Bethany Galster Photography

03/27/2024

This is it folks. The very last day of placement. I fittingly have covid, which feels like the perfect bookend to my journey through the Midwifery Education Program which began with the agonizing decision to not go to NZ due to covid border closures.

Four years, thousands of clinical hours, over 100 births and dozens of babies who have graced my hands later, I am done. Hard? Impossible without support. Would I do it again? 1000%.

My advice for anyone who is thinking about this career: become a doula first, be well acquainted with physiological birth and the type of demands that on-call presents to you, your body, your health and your family, decide if that is sustainable for you. Fix any family/relationship issues ahead of time -everything gets worse under stress and that means sorting out the nitty gritty before you have the demands of being a student on-call. And lastly, become really comfortable with receiving feedback, go to therapy and find your worth as a person outside of what you do or how you perform, because you WILL be humbled.

Next I write some pretty massive exams and then return to my beloved clinic () in July to start practicing as a registered Midwife... And Andrew has asked that I use some of the next few months to do something not birth related to remind myself that I have more to my identity 😅😅

12/04/2022

I'm a little more than half way done third year and due for some rest. It's been go go go since April due to the way my placements line up and I don't have another placement now until Feb 10th! While I do have class starting in Jan, once you've done class and placement simultaneously, just having class feels like a vacation.

Third year looks different for every student, though we have mostly the same placements they take place at a different time and place for each student.

This last semester we had an intensive at McMaster in September (1 week), then I had 2 weeks on the postpartum unit, 4 week of labour and delivery (but shoved into 2 weeks because we had covid 🫠), 2 weeks of lactation and 4 weeks of elective (expanded scope midwifery).

I love this work, but I'm tired. It's a very emotional degree that pulls your heart and mind in a lot of different directions, very much like the career. My family needs some quality time. And we have friends and family coming to visit over the holidays. I'm ready to fill my cup with some quality time with some of my faves.

11/29/2021

All families should have access to Midwifery care. Help by signing this petition to try and get Midwives to Dryden Ontario (just need to be a Canadian citizen). Signing is an easy way to advocate.

There is no obligation on the part of the House of Commons or any Member of Parliament to authorize the publication of an e-petition or to present an e-petition or a paper petition to the House of Commons. Neither the House of Commons nor any Member of Parliament authorizing the publication of an e-...

07/23/2021

Not surprised by this (we know that lots of brain development happens between 37 weeks and 41 weeks), but in case you were wondering why babies stay put for as long as they do...it's cause they care more about their future math goals than your discomfort ;)

Children born between 37 - 41 weeks gestation may have an advantage when it comes to educational achievement. Researchers found longer gestational age was significantly associated with better performance in tests of math, languages, social studies, and science at age nine. Children born at 41 weeks....

06/25/2021

I read this story and then looked on Facebook to be able to share it, but ya'll...the comments section of this is absolutely horrendous.

A synopsis of Gaucher's comments I really appreciated, "Right now I'm being forced to decide between being a breastfeeding mom or an Olympic athlete. I can't have them both...The Tokyo Olympic Games are understandably being conducted with an unprecedented focus on health and safety. This includes Japanese borders being closed to overseas visitors, family and friends....Meanwhile, international media and sponsors will descend upon Japan....I started to become a little frustrated, because in my head I didn't know the difference between how is my daughter and me being able to breastfeed different than a sponsor, different than media. I don't have enough milk in me to train as a high-level athlete, get my butt back in shape, and feed her all while stocking 28-day supply. It's 2021. Let's see if we can make working moms normal."

I agree. Let's see if we can make working moms normal.

Canadian basketball player Kim Gaucher says she's being "forced to decide between being a breastfeeding mom or an Olympic athlete."

01/26/2021

Surprise! We've moved again. 🤷🤦

But the itch for birth is real! I'm in school until mid/late April, but hit me up for due dates between May and September! Available for birth, maternity, family and newborn during the summer. All covid protocols will be adhered to, including full refunds if I'm not permitted into the hospital/home for the birth.

Max 4 clients/month while available.

11/30/2020

This.

💕

11/28/2020

If case you need some 🐮 drama.

11/24/2020

Very cool!

10/11/2020

10/08/2020

Why participate in research studies? Because research informs policy and policy informs your experience. So you should inform research.

"You are invited to take part in this survey if you or your partner are currently pregnant or have had your baby since the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak – from 30th January, 2020. We also wish to invite parents who have experienced the death of their baby during this time.

The Stillbirth Centre of Research Excellence is coordinating a global research study to understand the challenges and concerns of parents who are pregnant or have recently given birth during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.

We also want to understand the experiences of parents who have lost their baby to stillbirth or neonatal death. We extend our condolences to you and your family during this difficult time.

We hope that our research can help improve future care for all families around the world.

The global research study involves participants from Australia, Italy, Spain, UK, Canada, USA and many others.

Both mothers and fathers/partners are welcome to participate. "

The Stillbirth Centre of Research Excellence is coordinating a global research study to understand the challenges and concerns of parents who are pregnant or have recently given birth during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. The COCOON (COntinuing care in COVID-19 Outbreak) Survey will help us underst...