Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed in this blog post are solely those of the author.

“There is a woman in travail …
the intensity of her cry …
I heard it every day of my life when I was practicing my vocation …
the birth is near.”

“We learn most when we listen to others.”

This episode takes us to July of 1966 and the World Cup soccer tournament. I am thrilled to see four new characters with the arrival of "pupil midwives", especially Nancy (Anne) Corrigan. A young man, along with his family, gain acceptance of his sexuality. Nurse Lucille Anderson and Cyril declare their commitment to each other. Sister Monica Joan assists with a compound presentation during a birth attended by the pupil midwife and this puts the doubt of her faith to rest.

This episode really resonated with me—the students, teaching, supporting, mentoring—and the pure joy of the miracle of birth. This is the model of care that I have lived with most of my career. In nursing school and then my midwifery education we were integrated into the hospital, clinics, and in our communities with the assistance from clinical faculty and preceptors. Clinical education is essential as students have opportunities to be in the real field and apply their knowledge and skills. It is the guidance and supervision from experienced midwives that assist our students towards the mastery of the core competencies for their basic midwifery practice.

As a Modern Day Midwife in the era of COVID-19, we see several things that exacerbated issues surrounding this vital part of the education of our future health care practitioners. Prior to the pandemic we had a shortage of clinical sites and preceptors; but, then compound this with COVID-19. What we see is a very complex situation. In March 2020 many hospitals and institutions began to bar student midwives as they were considered non-essential. There were severe resource restrictions and the unknown of many things at the advent of the pandemic. Many student midwives were faced with barriers which impacted their ability to continue their midwifery education with some even needing to step away and consider returning at another time. Students were faced with a longer period of education due to the need for extra semesters. For some there were issues with their student loans. Many experienced a ripple effect ranging from financial impacts, mounting work and life pressures, and impacts on their plans for their future. This has also led to overlapping midwifery student cohorts adding further strains to clinical sites and preceptors.

Preceptors and midwifery practices have also felt strains with hospital and institutional budget cuts which have led to hiring freezes, furloughs, changing work hours, and even midwifery practices closing. These factors can impact their ability to really put time and effort into fostering student midwives in their educational pursuits. But we need to press forward and think of our future.

The show highlighted the pressures (the learning curve, making sure women and families feel confident, clear communication and oversight); it highlighted the learning process; and it highlighted the joys that can accompany having students involved in the care of women. The passion and wonderment can be experienced anew each day when you really engage with your students. Walk the path with them and the students get the joy of your passion and your devotion and experience as well.

I loved the lines from Sister Monica Joan: “I have examined the placenta in all kinds of light—gas jet, candle flicks, torch beams as bombs fell. I never cease to marvel at its beauty when exposed. This the least visible of all the bodies’ organs - laid before us for our scrutiny. This was one of a thousand things that made midwifery a privilege.” Sister Francis reflected on its beauty and resemblance to lace and tree roots. Then Sister Monica Joan states, “it grows with us, it fires us….I see the miracle of God himself. I see his handiwork. I see his love. I see where I began and what fed me and what feeds me now. It is complete and so within my love am I. I witnessed a new life beginning and my doubt was died.” I agree - what an honor and a privilege it is to be a midwife. On a daily basis I get to feel the power of women, the grit and beauty of birth, and the wonderment as women follow in their ancestors’ footsteps. Like their mothers and grandmothers and those that came before them - they pass over the threshold into motherhood. This witnessing of a new life brings a reminder to us that each day is an opportunity for a rebirth of our own passions, joys, goals, vision and mission.

I thank all of my clinical faculty, preceptors and mentors from my undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Nursing days at the University of Windsor (especially Dr. Sheila Cameron and Dr. MaryLou Drake) and my graduate midwifery education days at the University of Illinois at Chicago (especially the Certified Nurse Midwives at (Advocate) Illinois Masonic Medical Center such as Patricia Morrow and Nancy Graham). They became my valued mentors/friends and some my colleagues/friends. I always encourage my students to stay in contact with their professors, clinical faculty, and preceptors as they are able to continue to mentor and advice throughout your career. I have found they have beside me in this path called life.

I encourage all midwives—especially in light of the many barriers with COVID-19—to strive to meet the mission of finding innovative ways to incorporate students into your clinical settings. If people are able, they may also consider helping in financial ways to support midwifery education via the ACNM Foundation or through the ACNM Midwives-PAC. The Midwives-PAC helps with the passage of legislation that seeks to create a permanent federal funding stream for accredited midwifery education programs that can be used for direct student support or as stipends for preceptors.

“There is so much that money cannot buy and so many rewards for which there can be no competition and the best of these is LOVE. Love is not a gamble but a gift. It is not to be thoughtful but simply to be given and received. And not to be judged nor measured but embraced and celebrated as the greatest prize of all.”