Thursday, September 30, 2010

Meetings...Meeting and Now The Waiting......

Well, yesterday was a day I had planned and planned and planned even more. I have been a Doula for over 2 years now and love every minute of it. I wouldn't trade it for anything. It is such an exciting time and Oh!! what an adventure to watch a couple transition into being a family. Just absolutely powerful. In my finite mind I would love to be able to present such a thing to our patients.
I had proposed it before and didn't get a good response. There of course is always the concern of not being able to get the rest of the million things that I am responsible for done. My goal is to move from doing what I am doing to something more with the patients and having a relationship with them. Working with them through out their pregnancy with education, sharing, talking, connecting and those types of things.
I worked and prayed and worked and prayed and put a nice packet together. Bought beautiful pastel colored folders and everything. Typed up a cover letter, supported it with research, and the actual proposal itself and even a packet of information that could be discussed through out the pregnancy.
VERY EXCITED AND VERY NERVOUS!!!!
I went and requested a meeting with our CEO. She is a very nice lady and very open minded and it was awesome that I even got an appointment with her. I had basically worked myself into a tizzy over going to see her. No sleep, stomach in knots, the whole thing. I met with her and we talked and I explained. She was impressed with the presentation so to speak, I think. At the same time, I already knew that nothing would happen right then. We will talk with the doctors and your site administrator and just see what they think. Part of me knew that. At the same time, my heart just sank. I wanted her to be as excited about it as I was. One positive thing that she said was "Don't sell yourself short" I hung on to that all afternoon
I then had arranged to be gone during an extended lunch so I went and spent sometime with a colleague that works in another practice. She is just awesome. She had actually been working at our local hospital and now works in an office. She is a Women's' Health Nurse Practitioner. She is actually the one that introduced me to the whole Group Prenatal Care idea. She is one of those people that you can not help but get excited when you talk to her. She is just AWESOME. So I went and we talked about how to do it here, what would be the steps, how to tweak it to work here and try something new. She said something to me that just meant the world and she probably has no idea that she said it. "It's really hard when people squish your enthusiasm". I thought, you are exactly right. It is just so very hard!!!!!!!!

So.....now that you know more than you wanted to know.....
What is the next step?
Where do I go from here?
What do I do next with this whole idea?

First is to keep praying and seeking for His direction
Second is to just keep doing what I have been doing. Keep reading EVERYTHING I can get my hands on.
Third is to be open and ready to move if that is what is called for. Scary as that would be.
Fourth is to keep researching Midwifery programs. Who knows if that is an avenue but I am VERY interested!!!!!!!!

Well, it's time to get back to the stack of work laying on my desk.
Have a great afternoon.
Praying for a baby this weekend.....Mom and Dad are ready.....wonder if he is?????

Laboring With You,
Doula Mama Pam

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Midwifery School???????

Have you ever had that time in your life when you think......
What if.......?
That is where I am. I have been reading and reading and did I mention reading? I have read everything that I can about being a Midwife.
Did you have any idea that there were so many types of Midwives?
Did you know it also depends on where you live as to what you can practice?
Did you know that it also depends on what the initials are behind your name as to what you can do?

CNM- Certified Nurse Midwife
CPM- Certified Professional Midwife
DEM- Direct Entry Midwife
CM- Certified Midwife

Now I found out today that there is one place that you can go on line that has 3 different levels from an Associates in Midwifery, Bachelors in Midwifery, and even a Masters in Midwifery. Now that I am totally confused about all of the initials, the diploma's and the powers at be that decide on what you can do in each state I am a mess.

Just for the record there are also other higher groups that provide provision over Midwives depending on which one that you are such as

NCOFM- North Carolina Friends of Midwives
NARM- North American Registry of Midwives
MANA- Midwives Alliance of North America
MEAC-Midwifery Education and Accreditation Council

Are you as totally confused as I am? I am VERY interested in several programs. It is just really hard right now because in the state of North Carolina you must be a Certified Nurse Midwife to practice. My other thought to this whole thing would to be to become a CPM and maybe be able to work in the clinical side of the practice and get out of the paper pushing, insurance, pre-certification aspect of the office. Who knows, if the statutes and laws change and North Carolina recognizes a CPM then I would be ready to go.

I did find one school that offers a great class called "Introduction to Midwifery". I am really thinking about taking it for 2 reasons. One is to make sure this is something that I really want to do. Secondly would be to make sure that I can work full time and get homework done as well. Obviously, the Lord will direct the details and I am along for the ride and we will see where He takes me. I hope you will stick around for the journey. It's going to be a RIDE!!!!!


Laboring with You,
Doula Mama Pam
Midwife-Wanna-Be (with a million initials behind my name....hahahaha)

Friday, September 24, 2010

It's Almost The Holidays.......NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

Can you believe it ???? It is almost the holidays AGAIN!!!!!????? Where in the world has this year gone?
What happen to the spring?
What happen to the summer?
Fall is here and now we are already seeing the Halloween stuff appearing and we all know what is right around the corner........CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS!!!!!!

In light of that, I am going to be in Madison the weekend before Thanksgiving at a Craft Fair. I will be there with my other hat on known as "The Earring Lady". I agreed to go to this one as long as there was not 20 other jewelry vendors there. I LOVE making the earrings and bracelets. They are so much fun. I typically get my beads while I am down at the beach. That way I will hopefully have beads and stones that the average person would not have which makes them a bit more unique. I would love to have you come out and see me at the event. I will be posting more about it as it becomes available. I'll also post some pictures of my earrings and bracelets so that you can see them. Of course this one is special because we (the vendors) are bringing in our favorite holiday goodies for you to munch on while you shop......what more could you ask for.....food and jewelry in the same place!!!!!!!! It's going to be great!!!!! Remember- the weekend before Thanksgiving....Mark it on your calendar and we will see you there!!!!!!!!

