Page 8 July 25, 2013 TORRANCE TRIBUNE TerriAnn in Torrance Midwives Today By TerriAnn Ferren in the United States.” Most Certified Nurse Lanka (which at the time was called Ceylon). doctor would deliver the baby and then after One thing is true for all of us--we were Midwives (CNM) work in hospitals and less Mark and Ilene said yes. taking care of the same woman and all her all born. One way or another, we were than one percent of midwifery attended births In 1967 the two young adventurers--after labor you would take her to post partum… brought into this world either by a medical occur at home. I found that fascinating. Most being trained in Fresno, California, the I would do all the work and they would get doctor or a midwife who assisted with our nurse/midwives work in hospitals, are trained Philippines and Hawaii--took off to a jungle all the glory and the money.” birth. I thought midwives were used in the in hospitals and stay in hospitals. village in Sri Lanka to teach the people how It was at this point Ilene decided to fulfill Ilene Gelbaum was born in Brooklyn, her lifelong dream of becoming a midwife. New York and grew up four blocks from her She called the nearest school, enrolled, was husband-to-be Mark and one mile away from accepted and graduated. In 1979, Mark Kings County Hospital/Downstate Medical and Ilene moved to California where Ilene Center. Mark and Ilene met in high school accepted a position with the County of Los when she was 14 years old and Mark was Angeles and then joined Dr. Kenneth Bell 16. Ilene told me that she and Mark would in Anaheim who had done his residency in talk about what life would be like when New York and brought midwifery to Kaiser she became a midwife. Graduating high and to California. “You cannot imagine. Dr. school, Ilene entered nursing school on a Bell trained under the midwives at King’s full scholarship exactly 50 years ago at age County and they influenced him,” said Ilene 16. Can you imagine a young woman telling “His mentor Louis Hellman told Dr. Bell, her prospective husband she was pursuing a ‘Midwives are the future--don’t you ever career in midwifery which would call for a forget that.’” Anaheim is where Ilene Gelbaum different sort of life than he knew as a child? worked for 29 years. After driving half a Obviously, Mark was/is the consummate man million miles back and forth from Torrance and ahead of his time in the “Mr. Mom” to Anaheim and delivering over 5,000 babies, category. He was all for his young bride Ilene Gelbaum retired. Her 5,000th baby was Ilene Gelbaum Nursing School Portrait by Arnold Yelin, reaching her goal. The couple wed very Ilene Gelbaum CNM, FACNM Photo by Mark Gelbaum. Photo by a boy named Aiden. Hay Photographers. young. Ilene said, “I knew exactly what I Mark One Photography and Co. Now, Ilene Gelbaum spends her time olden days when a doctor wasn’t available would do with my life. Why? Because we to grow “miracle rice.” Ironically enough speaking, lecturing and informing people about or if the birth was sudden--or in some cases used to sit out on the cement stoop outside they were moved into the midwife’s quarters, midwifery. She has spoken in front of the when parents wanted a home birth. What a the house--we were on the bus line that which was the only non-mud hut cinderblock California Medical Association and was the surprise it was for me to discover that all of crossed in front of us that went to Kings structure available. No midwife wanted to first non-physician ever to do so on the Role my preconceived ideas were wrong. County/Downstate Medical Center. They had live in a jungle village. The young Gelbaums of the Nurse-Midwife in the Birthing Room. I Residing in Torrance lives one of the most the most amazing nurse/midwifery program accessed their village and found an alarming asked how that was received and Ilene said, prestigious and honored midwives in the there and I was very convinced I would be 92 percent malaria rate. So, the two set up the “Pretty mixed. A lot of physicians had never country. This year, Ilene Gelbaum was inducted doing that. It was as though I had blinders microscope that they brought with them and even met a midwife. But I was the professional as a Fellow of the American College of on.” She knew from the time she was a little with the knowledge of laboratory techniques model. I was an established midwife.” Nurse-Midwives with Prestigious Distinction. I girl that she would be a nurse/midwife. How acquired in high school were able to test for After Ilene had shared, I decided to call dropped in to speak with this amazing woman malaria and distribute the free government on another midwife I had heard about. Born to find out exactly what a midwife does and medication to the people. Their malaria clinic and raised in Torrance (graduate of North specifically how Ilene Gelbaum happened to succeeded and trust was established between High School), Joanne Tarkington, CNM, become a modern midwife. the people and the two young Peace Corps graduated from and then worked at USC-- According to Ilene, the field of obstetrics is workers. This trust opened the door for the then at Harbor UCLA and two hospitals in very new, beginning in the early 1900s. She women of the village to call Ilene to deliver San Luis Obispo County. Joanne became told me that immigrants were having their their babies. At that time Ilene, who