I see no disadvantage in knowing "your stuff" AND "theirs"! Today's midwife is faced with a challenge that didn't exist in my grandmother's midwifery practice! We must maintain a sense of normalcy about childbirth, but be prepared to face the bombardment of technology as well. Since childbirth has been extracted rather forcibly from the natural realm into the medical realm, we must reclaim it, when we can, and work with the medical community when we have to! In order to improve maternity care and safeguard our clients from unnecessary intervention, we have to be knowledgeable about every aspect of pregnancy and birth! Understanding the physiological rationale (or lack of it!) that the medical model is based on, qualifies us to deviate from it. We can formulate our own protocols, confident that we know what we are doing and why! Learning the technical stuff gives you a more concrete foundation for your practice. It sharpens your intuitive skills, too. Learning the technical jargon better equips you to communicate in an intelligent way with the medical community. (See Academic Advantage)

It is important to me that there is no misunderstanding about our midwifery philosophy. Our students are not encouraged to adopt the medical model in philosophy or in practice. In fact, the opposite is true. We use medical textbooks, we seek true scientific information, but we promote a practice philosophy based on the midwifery of our grandmothers.

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Success is not the key to happiness.
Happiness is the key to success.
If you love what you are doing,
you will be successful.

Albert Schweitzer

Ancient Art Midwifery Institute

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