Happy International Midwives’ Day! Did you even know this existed? It’s actually existed since 1987 and if you had the honor of having a midwife at your birth, you know these women deserve their own day!
So, I thought today would be the PERFECT day to kick off my month post highlighting midwives and doulas, both locally and around the world!
Meet Jennifer West
Jennifer is the owner of Albuquerque Homebirth. Her list of credentials is quite impressive (LM, CPM, HBCW, TBMP, CST, CH, PP&E)! She has been in many publications with an extensive list of events she has spoken at. Although, Jennifer is based in New Mexico, but she has visited Phoenix while being a guest speaker at HypnoBirthing® Conclave. But, let’s ask some specific and fun questions to get to know our midwife!
1. So, briefly, what is your job? “To educate women and families so they may have the best birth possible for that woman and baby”
2. What began your desire to be a midwife? “Divine intervention-came home the the 1988 Yellowstone fires knowing I had to do something else, could not be a National Park Service Ranger any longer. Had had this inkling since law enforcement school–bought a $5 used copy of Mayes Midwifery…”
3. How long have you been in the business of babies? “Since 1989”
4. Describe a typical day. “No such thing as I typical day-have to be good at letting go of what you thought you would do or get done that day… everyone focuses on the ‘birth’ and being on-call for that, but you are on-call all the time, for all the things that come up prenatally and post birth. the scheduled prenatal visits can be quickly RE-scheduled with an un-expected phone call; ‘I think I have a fever’, ‘The baby won’t wake up and has stopping peeing so much’, ‘I think my water broke and I’m only 34 weeks along’ etc. the list of questions and events in your pregnant client’s lives goes on and on. As the midwife, you are the main care provider, so all the questions, concerns and fears parents have, come to you.”
5. What do you enjoy most about your job? “the look of amazement when women and families figure out how great they are, that they can, in fact, birth well. that all their doubts and fears were addressed, but probably still floating around in their heads, and they did it any way. New yard stick is created for this woman, for what she can do for herself and others.”
6. What is a common misconception that people have about your work? “that I only have to know about birth, that I don’t have ‘real’ training and skills. that we all just show up wearing tie-dye, light a doobie and ohm the baby out. oh, and that I have practice guidelines and keep a chart on each client.”
7. Tell us a little bit about the benefits that come with your job? “ah, I might have trouble answering this. I’m always shocked anyone wants to become a midwife, that anyone wants my job. Benefits, self-employed ( may or may not be what you think it is), autonomous practitioner, great state regulations in New Mexico to support what I do, chronic need to stay educated in that is happening in the birthing world, research. studies( again may be a blessing or a curse)”
8. What skills does someone need to be a midwife? “that varies, you have to be able to think on your feet, read people, retain information, evaluate what is in front of you, deal with it and have a plan B and C-often within seconds of finding whatever you found to create the need to ‘deal’ with something, be good at functioning while tired, be able to swallow your pride and ask for help when it’s clearly needed, understand how political birth is–to name a few. the list is much longer than this.”
9. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? “retired and at the beach.”
FOR FUN…
1. Tea or Coffee? “coffee first thing, but any caffeine will do in a pinch”
2. What do you do for fun? “sleep, read, go camping when I can get out of town”
3. Favorite book? “Outlander by diana gabaldon or Lonsome Dove by Larry McMurtry”
4. If you could do anything, besides being a midwife, what would you do? “Full-time surfer, barring that, teach, which is what a really do as a midwife.”
Thank you, Jennifer, for taking the time to let us here in Phoenix, get to know you. Maybe our paths will run into each other one day! Oh, and happy International Midwives’ Day!
If you’d like to learn more about Albuquerque Homebirth, please do visit the website HERE.
Jenny is the best midwife on the face of the earth. Incredibly knowledgeable, wise, quick witted and hilarious. Wish I was having a baby and I’d hire her in a second. She is also the author of “Idiot’s Guide To Natural Childbirth” and “The Natural Healing Power of the Placenta.” Good stuff. Great Lady.
We positively LOVE Jenny West way up here in Utah.
I love Jenny West! Her gifts of healing and midwifery…working with women and babies…is a gift and a talent! I love learning from Jenny and wish we could duplicate her over and over! We need more midwives just like her! And yes, we do love her and live learning from her here in Utah! I will second that comment!!! Thanks, Jenny, for making a difference!!!