Laboring With You,
Doula Mama Pam

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Bible Study

What are you doing for Bible Study right now?
Are you doing a book that someone has written?
Are you doing a book of the Bible, studying through it?

Well, I am sure that many would tell me that I am absolutely nuts but I promise that I am not.

I am blessed to be in Bible Study Fellowship this year. It is an absolutely awesome program. We are studying the book of Isaiah and I am just blown away. It is so current and so very relevant to present day. I get so frustrated when I hear people say that they don't study the Old Testament because it doesn't apply to today........Well, I am hear to say...Just read the first chapter of Isaiah and it could change your mind. Totally excited!!!!!! There is something about being with approx. 600 women. Yes, 600 women in one place all hungry for the Word of the Lord!!!!! So very exciting!!!!!!

On Wednesday night I am in a study with the women of our church doing Experiencing God. I am sure that many of you have done that study. If you have not, I would highly encourage you to get a couple of people together and jump into this study with both feet. I have done it at least twice in the past and wouldn't change a thing. Going through it again just reminds me of what I know and sometimes take for granted. As I go through the study, I may share with you on here what we are learning and maybe some of the quotes from the study. It is a life changing experience. I'm excited because I am in a group of women from church that I don't get to see very often and some women that I don't know. It's just wonderful.

Thirdly, our Pastor is going through the book of Joshua. AWESOME book. Of course, it's Old Testament but let me tell you, it is power. All of His word is POWER!!!! Amazing part is how I can be working or reading and it all works together. Amazing God that we serve. It is just absolutely amazing and I am just overwhelmed at how He is on EVERY page. He planned it and He wrote it!!!!!!!!

Why in the world would I do 3 at a time. IT KEEPS ME IN HIS WORD!!!!!! I love it so much. Studying His word.
Digging in His word.
Praying in His word.
TOTALLY CHANGES YOU!!!!!!

Need to get busy today. Praying that you have a wonderful day.

Laboring With You,
Doula Mama Pam

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Nothing Like Waiting A While!!!!!

Well, there is nothing like waiting for almost a month to write on here again. What a month it has been. Most of it has been totally enjoyable!!!!!! We have been at the beach for over a week and have several more days left. So very excited and so much fun. Watching Kaleb play in the pool and run away from the ocean. He is SOOO NOT interested in the ocean but with all of the shark bites, that is ok with me.

Work- well it's work and we will leave that there.

Business-wise- things are good. Praying at present that Brittany doesn't go into labor while I am away. She has strict instructions to wait on me but I am not so sure that the Little Man she is carrying has gotten the message....will have to wait and see.
Have 2 meetings set up when I get back with New-To-Be-Mom's and Dad's. So excited about that. I have been reading and reading and reading all the information that I can get my hands on. I just love it. The more information that I have means the better the Birth Doula that I can be.

Kyle is working ALL the time. Sometimes 6 days a week and I am sure that doesn't make him happy but when he gets the pay check, I am sure that he is happy about that. He is still going to college on line this year which, so far seems pretty good. Will wait and see about the grades when they come out.

Mom and Dad have just arrived back home from an awesome trip to the Ukraine. My Other Mother and Tim lives there as full time missionaries. I can only pray that I get there before they get home. I miss Mom and Dad a lot but we are going to see them in October. That will be a lot of fun. We get to do some Christmas shopping on the way. It will be GRAND!!!!!!!

Well, we are going to try and get the Little Man down for a nap here and see what happens. He kind of has a mind of his own these days but that is all normal I think for 3 1/2 year olds. Sometimes we nap, sometimes we don't. We have now settled to watch "Cars" and have "rest-time. I will take it.

Gotta run for now. Going to work on some other post that I have been dragging my feet on. Can't wait!!!!!!!
It feels great to be back. Thank you for sticking around.!!!!!!


Laboring With You,
Doula Mama Pam

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Wednesday- Midweek---It's been a L-O-N-G O-N-E!

It is one of those weeks that just seems to be dragging. I am so sure it has something to do with the upcoming vacation. Just to show you how bad I want this week to hurry is driving to work this morning. Somehow I had convinced myself it was Thursday. Oh no!!!!! Not Thursday- I was suppose to be in a meeting with a physician AND our CEO!!!! Oh my goodness what have I done. I totally missed it. The HE gently reminded me that "Pam it is Wednesday!" I just died laughing and then stopped laughing when I realized I didn't bring anything to eat for lunch.....Oh well, such is life.
Well, I posted my question about other sites and links and you would not believe the response and what I have gotten back. I have a huge list and as soon as I can sit down and get them all together I will get them posted. It's a great list and a VERY special THANK YOU!!!! to all of those who sent the information.
I got a message the other day that I have a meeting with our CEO about some ideas that I have been pondering that would help our office grow and get us out in the public more and to be able to be "Outside The Box". I am so very excited and nervous all at the same time. It's not until the end of the month, so I will keep you posted.
Well, today is Sept. 1st. I still can't believe it. Christmas will be here before we know it. Exciting but time is just flying. What are your plans for this September 2011. Of course we have vacation but other than that, not a lot planned which is good for me but I am sure that can all change at the drop of a hat.
Hope you have a great Wednesday. What are you up to today??????

Laboring With You,
Doula Mama Pam