MANA Musings

I am so glad I was able to attend MANA this year. It's always a privilege and I learn so much and meet old and new friends. Highlights include:

• Meeting Jenny Joseph and getting an introduction to her model for prenatal care. I would love to bring this model to KC- have some ideas in the works for my FIMR board. I've got to get her here.
• Participating in a white privilege game. Its where everyone stands in a line and takes steps forward or backward depending on their socio-economic and racial factors. I was at the tail end, by a mile. I can't wait to do this exercise with my nursing students. I found it quite powerful.
• Being near sea and mountains- as a child of the midwest I hardly ever get to do both at once. Taking my little rental car on a coastal tour was a wonderful experience.
• Vegetarian meals served at the Asilomar Resort were fabulous.
• Getting to room with Morningstar and Alison, a midwife from San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.
• Seeing Diane Paul of Sage Femme and witnessing more of her birth videos.
• Bird watching- saw some new ones I haven't seen before.
• Seeing so many midwives of color- there are more and more every year- good to see the next generation answering the call.
• Conference bookstore: purchased two new books, a purse, a pair of earrings, gestational wheels for my students and a host of souvenirs for my kids
• Favorite session: At your cervix: the ethics of how we teach pelvic exams
• Most transcendent session: Morningstars session on using storytelling to teach instinctual birth
• Most practical session: Using social media to promote better birth care
• Goal for next year's MANA: do a presentation from my newly published book