
The last few months have been busy, life-altering, messy, accident filled, and a bunch of other boring and semi-exciting things. For instance, I poked myself in the eye one night in April and ended up with a corneal abrasion. And have since had two more abrasions on the same eye...a bigger one. It is now healed and my optometrist says that there's always a chance for more recurrences. Yay. But, I keep...
In his last lesson with his first, beloved swim instructor, Miss Jennifer, I watched my 10 year old son swim the length of a 14/15 ft pool..free style and backstroke. "My baby!"
I graduated from college...finally. Sociology proves to be a good match for a birth worker.
I'm still working on certification requirements as a doula and childbirth educator. I have begun my midwifery apprenticeship with a lovely local midwife and am working on the academic modules for which Mercy In Action so graciously awarded me a scholarship. Some of the books I need are on loan from that lovely midwife who's going to train me. Yet, I need more and funds are, well, non-existent. You see, becoming a midwife is not cheap. Even when you do the self study/apprenticeship route, there are still books, supplies, and fees for certification and license that are needed; all of which can easily add up to a few thousand dollars. I also need to keep my car in working order because birth waits for no one and my car needs some work, post haste. So, if the spirit moves you, purchase something from my Etsy shop--Gilded Orchid--from which all proceeds go towards my student midwife fund.
More importantly, Memphis needs a Black midwife. Yeah, that Memphis. The one with a predominantly Black population and no Black midwife. I'm pretty sure I've mentioned this before but it's been a while since I've been in this space. Right now, it appears that I'm the only Black woman in the city in pursuit of becoming a Certified Professional Midwife. If I'm wrong, please show yourself...I could use the camaraderie.
This passion for birth has been with me since childhood and the desire is stronger knowing the state of birth among women of color. Back to the books...
In his last lesson with his first, beloved swim instructor, Miss Jennifer, I watched my 10 year old son swim the length of a 14/15 ft pool..free style and backstroke. "My baby!"
I graduated from college...finally. Sociology proves to be a good match for a birth worker.
I'm still working on certification requirements as a doula and childbirth educator. I have begun my midwifery apprenticeship with a lovely local midwife and am working on the academic modules for which Mercy In Action so graciously awarded me a scholarship. Some of the books I need are on loan from that lovely midwife who's going to train me. Yet, I need more and funds are, well, non-existent. You see, becoming a midwife is not cheap. Even when you do the self study/apprenticeship route, there are still books, supplies, and fees for certification and license that are needed; all of which can easily add up to a few thousand dollars. I also need to keep my car in working order because birth waits for no one and my car needs some work, post haste. So, if the spirit moves you, purchase something from my Etsy shop--Gilded Orchid--from which all proceeds go towards my student midwife fund.
More importantly, Memphis needs a Black midwife. Yeah, that Memphis. The one with a predominantly Black population and no Black midwife. I'm pretty sure I've mentioned this before but it's been a while since I've been in this space. Right now, it appears that I'm the only Black woman in the city in pursuit of becoming a Certified Professional Midwife. If I'm wrong, please show yourself...I could use the camaraderie.
This passion for birth has been with me since childhood and the desire is stronger knowing the state of birth among women of color. Back to the books...