International Midwifery Internship Program

Gain clinical midwifery experience abroad through Midwife International's Internship Program. Midwife International offers midwifery internships for aspiring midwives who are in the intermediate and advanced stages of their midwifery training.

Midwife International is now offering midwifery internships at our partner clinics in Cambodia, Guatemala and Uganda in 2013.

Midwifery Interns must be prepared to take an active role as an assistant or primary midwife to provide prenatal, postnatal and birth care, so it is expected that they have already completed entry-level midwife education and be certified in neonatal resuscitation. Given that this experience is intended to be experiential, book study is not provided. Students who have participated in fewer than 20 births are encouraged to explore our 1-year Midwifery Immersion program. Students who cannot provide documentation of 20 births but consider themselves qualified to act as a primary midwife with assistance will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Apply now for 2013 placement.

Selected interns will work on a team, under supervision of an experienced preceptor, to serve mothers, newborns and their families, and will actively collaborate in the creation of treatment protocols. All births attended will qualify to be counted for NARM certification. Interns will also have the opportunity to provide support to local organizations who are working to promote maternal healthcare, breastfeeding, infant health and the Midwives Model of Care in their community. Feedback and evaluations of the interns' progress will be provided by the site preceptor.

Midwife International Internship Program Site Locations

Guatemala

Our partner clinic, based near the beautiful colonial city of Antigua, sees 8-12 births per month and 15 prenatal/postpartum visits per day. A full 11-week stay (1 quarter) is advised at this site, as this is the best way to ensure students meet clinical experience requirements for their respective programs. This site is excellent for those who want to gain experience with pre- and post-natal care. Interns will live in communal housing on-site (children are therefore not able to join interns on this program). Ideal interns will have a basic understanding of the Spanish language. Intern placements for 6+ months may include Spanish language instruction. For shorter internships, basic Spanish is required.

Uganda

Our partner clinic, based in Northern Uganda, is a high volume birth clinic that sees multiple births per day. The need in this area is extreme, and many women come from hours away to receive the compassionate and women-centric care that is offered at this unique clinic. Due to the high volume and high-risk pregnancies seen at this clinic, interns must already be experienced in the birth setting. Interns will live in a bungalow in the enclosed community in which the birth clinic is centered, and children are welcome to join interns on their stay. Food is included in the cost of the internship, as the birth community will eat meals – prepared by the onsite cook using vegetables from the garden – together. English is spoken at this site in addition to the local language of Acholi.

Cambodia

Our partner clinic in Cambodia is a high-volume mobile birth center that provides pre- and post-natal care, in addition to labor support, in rural areas of Southern Cambodia. Interns at this site will work along experienced preceptors to provide all kinds of birth support to an extremely high-need populations. Children are not able to join interns at this site due to the mobile nature of the program. The language spoken at this site is Hmong, so interns must be prepared to find creative ways to communicate with the women they serve.

Duration of Midwifery Internship

Priority will be given to midwifery interns who can commit to 11-weeks abroad, coinciding with Midwife International's quarterly schedule. The quarters are as follows:

• February 4 – April 22
• April 23 – July 8
• July 9 – September 30
• October 1 – December 16

Alternate placement dates will be considered on a space-available basis, with a minimum stay of 4-weeks.

Prerequisites

Documented completion of a book study program that adheres to the NARM reading list, or equivalent.

Neonatal resuscitation certification course (required completion before the start of their internship).

Ideal students are working toward NARM certification and have assisted more than 20 births, 25 prenatal exams, 20 newborn exams and 10 postpartum exams under the direct supervision of a NARM approved preceptor to qualify for internship placement. Signed documentation of these numbers must be provided to Midwife International. Students who are near to these numbers will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Students who are participating in a Nurse Midwifery program must get prior approval from their educational institutions. Midwife International preceptors are NARM approved, but all clinics are OOH (out of hospital) setting, which means that they may not meet clinical requirements for Nurse Midwifery program credits.

Cost

The Midwife International Internship Program cost is $3,000 per quarter (11-weeks). If not staying for a full quarter, the cost is $275 per week with a minimum stay of 4 weeks. These costs include a NARM-approved preceptor and lodging and meals in Uganda (Cambodia and Guatemala will not include meals but will include a communal kitchen to share with other students). Airfare and ground transportation are not included.

To secure your spot, you must pay 50% of your fees upfront as a non-refundable deposit. The balance is due 30 days before your departure date.

Apply now for a midwifery internship at one of these sites through Midwife International

Photo credit: Manos Abiertas