Editorial: To Learn to Grow

by Jan Tritten

© 1991 Midwifery Today, Inc. All rights reserved.

[Editor's note: This editorial appeared in Midwifery Today Issue 20, Winter 1991. Reprinted in Paths to Becoming a Midwife: Getting an Education.]

"The person who seeks an education must involve [her]self in discovering the meaning of [her] own life and the relation between who [she] is and what [she] might become. Without that vision of a personal future and a hard look at the reality of one's own situation, the ultimate purpose of education itself-that is, to grow, to change, to liberate oneself-is almost impossible to achieve." - Harold Taylor, from Peak Learning by Ronald Gross

Feeding the heart of midwifery through support, good counsel, and continuing education has always been the end goal of my efforts at Midwifery Today.

From the first issue of Midwifery Today, I had wanted to create a magazine that would substitute for a good conference, offering practitioners love, support, information, and a sharing of ideas and experiences. It's a little ironic-for the magazine still strives to meet these intents, but now I'm looking forward to meeting you in person at (one of our) Midwifery Today Conferences - in Eugene, at our annual West Coast Conference, at one of the Annual East Coast Conferences, or at one of our International Conferences. The magazine comes alive, with many of your favorite authors and speakers, as well as the chance to learn techniques to enhance your practice, and make new friends. In addition to a wide variety of courses, there will be time to "Meet The Practitioners," "Network," and share your "Tricks of the Trade." We're truly eager to meet our readers, and know more about how we can serve your needs.

If you need information about upcoming conferences, be sure to call our toll free number (800-743-0974), write to us at inquiries@midwiferytoday.com or look over the information we've placed online. We want you to see for yourself-we've planned something just for you.

We're realizing some of the dreams we've planned for ourselves. Have you spun a dream of your own lately? Perhaps such a dream would include the investigation of new training or practice options. In this publication, Paths to Becoming a Midwife, we'll begin the questioning process with you. We're emphasizing childbirth education and direct entry programs as well as mapping out certified nurse- midwifery and apprenticeship programs. We contacted many current and former programs by phone and mail; if we missed your training avenue or school, please let us know you're out there, and we'll pass the word along.

And if you are selecting a new educational route, or modifying your previous training to explore other areas of birth practice, don't just seek a program to glean from. The root of our word educate means "to draw out from a dark place."

The task of learning requires humility and attentiveness, and a sometimes painful birthing of our potential. For such a holy event, only an extraordinary teacher will do. Choose a midwife.

Toward Better Birth,
 jan

Jan Tritten Jan Tritten is the founder and editor of Midwifery Today. She became a midwife in 1976 after the wonderful homebirth of one of her daughters. Her mission is to make loving midwifery care the norm for birthing women and their babies in this country and around the world. Meet Jan at our conferences around the world! [ PHOTO BY ANDREA NOLL ]   >  Editorials  Click here to read some of Jan's Midwifery Today editorials.   >  Curriculum Vitae  1947 Born in Los Angeles, California. 1965 Graduated from Placer High School in Auburn, California. 1966 Trained for one year as a psychiatric technician. Courses included basic nursing, pharmacology, microbiology, anatomy and physiology, psychology. 1966–1971 Worked at DeWitt State Hospital in Auburn, California as a psychiatric technician. 1968 Graduated from Sierra College with an Associate of Arts degree. 1970 Graduated with honors from Sacramento State College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Science. 1971 Earned Lifetime California teaching credential with fifth-year program from Sacramento State College. 1972 First daughter born in a hospital. It changed my life forever. It was an unsatisfactory birth experience, but I had a wonderful postpartum experience with 2-1/2 years of breastfeeding. 1976 Second daughter born. She was born at home with a doctor who talked me into a homebirth. The difference between the two births sent me on a path to do something to help women have positive birth experiences. 1976 Began training as a midwife. Because I was raising young children and running a business, and because there were no CNM schools in my area, becoming a CNM was not within my reach. 1977 Began attending births with the Birth Co-op in Eugene while organizing courses in our community taught by CNMs, physicians, nutritionists, etc. 1978 Began a midwifery practice, New Life Care, with a partner, Chris Howard, and apprentice Monika Dunsmore. 1979 Son born at home. 1980 Did a one-year program with Marion Toepke McLean, CNM. Four of us completed the program, which was modeled after CNM curriculum at that time. She took a year off from her practice to teach us and to go to our births with us. 1982 First group of midwives certified by the Oregon Midwives Council. Our board was composed of CNMs and physicians. 1986 Slowed down practice and started Midwifery Today magazine.

Don't miss out on the great editorials in Midwifery Today. Subscribe today!