Hello weekend, I am so glad you’re here! I spent the week in orientation for the new job. Does anyone else always feel a little mentally exhausted learning a new system’s way of doing things? I’m looking forward to some couch time this weekend. Onto the Five. It was a busy week in the news….
Friday Five (#41)
Hey hey hey! Hope your week was great! Our week was full of more potty training, unpacking and organizing (in between all the mothering!). And so much baby drooling. Bless this little man. So much drool, not a tooth in sight, and smiles all the day long. This Five was really fun to put together….
Midwife Monday: A New Resource to Aid Diagnosis of Breast Skin Conditions in Asian, Indigenous, Black and Brown folks
Hello Monday! I’m teeing up to start the new job this month and still trying to organize the house. There is stuff everywhere! I get a little organizing done every day but it feels like a snails pace. I’ve got a new resource today for students and practitioners. This one popped up on my radar…
Friday Five (#40)
Today is the day, today is the day! We haven’t had our stuff from moving for TEN weeks. TEN WEEKS! Yes, other than hotel rooms, I have been sleeping on an air mattress that long. I am confident too that my little babe learned to sleep through the night because I did not hear him…
Women Ask Wednesday: What apps can I use to manage anxiety?
Happy hump day! Want to hear a little birth tradition? Have you ever heard of lighting a candle when a mama is in labor? The idea is that you see the light of the candle and send warm, encouraging thoughts or prayers to the mama through her labor and birth. Anyways, one of my friends…
Women Ask Wednesday: 3 Tips for When Breastfeeding Doesn’t Go as Planned
Oh boy. For starters, I don’t even know if I’m the person to write a post like this. Breastfeeding is a journey for every woman and her baby. I think any mama would agree that it’s hard to know where that journey takes you and it’s full of unexpected bumps along the way. Also, I…
Student spotlight: 15 questions should you ask in a job interview
Hello hello! We’ve got a student spotlight today but this is helpful information for almost anyone. I recently went through the process to interview for a new job. It’s the 6th job I’ve had in 13 years of being a nurse and a nurse midwife. I prepped for the job interview in the same way…
Friday Five (#39)
FRIDAY! We are in full summer mode with littles. Kiddie pool time twice a day. Bug repellant and sun screen in equal amounts. And…my favorite, some homemade strawberry shortcake. Delish. The Five is full as usual! Let’s jump to it. 1. This article examining lower cesarean section rates in hospitals that have midwifery programs. The…
Women Ask Wednesday: How Your Diet During Pregnancy Can Reduce Allergies in Your Child
Hello! Our move to the east allowed us a little travel through the beautiful Inside Passage. I miss those mountains terribly. Alas, I’m holding out for the pretty fall of Virginia. Today we’re chatting allergy prevention in babies. Within the prenatal series happening around the blog is a focus on nutrition. Some women don’t realize…
The 16 Week Visit
We’re continuing our series on routine prenatal care around here and shifting the series to Mondays instead of Wednesdays! With the bulk of the laboratory testing, physical exam and an established due date, routine obstetric care moves into a prevention, assessment and education cycle. The point of this series is two-fold: Provide education from the…
Friday Five (#38)
Hello hello! Wow, what a whirlwind of a summer so far. We did a cross country move from Alaska to Virginia. With three littles, there was never a dull moment. We nearly lost the cat at a Panera. We definitely lost two crib mattresses somewhere in Wyoming. We drove 3,500 miles without a break down…
5 Handy Provider Handouts!
Friday Friday Friday! Wahoo! Today is my last day in clinic at my current position and it’s bittersweet. I’m excited to move onto the next adventure but sad to leave behind some really awesome patients and co-workers. As I was packing up my office, I found some handouts I had forgotten about and wanted to…
JOGNN Article Review: “Effects of Fourth- Degree Perineal Lacerations on Women’s Physical and Mental Health”
Hello hello! A huge thank you to everyone who read the fistula stories from the past 2 weeks! You guys were so wonderful and sympathetic and thankful that I shared my story. Please continue to spread the story among birth workers! If you missed them, read the story here and here. Today we’re chatting about…
My Obstetric Fistula (Part 2)
Last week I shared part one of my fistula story. Today I’m sharing part two. The recovery from my fistula surgery was hands down one of the hardest mental and physical things I have ever done. This was mainly because the pain from natural childbirth was the basis for my previous pain scale but my…
Happy Mother’s Day (2021)!
Hi mamas! This Friday post is for you. Just an early shout out to say Happy Mothers Day. And I mean that to all the mamas. Mamas with five babies. Mamas that have lost babies. Mamas that aren’t mamas yet. Mamas that adopted or fostered. To everyone, in every aspect they are a mother, take…
My Obstetric Fistula (Part 1)
Hello there! Today is not your average birth story. It’s a story about a fistula that developed after my second vaginal birth. I’m sharing my story today because this has been one of the loneliest, disheartening, disappointing and difficult roads I have ever walked. In looking for support, counseling, advice and wisdom I found there…
Friday Five (#37)
Haaalllo and happy Friday! I hope your week was lovely wherever you are! We have been playing outside every possible minute because the weather has been spectacular in Alaska. The trees are budding and the leaves should be sprouting as early as next week. My tulips should open next week too! I love seeing what…
Student spotlight: 5 tips to snag a preceptor for clinicals!
Happy Monday! Today is a post for students! I’ve been watching the various avenues and techniques that midwifery students use to find clinical sites over the past 9 years. Some are successful while others are a big flop. I’ve noticed the same errors are made over and over, and while I’m not an expert by…
Friday Five (#36)
FRIDAY! FRIDAY! FRIDAY! We’re excited around here. The playgrounds have officially melted and they are ready for PLAY! My kids and I played hide and seek for 30 minutes straight this week because we were so happy to just run around. Did you see the IOB Visit tool launch this week? These tools are part…
It’s Live…the Initial OB Template!
Happy Wednesday to all! The snowpack is almost melted up here in the frontier and it has brought smiles to everyone’s face. Want to see a 4 year old do a happy dance? Pull out their bicycle that’s been in the shed for 6 months – pure joy! Today the initial OB template is live…
A MIDWIFE NATION 