A Contemporary Look at One of the Oldest Professions: Midwifery by Cathi Gerhard I have been a fan of the PBS Series “Call the Midwife,” as well as the companion books by Jennifer Worth, for four years. Ever since I watched the first season and read the memoirs, I have thought about doing an article on modern midwifery for the Laurel Mountain Post. My knowledge of the profession was very limited, and frankly, I used to assume midwifery was something that had to do with hippies and swimming pool births at home. Midwives have been around as long as human history. The Ebers Papyrus, which dates from 1900 to 1550 BCE, devotes five columns to Egyptian obstetrics and gynecology. “The ancient Jews called her the wise woman, just as she is known in France as the sage-femme, and in Germany, the weise frau and also Hebamme or mother’s adviser, helper, or friend. The English ‘midwife’ is derived from Middle English “mit wif, or withwoman”(J.H. Aveling). The Latin term cummater and the Spanish and Portuguese term comadre, have the same meaning: with woman.” (midwifeinsight.com) The insightful CTM screenplays and memoir pages opened my eyes to the realities women faced in a time which seems so far
removed from my own. Now in its fourth season on PBS, the online women’s magazine Bustle .com has called the series “the most feminist and socially-conscious show you’re not watch-ing.” Set in the East End of London during the 50s and 60s, the show’s historical backdrop is perfectly timed to explore a variety of issues important to contemporary women: motherhood, career, social standing, economics, work-life balance, and the shifting cultural views of the post WWII era that defined our modern age. Thanks to the power of Facebook, I was able to reach out to a highschool classmate and certified nurese midwife, Karen LintNguyen, to find out more about the profession. Have you seen or read Call the Midwife?
I have watched “Call the Midwife” off and on–I love the promotion of Midwifery as an honorable profession. I have read so many books written about Midwives, and I love it when I see documentaries on birth in the US and our fractured health care system. Midwifery has certainly evolved since the time period of Call the Midwife... What is a midwife?
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Karen Lint-Nguyen, Certified Nurse Midwife in Winchester, VA. 16 - May 2015
My definition of a Midwife is a professional who is a safe keeper of normal birth and other common life events for women (i.e. Birth, Lactation, and Menopause). Midwife literally means “with woman.” In the USA there are several paths to become a midwife. The American College of Nurse Midwives is governing body, if you will, of Certified Nurse Midwives (like me) or Certified Midwives. Most are nurses first, and then continue onto graduate or post graduate education in Midwifery. CM’s have college degrees in other disciplines and then complete a Master’s in midwifery. The North American registry of Midwives certifies the “traditional” home birth midwife, and no college is necessary. They complete an internship, and then sit for an exam to become CPM’s (certified professional midwives). All types of Midwives deliver babies. Since I am a
CNM, I can best speak to my type of Midwifery. Nurse Midwives care for females throughout their lifetime. I can provide gynecology care, care during pregnancy and birth, some primary care issues, and lactation support. How did you get into this job?
I attended IUP (Indiana University of Pennsylvania) after high school, knowing that I wanted to be a Nurse. During my experiences in college in Nursing, and from becoming a mother myself throughout those four years, sparked my interest in Maternity nursing. I worked in HIV nursing, Neonatal ICU, and Labor and Delivery and found a deep passion for caring for women in labor. I had considered moving to Philadelphia to go to U Penn to study midwifery in 1995, but moved to VA instead. Within a year of my move to VA, Shenandoah University was developing a program for CNM’s. I applied and was accepted into its first class. Midwifery school was hard (like a Residency) and is a real test for the Midwife’s family. I figured that I could make a big difference in the community by passionately helping women with their healthcare needs. Being a nurse makes a difference, but being someone’s Midwife takes it to a whole new level. You become part of their growing family and a rooted member of the community. I have been a CNM for 16 years now, and it has been such an amazing ride. The lifestyle is hard, since babies come when they want and not on any Monday through Friday schedule. But, if I have to wake up at 3 AM and go to work, I feel privileged that it is to welcome a baby into this world. It is sacred, and I do not underestimate the importance of being there for the birthing family. How many babies have you delivered? LAUREL MOUNTAIN POST