why do you want to be a midwife?

‘Why do you want to be a midwife?’

It’s how the conversation always starts

I know where they are heading deep in my heart

I take a moment to pause

And try to look away

And hope that they won’t have more to say

It’s in their tone that rattles my dreams

The disbelief in their eyes as if I’ve not seen

Not seen the articles, the anger and pain

Not heard the midwives complaining again and again

Not seen the patients torn and upset

Not heard their cries of care not being met

So I walk away from this question readily asked

And I wonder inside how long this feeling will last

And as I wonder inside and ponder away

I find my little soul, my God-given spirit coming
to say ‘hey’

And a warmth comes over my dreams, soul,
and heart

As my God-given spirit starts to explain the
next part

My thoughts turn to love, my love of this career

And my Lord and my saviour who has brought
me here

I remember that we are filled with his light

And even through darkness we should remain
in full sight

For his light enters the cracks of the broken world we face

This is the task as his children we are called
to embrace

If you’ve been called into midwifery in this moment and time

Please remember right now, this is your time
to shine

The time to bring the word into your practice
and choices

The time to allow Scripture to calm the weary voices

The time to hold on to your calling and dreams

Hold on to this with Jesus by whatever means

The midwives in practice and women in our care

Need us more than ever amidst their despair

To bring the word, the light, and the promises of our Lord

Put on the armour of God, let him hold your sword

Stand on your ground with your strength intact

For this is how he asks us to react

I come back to the beginning to the question asked

‘Why do you want to be a midwife?’ – I can answer at last

I want to be a midwife because birth represents all things new

In Jesus who was sent for me and for you

As a baby born in a manger in an unfavourable time

To a mother and father, a family divine

So each time I will walk steps closer to this career

It’s this thought that I hold to, what draws me near

Each parent facing the birth of their new baby, new soul

Face unfavourable times. And here comes our role

To offer our ward, our clinic – our ‘manger’

With plenty of room filled with light, love, Scripture – let Christ within be the game-changer.

Montana Cresswell is a student midwife and volunteers for CMF as a Social Media Associate