Serving Beyond: Swiyyah Muhammad – Certified Midwife Creating Safe Space For Women Of Color
Raleigh, NC – Swiyyah Muhammad is a Certified Nurse Midwife who resides in the Raleigh-area with her husband of 10 years and their two daughters. She has a passion for helping others, specifically women of color. Swiyyah serves as a liaison for valuable information to those seeking equality in healthcare.
Anyone who knows Swiyyah knows that she is passionate about empowering Black families with the knowledge they need to become experts in their care throughout their pregnancy and beyond. Swiyyah has launched a virtual childbirth education course out of the need to eliminate barriers that many families face with finding a healthcare provider they can trust and will feel comfortable answering the hard questions. Her clients are quick to admit that she takes the time to explain things in a non-judgmental manner, all while providing thorough advice in a relatable way to the black experience. In addition to practicing as a full-scope Certified Nurse Midwife, Swiyyah also serves as a preceptor for student Midwives and Nurse Practitioners, and a mentor for new graduate Nurse-Midwives.
I attended nursing school with Swiyyah and distinctly remember having several conversations about her desire to change women’s experience throughout the pre-, peri- and post-natal phases, especially focusing on the Black woman’s experience. To witness Swiyyah walking in her true purpose has been invigorating. I had the opportunity to reconnect with Swiyyah and her desire to share her knowledge and passion while serving beyond as a nurse.
Tell us a little about yourself.
I am a Certified Nurse Midwife that proudly serves rural and underserved populations in North Carolina, providing prenatal care and gynecologic services. I earned my Bachelors Degree in nursing from Winston-Salem State University and my Master’s Degree in Nursing and Midwifery from Frontier Nursing University. My background in women’s health began as a nurse assistant on a high-risk Obstetric unit. Since then I have worked as a Labor and Delivery Nurse in the hospital setting in addition to a free-standing birth center. I have practiced Midwifery in both the Metro-Atlanta area and North Carolina.
What attracted you to the healthcare profession, particularly nursing and midwifery?
As a child, I felt called to be a nurse. My younger brother would always say that he thought I would make a better teacher because I was always teaching someone. So, when my family relocated to Durham when I was 16 I was excited to be a part of a pilot group of what would later be known as The City of Medicine Academy, through Southern High School. The miracle of human life was something that always fascinated me. During my senior year, I was allowed to choose an internship in any discipline and I immediately asked for Obstetrics. The time that I spent at Harris & Smith OB/GYN solidified my calling to midwifery because it was there that I felt fulfilled caring for women during such a special time in their lives, while also learning to educate them to be experts in their care.
Do you feel you are making the impact you desire with patients in your daytime “9-5” position?
I absolutely do! The overwhelming majority of the patients that I care for are Black or Hispanic. I think it is imperative for patients to feel heard, seen, and comfortable with their provider. Oftentimes, that only happens when they have a healthcare provider that looks like them. I can literally see them let down their guard when they see me, which allows me to connect with them. I know there’s a real connection when I have patients that want to come to visit me when they don’t have an appointment just to tell me how their gender reveal party went. Or when someone says to me “I’ve been dealing with this issue for years, you are the first person to ever take the time to explain it this way and why I’m experiencing this”.
What, or who has served as your inspiration as a nurse?
There was a period in my nursing career when I worked as a Birth Assistant at a free-standing birth center. It was the first time in my life that I worked with a group of inspiring and brilliantly educated Black Certified Nurse Midwives. We worked together as a cohesive team, teaching and learning from each other daily. They were a major source of motivation and support through my midwifery education and continues to be to this day.
Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years as a healthcare professional?
It truly bothers my soul that access to full-scope midwifery care in the Triangle is only accessible to privileged populations, so my goal is to establish a full-scope midwifery practice that caters to Black and Brown families. It is very well documented that Black women in the United States die 3-4 times the rate of their white counterparts from pregnancy-related causes and that these deaths are often preventable. Furthermore, research (and my personal experience) proves that racism, not race, is the primary risk factor for these maternal deaths. Elder Midwife Patricia Loftman said it best: “Midwives of color protect women in a system that is hostile to them”. My hope is to create a space where Black and Brown birthing families can receive evidence-based full-scope midwifery care from healthcare providers in a trusting and safe environment.
Let’s talk about your role as a Midwife and creator of your Virtual Childbirth Education Courses. How did this concept come about? Why do you feel it is important to operate as a nurse in this capacity?
Due to the COVID 19 pandemic, childbirth education courses are not taking place in the traditional settings; so I felt that there was no time greater than the present to provide this service to our community. There has been an increase in concern around birthing while Black during a pandemic on top of the pre-existing disproportionate maternal mortality rate, so I wanted to be able to empower as many of us as possible so that they can have the knowledge to advocate for themselves regardless of where they birth.
When did you know it was time to serve beyond nursing in the traditional healthcare setting and step into the business arena and become an educator as a nurse & midwife?
I specifically went to nursing school, then sought a position as a Labor & Delivery nurse so that I could later become a Certified Nurse Midwife. Although I enjoyed my role as a bedside nurse, I knew that my calling was to do much more. There is only so much you can teach during a 12- hour shift, and once the mom delivers, she is moved to a postpartum unit shortly after. I enjoy educating and building relationships with birthing families beyond the labor and delivery phase, which required me to step away from the bedside.
What tips do you have for nurses, or others in the healthcare field, who desire to branch out into another aspect of serving as a healthcare professional, whether in the community or through business ownership?
Put yourself out there and network! Join your professional organization or groups of like-minded individuals you can learn from. Also, never burn bridges because you never know who you may need in the future or what opportunities may come your way from a previous encounter you may have had with someone.
What advice or tips would you give to nurses during this COVID-19 healthcare crisis? What is your suggestion for burnout prevention?
When I transitioned into Advanced Practice I quickly learned that you must know your worth. Midwives in particular tend to burn out faster than all Advanced Practice Nurses because of the demands of our work along with the constant battle of reclaiming the oldest profession that was hijacked by white male physicians and the politics that come along with it. A global pandemic just adds another layer to it. Self-preservation is the first law of nature and you cannot pour from an empty cup, so the health and safety of yourself and family should be your #1 priority. Spend time with your village. Make your physical, nutritional, mental, and spiritual health a priority so that you can be the best version of yourself when caring for others.
How can our readers connect with you?
Instagram: @muhammad_the_midwife
Email: swiyyah88@gmail.com