Kerryanne Neal is a senior third year Bachelor of Midwifery student at Griffith University who has just completed a six month placement with a midwifery group practice. She wrote this poem as her creative reflection of her development as a midwife. My skin tingled when I read it. I thought others would be moved by this insight into a new midwife's thinking about our role with childbearing women. Kerryanne was surprised when I suggested she publish it. She wasn't sure others would be interested. I made some suggestions of where she could publish and she chose to publish it on this blog. Kerryanne will graduate at the end of this year.
Kerryanne wrote:
This poem reflects my ideal view of the partnership between woman and midwife. It is my creative interpretation of the way midwives walk beside women, gently forming a bond antenatally to allow open discussion, guiding and supporting a natural birth, and encouraging confidence in parenthood postnatally.
Dear Mother-to-be...
Through the pathway of life, two become three,
A new branch evolves on the family tree.
Wonder! Joy! Excitement!
Your path as old as time, is entwined with another,
A journey new, yet shared, to help you become a mother.
Footsteps walking side by side.
Ideas and wishes, fears shared from the heart,
To encourage your path and give a head start.
Discussed over tea, minds open and true.
With the start of gentle rhythms, a new dawn is near,
Kicking tempo of birth, one helps you to steer.
Elation! Thrill! Anticipation!
Whispered positions, guiding hands on which are safe to lean,
Discard your fears and reservations, let earth-side song gleam.
Fluid movements in trance-like state.
Hastening beat, the intensity rises,
Prepare for a life full of awe and surprises.
A new soul to cherish.
Three growing together, new found soil shared,
Overwhelming emotions of love and joy bared.
Adoration! Bliss! Fascination!
Thoughtful partnership, sprinkling waters of wisdom,
To assist in your growth, encourage confidence without criticism.
The flowers of family beginning to bloom.
Now a strong tree, it’s time to let go,
You have to have faith in all that you know.
I am always here to support your new life,
Yours, until next time,
Sincerely, The Midwife.
As a new poet and new midwife, Kerryanne has an enormous amount to offer the women and families she is yet to meet and our profession as a whole. Congratulations Kerryanne and welcome to the brilliant world of midwifery as a registered midwife. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and your creativity.
6 comments:
Kerryanne, this is beautiful! Thank you so much for writing and sharing. It's inspiring to read - it truly is. Your relationship with women is clearly at the heart of your practice.
How lucky you are also to have had the chance to complete a six month placement within a midwifery group practice. Do you think this changed your perspective at all?
Thank you, glorious poem, Kerryanne, 🙏 The making of a family, be proud of what you will bring to women & their family as a midwife, warmly, Catherine
Hi, and thank you for your very kind comments! Yes, I really do, and I think all students should try MGP to see the difference. I found being able to take the time to get to know the women & really understand their needs and their personalities helped me feel I could support them better. I could really see, feel, and believe in that midwife-woman partnership that is not always there in fragmented care no matter how much I strive to be woman-centred.
Thank you Catherine, I’m so pleased you enjoyed the poem. It’s certainly a privileged position to be in supporting these families.
Kerryanne, your pathway is open, your journey is free. It is so inspiring for me to read your poetry, emerging from the depth of your soul. I hope I am around long enough to witness you grow; one perfect Midwife blooming. xxxx
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! As a prospective student midwife, this just left me with goosebumps, and put into words what midwifery means to me. This poem is beautiful, the real definition of midwifery. Thank you for sharing your personal reflections and inspiring women like myself.
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