Isis' Midwifery Training & Education: The JJ Way!

 

 

 

 

On my way to becoming Central Illinois' first Black homebirth midwife (CPM, LM)! I am grateful and humbled to learn that I will be joining the Winter 2022 cohort of the Commonsense Childbirth School of Midwifery (CCSM) Hybrid 3-Year Direct Entry Midwifery Program . CCSM is actually my DREAM SCHOOL! I thought I'd never be able to attend because, in the past, that meant moving my family to Florida. However, within the last couple of years, two things happened: 1) CCSM created a hybrid program for students to complete their training online. 2) CCSM also became the first MEAC accredited midwifery school founded by a Black woman-- Midwife Jennie Joseph ! When I first learned of Jennie Joseph and her perinatal care model , I knew that I wanted to train with her!

I currently live in Central Illinois, specifically Champaign-Urbana, where there are NO Black midwives that specialize in out-of-hospital midwifery. Together we can change this! I am on the path to becoming a midwife that will be trained in the way of our ancestors. Midwives like us are in need of a tremendous amount of support. We rely on communities that will advocate for us as this ancient art of midwifery continues to grow and challenge the status quo in modern maternity care. I am so ready to serve my community.

I am asking for help covering the cost of the following:

-Prerequisite completion including Certified Childbirth Educator training
-Childcare while on-call
-Medical supplies for my student midwife bag
-Travel and Lodging Expenses for Mandatory On-site Labs
 
Please give what you can. If you can't give, please share! If you would like to purchase a gift, medical supplies, or other materials, you will find needed items here: https://www.myregistry.com/wishlist/isis-rose-urbana-il/2754220/giftlist

CONTEXT - Midwifery Landscape in Illinois

 

My Journey So Far: I first offered my testimony as a consumer advocate at a senate hearing in August 2018 in support of licensing certified professional midwives (CPMs)--something the state refused to do for decades. Then, I officially began my journey as a student midwife in July 2020. Since then, I have completed coursework, attended births as a doula and birth assistant, and completed in-person midwifery skills trainings (with specialized training in complications and birth emergencies). My plan was to attain my CPM credential through didactic learning via Indie Birth Midwifery School and then through the apprenticeship model (PEP path) with experienced midwives. 

 

Here's where things get interesting: After a few decades of midwife and consumer activism and organizing, on October 28, 2021, the state of Illinois decided that it will grant CPMs licenses to practice medicine thereby legitimizing direct-entry midwifery in the state of Illinois. Yay, right! Well, in a nutshell, midwifery students like me are now faced with the decision to continue on the apprenticeship (PEP) path and forgo licensure OR seek further training at a MEAC-accredited midwifery school. While the newly signed law is a good thing for currently practicing midwives, it has inevitably created barriers for students like myself. In other words, more hoops, and more money--hence the GoFundMe.

This is an uphill climb and not an easy path. But I am elated that I was accepted into my dream school and have a clear path to licensure. I honestly do believe that everything is in alignment. Attending Commonsense Childbirth was always a part of my master plan (I put Jennie Joseph on my vision board, y'all!)

If you're interested in learning more about Illinois midwifery, check out these recent articles:

https://chicago.suntimes.com/2021/12/14/22834687/midwifery-licensed-profession-illinois-midwives

 

https://news.wttw.com/2021/12/14/illinois-establishing-midwife-license

ABOUT ME

In no particular order: I am a Spelman College and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign alumna (masters), sociocultural anthropologist, daughter, sister, podcaster, doula, certified lactation counselor, certified placenta encapsulation specialist, amateur photographer, writer, dreamer, a healer, lover, student midwife, wife, and homebirth mama. Everything I am and everything I do is for my own healing as well as the healing of the generations beyond and before me. In this birth work, I hope to continue to inspire maternal healing as well as the radical notion that birth is a normal life event and that we (especially as Black people) deserve to have pleasurable and peaceful, prenatal and birth experiences wherever we choose to give birth--even at home! For the past 3 years, I have been sharing Black home birth stories on the podcast I co-host with thee Chae Pounds. You can listen on all major platforms and at www.homecomingpodcast.com !

 

To see updates about my journey and the skills I am learning, you're welcome to follow me.

 

Facebook:

www.facebook.com/isisarose

 

Instagram:

@isisarose_doula

@homecomingpodcast

 

In peace,

Isis