National Midwifery Week was observed Sept. 30 through Oct. 6. To show appreciation for Naval Medical Center Portsmouth’s (NMCP) midwives, Capt. Christopher Culp, NMCP’s commanding officer; Capt. Carolyn Rice, NMCP’s executive officer; and Capt. Dixie Aune, Director of Nursing Services, provided them breakfast Oct. 4 before the start of their shift. Culp expressed his gratitude for their hard work and dedication to the mission.
“You guys are in a specialty and a practice that is timeless, as you know,” Culp said. “You know there’s no Monday through Friday, 8 to 4 in what you do. You see long weekends and liberal leave and all sorts of things that apply to lots of the command but never apply to you because your business just never stops so it’s an added reason to come up here and tell you thank you for what you do.”
Rice added her appreciation and shared a quick personal story of her experience with midwives.
“I know the history with midwifery, being a physician, I didn’t get to work as closely with you, but being a mom with three kids, my second child was delivered by a midwife, and I was lucky enough that she took me on and my family on,” Rice said. “I appreciate everything you do and thanks for giving us a little bit of your time this morning before you get started.”