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A Deep Calling by Lauren Cox CNM


Lauren is the newest member of the midwife team here at the birth center. She is a recent graduate of the school of nurse midwifery at Frontier Nursing University.  In her spare time, Lauren enjoys spending time with family and friends, being outdoors, international travel, playing piano, Latin dancing, and being a member of St. Joseph County Right to Life. 


 Why midwifery? This is often asked when I share with others what I have been pursuing the past few years.  I suppose the answer is summed up as this: When you feel a calling deep within your soul, you cannot always explain or understand why, but because you are known by a God who knows your heart’s deepest dreams and desires, you respond and trust. As I reflect on my desires as a child, I never imagined this journey of life would bring me to such a sacred place of caring for new families and being the first to hold a precious new life in my hands.
I distinctly remember as a young girl, learning about the immense poverty that was so prevalent in developing countries. I would read stories about missionaries who would leave everything they had to serve the poor. I knew from that age I wanted my life to be one of complete service to others.  
After doing a handful of medical mission trips, I decided I would pursue nursing as a means to serve.  During my nursing studies, I had the opportunity to study in the Dominican Republic, during which I was exposed to very different approach to medicine compared to what I learned in the hospitals.  We visited patients in their homes. I experienced medicine as a way to build deep relationships with others, realizing that taking the time to listen and love is often more healing than any medical treatment.  It was after this experience I decided to pursue an advanced nursing degree, which I knew would equip me with the proper resources to care for others in rural areas. 
Toward the end of my nursing education, I learned that some of the worst community health problems globally are within maternal and infant health.  So many countries have egregious infant and maternal morbidity and mortality rates – mostly in part due to the lack of qualified medical professionals and healthcare facilities.  Women and newborns around the world are still dying in childbirth from preventable causes.  I had the unique opportunity to travel to Kenya, where I saw how many women give birth, and was able to catch my first baby.  Witnessing the disparities that I read about confirmed that I was being called to serve and care for women and infants specifically through my nursing career.
Having worked in the profession for a short time now, the reasons for becoming a midwife have begun to unfold, and I have a deeper insight that I only understood theoretically prior to working in this profession: 1) Birth is sacred - I have always known this, but attending births in this new role, I have lived this and it is such a gift.  2) I truly have been called to midwifery, and am privileged to participate in witnessing and guiding new lives into the world. Through this journey of walking alongside women and families, I have grown deeper understanding of my own spiritual journey. Daily I am reminded of the simple, yet profound spiritual Truths, manifested in physical and tangible ways through pregnancy, labor, birth and the women I serve. 
As a midwife, I anticipate joining the many midwives who have used and are continuing to use innovative means to provide access to care for all women of every race and economic status. Most importantly, through midwifery, I have been offered a unique invitation of self-giving service to women on their journey through motherhood.  These women provide me the honor of walking alongside them as they grow into beautiful and strong mothers and demonstrate simple Truths of selfless love and perseverance. To me, this work is the hardest, yet greatest gift I have accepted. - Lauren Cox CNM


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