No. 20 | Maria Petrie on Long Term Goals & the Power of Choice

Art of Doing

Cyber security by day. Nurse and doula, helping women bring humans into the world, by night. A heck of a combo, right? This is precisely why I wanted to have her on the show to share her fascinating story. Maria has built a successful career in security technologies, and it’s a career she truly enjoys. And yet she’s also drawn towards another passion, of empowering women through childbirth. She works as a doula and nurse, and is pursuing a long-term goal of becoming a Certified Nurse-Midwife. Many people have a feeling that they are meant for “something bigger”, yet few people have the courage to leap into the unknown & find out what that is. Lucky for the world, Maria is one courageous, awe-inspiring woman who is doing just that. We discuss what it means to be a doula (and midwife) and some of the misconceptions present in a world of traditional Western medicine. We also dig into what it has been like navigating the journey of a full time career while going back to school. The biggest point of encouragement? It CAN be done. She says that one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding natural childbirth is that... “People think others who choose a natural birth are off the grid, wild & free, barefoot hippy types who don’t understand science or medicine.” We learn that’s actually not the case. The fact is “The United states has the highest maternal mortality rate of any industrialized country in the world.” Yes, you heard that right. “We have the perception that birth is very safe here, but we actually have a lot of problems. Primarily, over-treatment. Birth is a normal physiological process for most women, so more technology doesn’t always mean better.” Maria reminds us that there is power in the choice no matter what you decide is best for you and your family. This country is most certainly in a time of flux, especially when it comes to women and our health. The good news is, there is a wealth of knowledge and much research being gathered about, and for mothers to be. We can and will move forward with better options for women with wonderful people like Maria leading the way. In this powerful episode, Maria reminds us that life is a continuum, an ever evolving process of human experience. She challenges us to embrace that idea wholeheartedly, whether you are in any stage of experiencing childbirth or completely changing career directions, the concept is applicable to us all. She is on a mission to advocate for, educate, and empower women on the topic of childbirth and their bodies. That’s a mission we couldn’t be more proud to share & support. To connect with Maria visit her website, A Birth Companion. http://www.theabcdoula.com/