My current work is the culmination of a lifetime of interest in pregnancy and birth. Growing up in the 50's and 60's my curiosity about pregnancy and birth was ignored. It was not considered polite to quiz a woman on her pregnant status or experience. The only information I had was from my mother who had happy pregnancy and birth experiences. I could hardly wait until it was my turn.

However, I had to wait until I was 30 years old before having the opportunity to become pregnant myself. In the meantime my peers were having doctor/hospital birth experiences and I was not impressed with their stories. When it became my turn, I spent much time researching my options. The further I delved into the subject, the more I realized that I naturally thought like a midwife.

To me, my pregnancy was not an illness, nor should my child's birth be a medical event. I believed that the majority of women were able and entitled to an uncomplicated, flexible, and satisfying birth experience—without all the fear and intervention that is common today. I understood that problems could arise, in which case medical help would be appropriate and necessary. If not needed, however, it would be safer and nicer to birth outside of the hospital. Unfortunately, living in rural Michigan this option was not available.

I was using the only obstetrician in town. He believed that, as a first time mother, I knew nothing and his way was the only way. He thought that my requests for no IV, freedom of labor activities and positions, freedom to eat and drink for strength, no episiotomy, etc. were insane and dangerous. No matter how much we discussed it, he was inflexible and I fired him when I was 7-1/2 months pregnant.

The search then shifted to an alternative care giver who would treat me with respect and allow me more input into my coming experience. There were no midwives at all in my area (rural Michigan) at that time. Through my friends in La Leche League I found a family practice doctor who still delivered babies. His belief system was very similar to mine and, although unwilling to attend me at home for birth, he arranged for an extraordinarily good hospital experience. It wasn't perfect but it was so much better than my friends' experiences. It was then that I knew one day I would become a midwife.

Twelve years later I was finally able to begin my formal education in midwifery.