Throughout the 2,500-year history of Buddhism, the concept of the Middle Way has seen multiple interpretations, but, simply, it describes the way or path that transcends and reconciles the duality that characterizes most thinking.

In the broadest sense, the Middle Way refers to the Buddha’s enlightened view of life and also the actions or attitudes that will create happiness for oneself and others; it is found in the ongoing, dynamic effort to apply Buddhist wisdom to the questions and challenges of life and society. In this sense, the search for the Middle Way can be considered a universal pursuit of all Buddhist traditions—the quest for a way of life that would give the greatest value to human existence and help relieve the world of suffering. It is for this reason that Buddhism itself is sometimes referred to as the “Middle Way.”

"The middle path is the way to wisdom." -Rumi

Lets find the middle way in midwifery.

When I teach about risk assessment and reducing liability in midwifery, I liken the practice of midwifery to a giant spruce tree. SAFE midwifery (for you and for your client) demands that you lead the 'climb' up the tree of birth as close to the trunk as possible. Each rung of branches is where there are variations of normal or downright abnormality.

We midwives are NEVER the ones to lead a client out on a limb. If there are variations of normal or options to deviate from the standard of care, the client MUST always initiate this decision-making and then lead the way out onto that limb.

For example, midwives should NEVER be in the business of convincing their clients to birth a breech baby at home. Now to be clear, I support breech birth, I'm skilled at breech birth and I've attended many breech births, but it is always my clients responsibility to say, "I'd like to have this baby breech ,at home with you - will you please help me?" Then we can have a conversation about their desires, my experience, and the situation, but they are the initiator of this deviation from the standard of care. I’ll say it again - to create and maintain safety in community-based birth - the client (not you) ALWAYS leads the way out on a limb.

When you can clearly picture the standard of care or "trunk of the birth tree", it makes it a lot easier to see where the choice-point limbs are. It also makes it easier to have conversations with your clients. Remember, YOU don't have to go out on any limbs - safe midwifery demands that you honor your own BOUNDARIES too. But, if you do choose to go there, make sure YOU are not leading- the client must do that EVERY TIME.

If you have any questions/comments please post them below!