Becoming a Midwife

Kate McKinney

Midwifery is not just a job or career- something you say you do when people ask “What’s your Job?”, it’s a calling; a gift, it’s your life.  To me, Midwifery is what and who I am, not just what I do- Just like I’m a Christian, I’m also a student Midwife. It’s an identity, so to speak.....

All this started with just one thing;  a dog.   My little grey Schnauzer, Mollie had puppies one bright summer day.   I remember… I was 5 years old. Mom had asked if I wanted to help.   I said “sure!”, and hopped right on into the cardboard box with Mollie.   I watched in awe as 4, 5, no 6 puppies were born! I even got to take the amniotic sac off them, because Mollie wasn’t doing that for some reason.   Later that day I asked mom, “Mom, who helps mommies have babies?” “A Midwife”, she said.   (I’m sure she thought that was a strange question coming from a 5 year old.)   Then I said, “That’s what I’m gonna be when I grow up.”

 

I’ve wanted to be a Midwife ever since.   In Middle school I’d read as many pregnancy and birth books as I could get my hands on.   This was all in secret though, because I was embarrassed about my love and compassion for pregnant women, and babies.   I told a woman once that I wanted to be a Midwife; she laughed and said, “Whoa, that’s weird”.   In High School it was much the same; reading pregnancy books in private, looking up midwifery schools online - even watching some birth videos on youtube.   I was thrilled the first time a friend let me feel her baby move.   (I was 16, I will never forget that moment.)   I sat in front of her for an hour or so just waiting for the baby to move.   When he did, I would squeak in excitement and sit waiting for more.   It wasn’t until my senior year in High School that I fully admitted that I wanted to be a Midwife, without being roundabout or very embarrassed. Mom and dad both agreed that they thought that this was God’s call on my life, and they’d help me look for a school!   About that time I met a friend, Dawn Jones, who pointed me towards Charis Childbirth.   I began the Charis Midwifery program in the summer of 2008.   I’ve been with Charis ever since, and I just love it!

Skylar Reese Wainio, born May 6, 2009 to Kate's  sister and her husband, Courtney and Tom Wainio.
"I was so privileged to attend the birth of my beautiful niece!"

I love everything about Midwifery and being a Doula.   I love the feeling of “belonging” in a family;  somewhere that I’m not only loved, but understood and cherished.   I’ve never felt more “at home” than I have with other Doulas and midwives.   They seemed to speak a language I understood.   They talked about things I loved! 

I love seeing and holding a baby that just turned a year old that I saw born.   I can’t help but remember the look on the mothers face, the tears in my eyes, and the look of shock and awe on the daddy’s face.   I love hearing the words, “We couldn’t have done it without you, Kate. And we want you to be our doula for the next baby!”   I love giving a back massage to a woman at a softball game because I can see her back is hurting from carrying her 8 month pregnancy.   I love talking to women about their births, hearing different stories and watching their faces come alive with the retelling.  I love making a mark on the world by helping one little baby’s birth at a time be the best it can be.

This is protecting our future and the future of not only children being born now, but others born in years beyond this one.  I love looking into a baby’s eyes for the first time, watching them blink slowly- you can see heaven in their eyes, and a world of trust (and no, I’m not being New Age-y here.)   I love caring for a woman in labor, helping her through contractions; trying to make her as comfortable as I can; encouraging, praising, loving, giving and nurturing. And then finally, rejoicing with her when her baby is born.  I love discussing each woman’s birth with her.  Then getting to hold the baby at the postpartum appointment, playing with her toes, and watching her sleep or nurse. Just looking at something so perfect, so whole, so beautiful- that I got to see come into the world, and even help into the world- that makes me feel like I can fly.

Mollie, my beloved little dog, died last year.   But I’m always going to be thankful for her.   That little dog has brought such meaning into my life.  It was she who gave me the vision for the future - to become a midwife.   The simple act of her giving birth to puppies impressed upon my five year old heart the joy, the awesomeness and the gift that birth is.

Lucy Wagner,  born Dec. 10, 2009 to Christina and Jon Wagner.
"This beautiful little girl was one that I took care of as a postpartum doula.   She was born a little early.
We had so much fun together!"
 

Kristin Schuchmann and Kate McKinney
in Florida for the 2009 Teaching Birth Workshop

 'Behold, I will bring them from the north country, And gather them from the ends of the earth,
 Among  them the blind and the lame, The woman with child and The one who labors with child,  together,
 A great throng shall return there...And My people shall be satisfied with My goodness, says the LORD.'
 Jeremiah 31:8, 14~~~
©2009 Charis Childbirth Services, All Rights Reserved
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January 2010