Call The Midwife | Meet Sadie
A new mother, flushed and sweat soaked, looks down as her baby belts their first miraculous cry. This pivotal moment takes place 259 times per minute around the world. And as long as humans have been on earth, midwives have played a central role in safe, intentional births. One of the oldest professions, the practice of midwifery has been on the rise in the United States. Enter Sadie Whitten – a devout midwife and woman I’m proud to call a friend. An orange evening sun slowly dips into our living rooms, one in California the other in Washington, as we sink into conversation.
“It all started with curiosity. I always found pregnancy fascinating. I love pregnant people (laughs) and wanted some part in it but wasn’t sure what that looked like,” Sadie explains. After exploring obstetrics, something didn’t feel quite right. During her time at Boise State, she remembers watching a documentary on birthing practices in different countries. Her gut was telling her to pursue an occupation that would not only help improve inequities but also fulfill the part of her soul that wanted to play a direct role in helping birthing people feel safe, at ease, and strong. With her undergrad in Biology and minor in Spanish, she left Boise and returned to mushroom-covered forest floors and bright blue waters of the Pacific Northwest. Suddenly, 22-year-old Sadie found herself walking the campus of Bastyr University on course to receive her Masters of Science in Midwifery.
The first year was mainly textbook. Second year students are placed on a site (similar to a residency) where they work hands-on. “We’re catching babies in the wild, if you will. You just can’t simulate that. You can practice on a model all you want, but you need the real deal. You have to be IRL for this,” Sadie says. 7 years of schooling and she’s considered an automas provider, meaning she has all the licenses and credentials to be a Licensed and Certified Professional Midwife, regulated by the Department of Health. In other words, Sadie has everything necessary to perform safe deliveries.
Other necessities include the list of items Sadie carries for every birth:
What’s In My Birth Bags!!
Vital Signs Equipment: Blood pressure cuff, stethoscope, thermometer, fetal doppler to listen to baby’s heartbeat in labor.
Instruments: A birth kit with hemostats and cord cutting scissors, episiotomy scissors, suturing instruments.
Medication: Including 4 different medications to stop a postpartum hemorrhage, antibiotics, and emergency medications to stop contractions, seizures, and anaphylactic shock. We carry lidocaine for suturing. We also have newborn medication like Vitamin K and the Hepatitis B vaccine. We also carry IV equipment and IV fluids.
Resuscitation: Oxygen, a bag mask to breath for baby, an alternate airway, a pulse oximeter, and an adult oxygen mask.
A birth stool! It’s basically a toilet without a bottom. It works great at getting babies out ;)
The rest of the stuff the client orders in a home birth kit which is all of the disposables – like gloves, chux pads (absorbent pads), a cord clamp, etc. We also have them gather towels, baby blankets and at-home items we use at their birth!
Like me, you may be wondering, what does a typical day in the life of a midwife look like? The short answer…there is no typical day. “I don’t work a 9-5. It’s not that kind of job. I do have 2 clinic days where we provide prenatal and postpartum visits. When you see the on-call aspects, I was at 3 births this week and also had clinic,” she says. The week of our interview, Sadie worked every day that week for at least 10 hours. Finding moments for joy in her free time is hugely important.
“When I’m actually NOT working, it’s like ‘hell ya, I’m going to pilates on a Thursday. I share a lot on Instagram, it’s like a journal to me. Whether it’s spa days or taking a vacation, I literally have to do those things or I’d be retired already. I physically have to do things people may think are indulgent, but it’s because I’m awake at weird hours and don’t have a normal job.” Taking strong measures to take care of yourself is important regardless of your occupation but for midwives, who are caring for patients on both a physical and spiritual level, bringing your best self mentally is essential.
After ending our call, I sat with the information. Feelings of overwhelming gratitude for women like Sadie, who devote their lives to ensuring women feel secure and empowered throughout pregnancy, fell over me. I leave with you the encouragement to not only call a midwife if you’d like to learn more about your birthing options but also thank one. Thank you, Sadie, for the life you help bring to this earth.
clinic photography by @valenleephotography
