What I've Learned So Far

1. List at least 3 things you've learned since you started working on your senior project.

I have learned a lot!
1. I have learned about water births and how soothing the transition the birth is for the baby, because the baby is already in water in the mommy's tummy.
2. I have learned about c-section and the rate they have compared to midwives and in general. I wasn't aware that hospitals did more c-sections for convenience and so they don't get sued. 
3. I have learned about the schooling midwives have to go through and nurse-midwives, and how some states don't use the term nurse-midwife they just use midwife.

2. Post evidence of this accomplishment. It can be in the form of a picture, video, document, etc.
I have posted a link on water births from Aqua Natal. I always watch videos when i go and there isn't one day where i go and i don't learn anything. So here is the link to water birth videos from Aqua Natal!

EQ

(1) Define possible terms in your EQ (e.g. successful, effective).  
What is the best way a midwife can influence a woman's birth experience?
So the possible terms would be, the best way, influence, and birth experience.

(2) So far based on your research, what are possible answers to your EQ? 
I feel the possible answers are reliability, assurance, empathy and responsiveness.  This is all based on one article to be honest, but i feel that a caring, upbeat attitude the midwife gives off will allow the mother to feel more comfortable therefore she will have a better birth experience.  The caring attitude goes hand in hand with empathy. I also feel another answer to my EQ could be, being emotionally strong, some lack this and if one doesn't have tough skin I don't know where they could end up. I feel that not everyone can be a midwife so to get to that point and maintain it you have to be strong. As well as being strong during a birth, something could go wrong and the midwife has to remain calm.
 
(3) What has been your most important printed source and why?
The most important source to me would be the research i printed from cal poly, it was very long but it was worth it.  I read a lot on how studies have shown the difference with working with a midwife and other doctors.  It showed me their character and how big of a heart they have.  This article also gave me possible answers to my EQ.  Another good source so far would be the books i have been reading, The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth.  This book gives a lot of good information on how everything is actually done, and it gives great facts about both doctors and midwives.

Idea Approval

What would you like to do/create for your independent component?
Honestly I'm not too sure, but maybe do more hours with my service learning person or with another midwife. But that might not be easy, because they  have to get used to me.

Explain how you think this will be a worthwhile use of 30 hours?
This will be worth while because I will be there more, so me interacting with them and me seeing everything hands on will be very useful and will work to my advantage.

How will this help you to answer your EQ?
This answer goes hand in hand with the answer above:)
So like I previously mentioned I get a chance of being around that environment more, and if I have any questions I'll feel more comfortable to ask them.

Plus I get to see everything and how the midwife interacts with her patients.

Second Interview Questions

Although i have already interviewed my service learning mentor i hope i can still interview her???

The questions i want to ask will pertain to how she became a midwife and why.

 

1. What made you choose this career path?

2. Out of this career what is the most important thing that has impacted you and why?

 

3. How has being a CPM affected you personally and family wise?

4. While going to school to become a midwife what was an obstacle you encountered? How did you overcome it?

5.In your opinion what qualities does a midwife need to be a good midwife?

Interview Reflection#1

What is the most important thing I learned from the interview and why?

The most important thing i learned would most likely be when she told me about the different types of midwives and how nurse midwives have to cooperate with the hospital in order to make them more money.  Also her opinion on nurse midwives helped me a lot. For example when she told me how long it would actually take to become a CNM. Other resources she gave were also very helpful:)

Five-Minute Presentation Reflection

1) What would you say stood out about your presentation performance and why?

What I feel that stood out about my presentation is when i compared OB'S and midwives and the different work environments.  Also that Nurse midwives work in rural areas to help others and that when I am more experienced i would do that to help others.

2) What was most challenging to do and why?

What was most challenging for me (probably the most simple)  would have been checking for understanding.  At first i wanted to check their understanding by asking questions but with a little help:) I changed that into a little activity that the students fit the words into either the column of OB or midwife.  I ran out of time because once i started talking and talking i just couldn't stop haha. But checking for understanding was probably the most difficult.

Five min. presenation

What will you be teaching?
Midwifery, and the different types of midwives.

Objective:
The students will learn the difference between OB's and midwives. They will learn what a midwife is and what they do to get to their position and how they help not only women but the community as well.

Procedure:
First to engage the class I plan on asking if any mother or soon to be mother that they know of has ever had a baby delivered by a midwife or plans to.  I can also ask what they know of my topic, or if before school started did they know about midwives. (Interpretive)
Second I can go over the objective and go more into depth with the facts that i know of (Literal) I can use what i know now to help better their understanding between the differences.
I can also explain why I chose to to do my senior topic on Midwifery and why I will be a Midwife:) And what I hope to gain from it, I'll briefly go over my goal at the end of the project (Applied)
Finally I can check for their understanding (which I'll explain on the bottom)
Check for understanding:
I'll check for their understanding by simply asking them questions on my topic.  Hopefully they ask me questions, and if I don't know them I'll search what they asked and get back to them.  I'll try to connect with the audience at this point they will have more knowledge and i think they will be more comfortable with the topic and with questions they have. (Interpretive)

Materials:
I wont need a lot for this lesson, actually I'm not really sure on the visual that I'll have.  I'll probably take some brochures or a book my midwife gave me. Or a poster. (I'm not sure yet)

math

service learning

Interview 1 prep

I plan on interviewing the Midwife I'm doing my service learning with. I want to interview her because she is one of my main and best sources.  Some say you shouldn't interview your best source first, but i feel it can go either way. My best source can open many more doors for me and can help me by giving me more choices and opportunities.

The questions of my own i want to ask are:
What is your opinion on Certified Nurse Midwives?
How long does it take to become a CNM?
How long did it take you to become a Certified Professional Midwife?

a) I'm Interested in studying Midwifery. What can you tell me about it?
b) From your perspective, what could i study that would be significant?
c) Who else would you recommend I talk to?
d) What kinds of places or activites do you recommend I do for the service learning requirement?
e) What books should i read in this field?  What other resources can you recommend?

independent study 2

independent study 1

I-search

exit interview

Career

Product

Topic Choice 1

What is your topic?
-Midwifery

Why did you chose this topic?
- This is the career path i want to pursue, well i want to be a RN first:)
But as for being a midwife I'll do that after becoming a registered nurse. I felt that midwifery would be a fun senior project and working on this project for the whole school year would open many doors for me.  Midwifery has always caught my attention since sophomore year and this summer my grandma who was a midwife as well, told me her stories from back in the day.  She told me she never went to school to be a midwife she was just gifted, and that even though she never went to school she delivered a lot of babies! She delivered her aunt's baby at age 16, and after that women just went to her.  In Mexico some women couldn't afford to go to the doctor so they would go to my grandma and she did it for free:) Her stories in a way motivated me more to pursue this and encouraged me. She has faith that i will one day be a midwife and that faith will keep me going when i feel overwhelmed or feel as if i can't do it.

What do you hope to accomplish after studying this topic all year?
-I hope to accomplish a better understanding on the topic, and to get a hands on approach.  I want to know enough so when i enter college I'm ahead.  I want to know how it feels to really be a midwife, to have the ability to deliver a baby and to ease the woman from the pain.

Research Semester 2

Science Fair

Service Learning