The Genesis of a Midwife

In June of 2011, I had the crazy idea to become a Doula. I'm honestly not sure what started this plan, but it felt right. I knew women could birth naturally, and I was going to help them do it. So in July 2011, I went to my first DONA Doula training with Rayna Starr. I knew then that this was going to be my new home. I could encourage women to look within themselves and find the tigress that has been hiding. We instinctively know how to birth, we just need to be surrounded by people who are encouraging instead of detrimintal to our goals. This thought was pushed even farther in my mind by the training that I did with DONA.
I have been a Registered Nurse for nearly two years, and so I always assumed I would become a Certified Nurse Midwife. However, after researching the differences between CNM and Certified Professional Midwife, I knew that my heart could not be in becoming a CNM. I would have been very unhappy having to defer what I had been taught and what I had researched in favor of what hospital policy or a Doctor decided was right. This led me to the Florida School of Traditional Midwifery and a wonderful CPM named Amy Reynolds. Amy allowed me to come with her to prenatal appointments with her clients and has let me Doula to two of her moms.
On Sunday, 2/12/12, I was able to witness the amazing, heart-wrenching, soul-lifting birth of a beautiful baby boy. He was born into his father's arms, in a pool of water, at his house. I have never felt such joy and peace at once in my life. I knew this was my calling.
Monday, 2/13/12, I interviewed with the Florida School of Traditional Midwifery. It was a long process, lasting from 10 am until 3 pm. I met with the Dean of Academics, the Dean of Students, the Financial Aide advisor, and an instructor. I felt confident leaving that I was making the right choice, but was told that I would have to wait up to two weeks before I could find out if I was accepted or not.
Today, 2/15/12, I received a phone call that has changed my life. I am accepted into the Florida School of Traditional Midwifery. Please join me on this wonderful journey of becoming who I was born to be.