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6/27/2019 Comments

Who heals the healer?

First off, I want to define a healer.

A healer is anyone who has ever been able to heal another. There are healers who are aware they heal and those who don't have a clue of their healing power. There are spiritual healers, counselors, acupuncturists, doctors, midwives, nurses, daddies, aunts, grandmas (I miss my Madea something awful some days), mamas, even babies with that sweet laughter that soothes a lonely heart, and so on and so on.

A few days ago a friend of mine posted on Facebook “Who heals the healer?”, I instantly stated “She heals herself”. It’s funny how the Most High has a way of proving that you practice what you preach. I truly believe God gives us all of the medicines and resources we need. However, we need to always be able to recognize them. I can tell you, I am a bit stubborn on that point sometimes myself. I think we all can be.

Anywho, the same day she posted that, I had an allergic reaction to something. I’m very sure it was pork. I’m pretty sure I either have SIBO or Alpha-gal or both. Yes, I know I just self-diagnosed myself. See, over the last few years, I have been dealing with these itching episodes every now and then with some serious digestive issues (I’ll spare you the details). I have seen both a naturopath as well as a nurse practitioner who specializes in functional medicine, worked on healing my gut, developed a regimen for health, and even changed the way I practice midwifery. The list of other symptoms and rabbit holes is long but, for the purpose of this post I’ll get to the point.

The itching got pretty unbearable and took lots of jewelweed and cold showers. Eventually I started taking Benadryl, lots of it, to control it. I actually skipped my personalized herbal infusion the two days I was dealing with it and all of my other self-health regimens. I lost my focus on health and was totally focused on the dis-ease going on in my body. Wouldn't you say that's fairly easy to do anyway? To focus on the snake in front of you instead of the flowers in the field all around.

Anyway, I decided to see a doctor about my ailments. He quickly wrote me a prescription to help with my misfortunate itching. I left thinking "whew, this is going to heal all of the things." Somebody please tell me why I was nauseous and vomiting all night after taking that pill. I woke up the next morning totally feeling worse than when I started. And then, that little voice I call God, asked "Who heals the healer?”. It all came rushing back to me. I had let go of the things that I needed to do each day to stay healthy and let the focus of the disease take over my comings and goings.

I started my day, my itchy day mind you, stating I didn't plan to take that med again. Instead, I...

got some herbs together for an herbal healing bath
gathered herbs for a steam
started my daily infusion up
sat under my favorite tree for meditation and prayer
did some gentle yoga
stayed off Facebook
rested
started both a bone broth and a veggie broth in the Instant Pot

I set to doing all the things for my personal health. Guess what!?!? No more itching! I’m thankful to the Most High for the reminder to constantly heal myself. One must remember that we can’t help or heal others until or unless we are helping and healing ourselves.

Peace and Blessings!

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6/20/2019 Comments

What does an off call midwife do?

I’m off call!!! Whoo hoo!

It feels good to be able to say that every once in a while. It's a feeling of relaxing for just a bit during the night or the next few days after several babies and mamas have come into being. I love the pure satisfaction it brings to know that all of the babies are snuggly nestled with their new families and I’m now headed home to see mine for at least the next 24 hours.

Someone asked me "what do you do with your off call time?" It’s not vacation - I can tell you that! Unfortunately, because babies come on their own time, solo midwives like myself have a hard time scheduling vacations. In order to have a week or two away, I would realistically need to book six weeks off of my schedule. I would also need to arrange for a backup midwife to accept calls from my clients who are still pregnant and those in their immediate postpartum period. And, last but not least, my husband and kids would need to take off at their jobs, and someone would need to be enlisted to take care of our animals and mini homestead in our absence. So, normally, off call does not mean vacation. Instead, I get to do the following:

Have time to write blog posts
Answer the phone for clients who have questions
Clean my house and spend time catching up on laundry
Date nights with my kids and/or my husband
Catching up on all of the little things I haven't been able to complete
Reading a book
Schedule and meal planning for the next time I'm on call
Training new birth workers
Clinic days for prenatals, well baby visits, consultations, and well woman checks
Catch up on paperwork (if I'm off long enough I might even have a clean desk)
Be a chauffeur for my kiddos and their activities without having a back up plan in place
Plan and attend doctor, dentist, medical visits, etc.
Actually show up for appointments and meetings I’m scheduled to be at

I’m sure this list could go on and on. However, I'm already tired thinking about it. I guess you get the gist. Basically, time off call, is time with family, and preparing for the next time someone’s family grows.

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Who heals the healer?

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