Stress of Midwifery

CHALLENGES of being a MidwifeYour time is not your own can be ON CALL forever (or so it seams) B days,weddings ,anniversary can be a challenge PM sleep is interrupted moods (fights with husband etc) dont matter sickness can be a double stress each client is a 5 week span min of time to blockBack up Can be a good thing and real support when clients needed or a wished for thing. May have to (probably at some time ) deal with Drs who dont support HB) Hospitals may or may not be friendly Distance to Dr or Hospital may be far (Suturing alone can be a challenge)Spouse, Kids support Even if they are supportive it will effect them too If not supportive you will be distracted at a birth House maybe a mess when you return Kids may not get to games,lessons etc Kids might need sitters,childcare (trade off care?)If you own a birth center Bigger target for medical community to see(good and bad) More overhead ! More time gone May need employees More screening, types of clientsMoney can be good or bad depending on what your use to and your area have to keep own records have to do own self employed taxes (put $ aside) Cant predict income for the week ,mo Have to deal with clients not paying etcSchooling Depending on schooling,experience etc may need extra study time for situations Many different paths to being a midwife,Some more thorough then others May or may not have peer review local May be ready for what births/life has for you or notstress if all goes well just from business stress from even the good highs stress for the bad out comes (least fun ) Stress from family, kids,Drs,hospitals,transports (get massage,take own time,set limits,call hrs,births per mo etc)Transport to hospital more then 30 min drive more risk steps at birth more risk hard to find more risk (leave map at ems) parents unwilling to transport at times Might make less $ Might have unfriendly staff, disappointed parentsDrama can have local drama with other Midwives,students etc hurt feelings may be client switches to other LM? stress of dealing with apprentices stress of local other Medical providers Drama with clients (you can get quite involved in their lives for a season)Working from your home takes space (tax write off) Takes supplies, stuff expires always at work other kids mess your home Maybe exposing family to germs Car,cell etc needs to have reliable transportation need to keep cell or pager on you at all times on call (or in house with phone) Need to be ready at all times to leave quick (cant loan car, should have gas ,should beable to change spare etc) Nice to beable to transport lying down in car if nessOut late Its less safe to drive late at pm If you need gas late might be hard to find open station May get lost break down in unsafe area Some LMs carry guns for this reason ! Should be able to change tire self if ness