midwife's job is simply to deliver babies, think again. Midwives not only help in the birthing process; they provide health care, education and support to women and their families starting from conception and through post-delivery care. Midwifery is among the oldest professions and takes quite a lot of training. With dedication and diligence, however, one can enjoy a rewarding midwife career.
Instructions
1. Go to school. The easiest but most expensive way to get the skills of a midwife is to enroll in a degree program. You can get a midwifery diploma or a midwifery degree. Typically, both would take up to three years to earn. There are quite a few excellent learning facilities within the U.S. (see Resources below).
2. Learn by experience. If you don't have the time or the money to get a degree, then becoming a Direct Entry Midwife is your best option. A DEM is a midwife who learns and practices midwifery without first becoming a nurse. In general, DEMs are classified according to the way in which they learn their skills. Some sign up for distance-learning schools. Others acquire skills through self-study. There are also those who learn by apprenticeship.
3. Read about and study midwifery. Experience may be the best teacher but it doesn't hurt to have a theoretical background of a midwife's practice. At the very least, your reading would introduce you to medical terms and the problems you could possibly encounter, as well as generally accepted midwifery policies and procedures. Check your local library or hospital for information and reading material.
4. Look for a midwife who would take you under her wing. Check breastfeeding groups, ask at your local hospital or inquire from women who have used the services of a midwife. There are teachers out there who want to share their skills with you; seek and you shall find.
5. Once you have found a midwife, you'll have to convince her you are serious about training under her supervision. This is not as easy as you think. Many midwives are hesitant to take on apprentices because of negative encounters they've had with would-be midwives in the past. To convince her you are serious, show up for prenatal sessions and deliveries on time, clean up after births and serve the clients. The only way for you to learn is to put your hands to work and get them dirty.
6. Get skills hours in. One way is to train under a midwife. Another is to volunteer at pregnancy centers. A third way is by attending and helping out in prenatal and childbirth classes. Every hour of experience that you gain brings you that much closer to your dream of becoming a sought-after midwife.
7. Get accredited by the North American Registry of Midwives. You can visit the NARM website and check out the eligibility requirements (see Resources below).
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