2002 Midwifery Skills Workshop
MSTM'S 6th Annual
Midwifery Skills Workshop
Scroll down for 2003 registration information
MSTM offers annual midwifery skills workshops held in beautiful, rural northeast Michigan.
These workshops are open to the public.
MSTM students and others join together to learn basic and advanced midwifery skills, herbology, labor management techniques, the business of midwifery, suturing and more.
The workshop groups are small to allow for maximum interaction and input.
Lodging and meals are free for all registrants plus all workshop materials are provided at no extra charge! Work study Scholarships are available, conference exam provided and certificate issued.
2002 Midwifery Skills Workshop HIGHLIGHTS
reprinted from The "CALLING" - Summer/Autumn 2002
by Casey Makela
Some of the 2002 participants
Michigan School of Traditional Midwifery hosted their 6th annual midwifery skills workshop in August 18 - 20, 2002 at Sprinkler Lake Educational Center in northern Michigan.
The weather, sunny and warm, was a perfect complement to the natural beauty of Huron National Forest where the math/science facility is located. We were even
visited once again by a mother bear and her 2 cubs (seen at a distance)!
The weekend program featured a packed schedule of classes, lectures and hands-on clinics taught by a wide variety of special guest speakers who shared their expertise on issues relating to all aspects of birth related subjects. Skills assessments and reviews were done and featured multi-level practical applications and evaluations.
We met and registered on Sunday morning and shortly there-after had a quick group tour of the facility. After a brief welcome address and round-table introduction, we were joined by our first speaker, Dr. Turek, D.C.
Dr. Turek addressing a group of midwifery students.
Dr. Turek discussed Latent Spinal Cord & Brain Stem Injury in Newborns and had an open discussion with the group
on a variety of childbirth issues. He was intrigued by the inspiring group of midwifery students and was anxious to
learn more about the type of care we provided and our advocacy for natural home-based childbirth. His enthusiasm for the art
of midwifery and the work we do was a great honor to us all. We thoroughly enjoyed his presentation and invited
him back next year!
After a short break, we gathered for our first clinical, Newborn Exam, featuring Traditional Midwife Karen Kamyszek as
the program speaker/teacher.
Karen Kamyszek, Traditional Midwife - Newborn Exam
Karen traveled 7 1/2 hours down from Michigan's Upper Peninsula to join us. She is a regular speaker at MSTM workshops
and students have an opportunity to glean many ideas from Karen's vast experience in her over 20 year midwifery career. Karen
gave a wonderful presentation that was a joy to participate in! Karen is also editor of MSTM's midwifery journal, The Calling
as well as one of the programs academic advisors. So, it is safe to say she has a special interest in MSTM students and
completely enjoys working with and meeting one and all!
Lunch time took students on a drive to the Director's farm where we enjoyed a lunch prepared by Bill & John Makela.
They did a fantastic job providing meals throughout the workshop and they made us all feel well cared for and refreshed
after each meal!
Basic Suturing began the afternoon session, taught by Traditional Midwife, Casey Makela. It was an intense class that
also covered proper procedure for IM and SQ injections as well as sterile technique and the use of medical adhesive. Models and teaching aids from
that class were available to students during the rest of the workshop for practice sessions.
After a brief break, we were joined by Author and Women's Activist, JoAnna Kondrat who addressed the topic - "Supporting
the Womanly Way of Birth & Why Women Cry".
JoAnna Kondrat - "Why Women Cry"
JoAnna is an energetic and inspiring speaker who reaches into the hearts of her audience and captures their attention through
her bold and knowledgeable approach.
After an intense day of classes, a relaxing Herb Walk/Find followed with Naturalist and Master Gardener, John Tucholski. It was a nice change of pace
and the weather was absolutely perfect.
John Tucholski, Guest Naturalist & Master Gardener
As we gathered by the lake, Casey Makela taught the group how to do Loon calls and
several caught on to the curious technique. Yes, John was right, your director was was indeed standing in a little
assembly of poison ivy...scratch, scratch!!!
Afterward, we shuttled to the farm for a lovely dinner and John Tucholski joined us as our guest, this gave us a great
opportunity to exchange information and get to know him better. We lingered only a while as our evening session of midwifery
skills assessments awaited us all.
At our return to the facility, we spent several hours reviewing, refining and assessing basic midwifery skills of each individual student. It is
a long and detailed process where every student works with an instructor exchanging ideas and different methods
of technique for different skills. Each student had their midwifery skills check-off booklet where documentation
was dated, signed and notarized.
Finally, our busy first day ended at the outdoor amphitheater around the bonfire where we had a Women's Way circle and gift exchange.
Woman's Way circle & gift exchange.
Everyone selected a gift from the gift blanket and took home a memento from this years workshop! Someone in the group tried a loon call and
received an authentic answer from one of the lakes inhabitants! We then retired for a good nights sleep in anticipation
of the next day of classes.
Monday morning after an early breakfast, we met with our guest mom, Cindy G., who graciously participated with the group as a model, allowing us to learn Fetal Assessment & Prenatal
Exam Skills. Cindy was 36 weeks pregnant and very accommodating to our group!
Marion Makela followed with her dramatic presentation scenario of teen pregnancy. Each student had an opportunity to briefly encounter
Marion in one of her changing character roles.
Marion Makela - Teen Pregnancy speaker (doing project research!)
Marion does an excellent job of presenting difficult material in a format that creates discussion and
prompts further consideration.
After a break, we resumed classes with Karen Kamyszek, Traditional Midwife, who taught Estimating Blood Loss & Placenta Pathology.
Karen Kamyszek, Traditional Midwife demonstrating examination of a placenta
Students were able to compare 3 different placentas and some even helped Karen make blood clots with the
"Gak" recipe!
After lunch, Transport and Postpartum Care clinical followed with Casey Makela
Then we were visited in the main hall by Cori Upper, B.A.A., from District Health Department #2 for a discussion on Universal Precautions and Blood Borne Diseases.
This included an interesting video presentation with a follow up question & answer session.
A brief break followed and we stretched and took a walk back to the science class room where
our administrative R.N. guest speaker
gave a poignant lecture on "The Changing Trends of VBAC Management".
Her information included class hand-outs of a
real case study that had our whole group astounded by the way VBAC options are being standardized to faze out vaginal births. She presented the class with very sobering information!
The conference exam followed.
After dinner, students had the opportunity to view and handle antique obstetrical equipment, pharmaceuticals and books.
Antique Obstetrical Equipment
It was interesting to get a glimpse of history and a little insight to women's health care from almost a century ago.
Then we spent the evening viewing several different birth videos, while finishing up Midwifery Skills Assessments and
documentation. Finally, we did a round-table exam review. We even had a chance to learn to spin on a couple of spinning wheels! Our evening together was relaxed
and a lot of fun!
Tuesday morning we tied up loose ends, gathered our things and headed to the farm for breakfast and conference end.
This years conference was a wonderful event - full of midwifery enthusiasm and the vigor of sincere natural birth activism. I am ever
comforted to know that the future of midwifery rests securely in the capable hands of such women as those who gathered together to study
at this years conference. What a fantastic group you all are! We are already looking forward to next years workshop!
2002 workshop participants - a fantastic group of women!
 The conference was much, much more than I expected!
I had a wonderful time and learned a lot! I only wish it could be a day or two longer.
There was a great deal of information covered.
This workshop exceeded my expectations in every way. It was excellent and I had a great time!
- 2002 MSTM workshop participant comments
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