had interested in delivering babies while on babies delivered by lay midwives, grandparents been an ICU nurse at Mount Sinai Hospital, vacation in Canada. Coming to the rescue of and neighbors. She said, “Modern medicine hadn’t delivered babies. But armed with her a husband whose wife was ready to deliver, kept telling everybody it’s safer to have your copy of the Mount Sinai-issued Air Raid Joanne successfully delivered her first baby baby in the hospital where the profession of Shelter Emergency book, a bottle of aspirin in the back of a van armed with the book obstetrics came and flourished. So that is how and Mark to boil water, off they went to Spiritual Midwifery by May Gaskin (which we got from the back rooms to the hospital. deliver babies. Her first delivery ever was happened to be in the van at the time). Then, Those midwives who had no education got assisting a neighbor living across the dirt later while she was back home in Torrance pushed aside and made the way for physicians road. Ilene was called in the middle of the acting as a birthing coach for a friend, to do birth, which they hadn’t done before… night--remember there was no electricity-- The American College of Nurse Midwives Ilene Gelbaun with the 5,000th baby she delivered. to deliver a baby boy in a hut. A midwife came into being in 1955ish. I am a certified many of us at the young age of three or four was born. Ilene told me, “The whole family nurse midwife. I am a registered nurse who are certain of what our path in life will be? was there and we delivered a nice, healthy, received additional education and training to After the young Gelbaums were married, bouncing baby boy. I delivered her baby become a nurse/midwife. Midwifery school they said yes to an adventure that would change and that baby was two and a half when we is in the universities at the Masters level and their lives. In nursing school while editing the left Sri Lanka and came home. You go into many midwives have their PhDs. It is a very senior yearbook at Mount Sinai, the school the Peace Corps thinking you are going to highly specialized level of nurse. My licensure was receiving the most amazing letters from change the world, but you don’t change the in the State of California is that of an RN. I a former graduate who was in Africa with the world--you influence one person at a time.” am a board-certified nurse/midwife certified Peace Corps. These letters sparked excitement After returning home to the United States, by the American Midwifery Certification and adventure, so the young couple submitted the young Gelbaums were expecting their first Joanne Tarkington CNM. Board which manages the certification and their application to serve in Ethiopia. But a child and Ilene secured a job at Mount Sinai Joanne was amazed by the two styles of maintenance of that certification by midwives year later, the offer they received was for Sri in the newborn nursery where she wouldn’t be birth. Her Canadian mountain introduction turning patients, or doing any heavy lifting. versus the hospital delivery was a contrast Remember it was the early ‘70s and times to her. This sparked her interest and she were different. Later in New Jersey, Ilene was began studying midwifery, leading her to a part of the first in-hospital birthing center. 30-year career delivering over 2,000 babies If you see a dog with a YELLOW RIBBON or something yellow on the leash, this is a “I and my best friend--we were working as a midwife. I then asked Joann what was dog who needs some space. Please do We are now a Registered eBay Drop together there--we actually implemented the the biggest difference between the two births not approach this dog with your dog. Please Off Location. first in-hospital birthing room and it was she witnessed and she told me, “I think the maintain distance or give this dog and his/her We sell your antiques & successful and we worked there until ’79,” biggest difference is with the doctors. They person time to move out of your way. Collectibles for you on eBay. said Ilene. “What a sweet place to work and go to medical school and they see birth as it was just perfect! You would deliver. I didn’t a medical condition and they treat it like First bring your item in. at the time--I was an RN registered nurse a medical condition. Whereas midwifery If it is worth $100 or more, we will: and RNs don’t do deliveries, but you and the See TerriAnn, page 9 Research, Photograph & List it on eBay Answer Buyer Questions OPEN YOUR HEART, There are many reasons why Pack & Ship Sold Items OPEN YOUR HOMEa dog may need space: HEALTH ISSUES children ages 0-22, who are in need of a stable,Alliance Human Services provides foster homes forWrite you a check Lic. # 197806287 Illustrated by Lili Chin www.doggiedrawings.net BEING REHABILITATED Free Appraisals Anytime Alliance offers:nurturing home in order to thrive.IN TRAINING SCARED OR REACTIVE AROUND OTHER DOGS Bring your items to: • Knowledgeable & supportive staff Bring your items to: • Free background checks, skills development, & CPR/1st aid (Pat’s Tire Bldg. @ Arena) • Paid respite• Competitive reimbursementOr call 310-416-1233• 24 hr. on-call supportOr call 310-416-1233337 Richmond Street or• Networking with other dedicated foster parents401 E. 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Torrance 07_25_13
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