Marilyn Greene has cared for hundreds of women as a midwife, delivering more than 800 babies in the process. But her job has never become tired. Each new birth is as inspiring and gratifying as the first.
"Even after 800 births, I'm still awed," says Greene. The resident of Liberty, Tennessee, has been a midwife for more than 20 years. "I'm still amazed that it's such a well-designed process and that babies actually come out!"
Other midwives share Greene's feelings. Not only about delivering babies but also about playing a critical role in a very special family event.
"The most rewarding part of my job is being able to share in what is held so special to many couples -- the birth of their child," says Thomas Morrison. He is a certified nurse-midwife.
"To look into moms' or dads' eyes after a delivery and see the joy that they're experiencing is fantastic."
But don't be fooled into thinking Greene, Morrison and other midwives just show up when it's time to deliver the baby. Midwives take pride in giving holistic care -- physical, psychological and emotional -- throughout a woman's pregnancy and beyond.
That means that midwives begin working with their clients long before the due date and continue working with their clients long after the birth, says Anessa Maize, a direct-entry midwife.
Maize sees clients once a month until they're 30 to 32 weeks into their terms. Then she sees clients every two weeks until they're 36 weeks along. After that, it's every week until labor begins.
"Prenatal visits consist of assessing the health and well-being of both mother and baby," Maize says. "Certain clinical things are done, such as taking blood pressure, urinalysis, feeling for the position of the baby, listening to fetal heart tones, and measuring the size of the uterus.
"This takes very little time, and the rest is spent talking about anything -- preparations for the birth, dealing with pain, how things will be after the baby arrives, emotional issues, and breast-feeding.
"Basically, we're getting to know each other and the woman is, hopefully, developing a sense of friendship and trust with me. By the time labor comes around, we want to feel fairly comfortable with each other so that I'm not a stranger."
When labor and birth finally begin, Maize is on hand to help deliver the baby. But her work is far from over. She watches mother and child for up to four hours after the birth to make sure there are no problems. She visits again on the first, third, and seventh days following the birth, and then again at three and six weeks.
"Postpartum visits include taking vital signs of both mother and baby, assisting with breast-feeding, and making sure everyone is healthy, happy, and well nourished and rested," says Maize.
It all makes for a very busy and unpredictable schedule, even though she assists with only two to three births a month. But midwives are used to dealing with uncertainty in their professional lives. They know problems can crop up at any time. And they know children don't make appointments to be born.
"I can't plan to be far away -- I can't take holidays, for example -- three weeks before the woman's due date and up to four weeks after her due date," Maize says. "It's also really hard on my family when I'm on call because they depend on me to be there for them when I'm called away. Sometimes it means you miss birthdays and special occasions."
But there is much that midwives are quite thankful for. Many say they feel "called" to do what they do. They thrive on the emotional salary they receive by holding a newborn child or hearing the heartfelt thanks of a new mother.
"The most touching moments are always when women tell you that you made a difference in their lives, and that no one has ever treated them with such respect, compassion, and love when they have felt so vulnerable," says Jacqueline Meadows. She is a CNM.
"There's a bumper sticker which states, 'Midwifery -- Changing the World One Birth at a Time,'" adds Greene. "I believe that birthing babies in a gentle, caring fashion makes the world a little happier."