One down, ten to go!

     It has been quite some time since I contributed to this blog. Understatement of the year....and last year apparently! As far as updates go, my most significant update is that I am officially a student midwife. I started this fall at Bastyr University in their Masters of Science in Midwifery program. It has been fantastic so far and I just finished my first quarter, only ten to go!

     Originally I was hoping to go to UBC in British Columbia, Canada as it is closer to home, but as soon as I contacted the Bastyr department of midwifery I felt an instant connection with this program. My cohort is cozy with 18 other passionate, brilliant women with varied backgrounds and stories to bring to our group. I appreciate the low residency model of this program, meaning my cohort convenes on campus in Kenmore, Washington once a month for 4-6 days to complete exams, class presentations and practical learning and assessment skills. The very first week we jumped in with pelvic and breast exams, something I was comfortable with long before this program but I was still pleased with the amount of material and teaching that was worked into those first six days with my cohort. The rest of the time I am kept very busy with online classes, something that requires rigorous self monitoring on my part to keep me on track each week. It's hard work and I like it that way!

     The program is three years long, culminating in a master's thesis or capstone project that will benefit the local birth community and midwifery as a whole. I have several research interests however I am most interested in the needs of Japanese-American women and their families with regards to well woman care as well as birth and labour as it pertains to a midwife. I'm Japanese and I believe I have unique cultural needs that may not always be met by my health care providers so I'm going to do more research and inquire with the Japanese Cultural Center in Seattle, Washington about their thoughts on this matter. Beginnings of a thesis idea? Possibly.

     Oh yes and another update, I have a shiny green sapphire on my finger that says I'm eventually marrying my long term partner in crime Geoff of clinicallydigital.wordpress.com. In a few months he will officially be Dr. Geoff, then he's off to start his residency and if our timing works out we should both finish our schooling in 2015. Then comes marriage. Then come babies. Then come a few critters of our own?

     I'm really not sure where I want to go with this blog at the moment, I will take requests, host guest bloggers with similar interests or simply post updates on my progress through midwifery school. Most likely the latter, so at this point here is where I stand;

Green student midwife
Deliriously happy to be here
Still can't make decent chocolate chip cookies

Adjusting to life back in Victoria, BC, Canada...

Well it has been over five months since my last post and I figured I should write an update for those of you that are directed to this page from DoulaMatch.net or doulasofvictoria.ca!

I am still a wannabe in the sense that I still intend to enter the Masters of Midwifery program in Kenmore, Seattle in the fall. I hope second time is the charm and that this will be my year. As a birth doula, postpartum doula and soon to be breastfeeding counselor, I am practicing in Victoria for the time being and the last few months have been very enjoyable for me. I have had the opportunity to support and learn from several families since coming home from Nepal and I am loving it! I have stocked my doula bag with a brand new TENS (transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation) unit and enough belly casting materials to do belly castings for several mums. In addition, I have a variety of essential oils for aromatherapy, massage tools and herbals for teas such as red raspberry leaves, nettles, peppermint, fenugreek, black/blue cohosh, etc.

If you have any questions or comments, please post them on this website or send me an email at: kjbirthservices@hotmail.com. Also, if you are a current/past client and would like to provide me with feedback, I would be very appreciative if you could leave a few comments on this page. Thank you!

Below is my profile as it appears on the Doulas of Victoria website;

Certificates held/training attended:

-DONA Doula Training (2009 Douglas College)
-Standard First Aid CPR-C and AED training (2011)
-Emergency Childcare First Aid (2011)
-Bachelor of Science in Biology and Psychology from University of Victoria (2011)
-"Midwifery 101" online lecture series from Gloria Lemay (2011)
-Lamaze childbirth educator skills workshop (2011)
-Social Media for Midwives in BC webinar from Rob Cottingham (2011)
-Advanced Women’s Herbal and Aromatherapy Course, Birth Arts International, 2012
-Breastfeeding Counseling Course for Health Care Providers, Douglas College, 2012

Relevant Background:

-Interned at natural birth center and women's clinic in Guatemala (mostly water births)
-Clinical Teaching Associate for Island Medical Program for 5 years where I teach medical students women's reproductive health exams
-Currently volunteer for Midwives Collective of Victoria
-Volunteered in Kathmandu, Nepal with Community Hospital and Kathmandu maternity ward

Services/fees:

-Initial meeting (no charge)
-2-3 prenatal visits
-Full access to my childbirth library
-24 hour phone support and prompt email support throughout pregnancy
-Continuous support through labour and birth
-Use of my TENS (transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation) unit for pain management
-2-3 postpartum visits
Fee: $200 (Lower fee reflective of my belief that every women is entitled to the support of a birth doula if she wants one!)

Area:

Area: Victoria and surrounding municipalities (NO LONGER ACTIVE IN VICTORIA)

Phone Number:

• 206-766-0405 (Washington)

E-mail Address:

• kjbirthservices@hotmail.com

Web-site:

• kjsugiyama.blogspot.com