How would a midwife benefit me?
In
the age of hospital conglomerates and modern technology, the idea of
Normal Low Risk Natural childbirth is considered "old fashioned".
Throw in a “Midwife” add "homebirth" into the word picture, you may
start visualizing yourself back in "Little House on the Prairie" days
biting down on wooden spoons.
My goal is to assist you in investigating your choices/options for a pleasurable birth regardless of location (hospital, birth center or birth at home).
I am glad to report a Birth at Home is a calm, secure and extremely intimate affair, with greatest flexibility of choice. Birth Centers (if not attached to a hospital) can give you many freedoms that desire. Planned hospital births are doable, but will take more planning emotionally & physically.
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Contrary to popular belief, pregnancy/childbirth are "normal
conditions" for you, a pregnant woman. You are not ill, diseased or
defective, thus requiring "medical management".
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Midwifery care is not a practice of medicine (diagnosing, prescribing
medications, performing surgeries).
Midwifery
is the practice by a midwife of giving the necessary supervision, care,
and advice to a woman during normal pregnancy, labor and postpartum
period; conducting normal delivery of a child and providing normal
newborn care.
The
art of midwifery is blending with the science of obstetrics to give a
higher standard of care to the laboring mother. A midwife gives
routine prenatal care and attends normal births, freeing the doctor to
do that for which he or she is trained - caring personally for those
mothers who have complications.
excerpt from: The Baby Book by William Sears, M.D. pg.22
*Your midwife is skilled to serve you
during your Normal Low Risk pregnancy
& birth and beyond. If abnormal presents, transfer of care happens
early. Your Midwife continually assess’ your health & well-being
relevant to the appropriateness of midwifery care. You will be informed
of all assessments.
*
Educating a pregnant woman & her family is an essential part of
midwifery care. By nurturing you with information, support, counseling
and referral, your midwife contributes to the well being of your whole
family. Counseling or teaching relates to problems identified by you,
your questions or interests relevant to your specific stage of
pregnancy. This is a realistic preventative health measure to ensure a
healthy reproductive journey. When you and your partner understand what
is happening during pregnancy, childbirth, & postpartum you both
will be better able to cooperate with your natural processes.
* Your midwife will help to grow your knowledge of nutrition. Making you successful in growing your baby and other offspring.
*
Your Midwife will assist you in creating your special birth team and
birth plan. Birth plans are encouraged as a guide for birth attendants
and your midwife. Your midwife is flexible to adaptations needed or
requested by you. Informed consent is provided in all aspects of your
prenatal, birthing, and postpartum care.
*
Your midwife has a very important role of educator, guardian and
caregiver. As your guardian she is always watchful, always looking for
what is best emotionally, spiritually and physically for you and your
growing baby. This takes many forms – Informed educated choices on
various topics, assessments, labor support, lastly facilitating and
following your desires and instincts. Your midwife is a resource for
various questions/issues, pointing you to resources/outsourcing when
needs arise.
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Your midwife will respect your right to self-determination within the
boundaries of evidence based responsible care. Your midwife helps to
create a supportive atmosphere in which your birth can unfold naturally
in the privacy & security of your home under your direction. In
Birth, your midwife assumes a role of "keeper-of-the-normal",
recognizing the physiological, mental, emotional, spiritual, cultural
and sexual aspects of your labor & birth experience. She believes a
mother delivers her own baby while she keep s a watchful eye for
possible problems while encouraging her to trust her body.
*
It is the right & responsibility of your midwife to refuse or
discontinue care in certain circumstances. Appropriate referrals will
be made in the interest of you & your baby’s well being or when you
required or request care outside your midwife’s legal or personal scope
of practice.
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BwB believes over 92% of all healthy women can give birth naturally,
gently, while in their homes, birth center or hospital with little or
no medical interventions or no medications.
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Birth at home with a trained, educated midwife has been shown to be as
safe as or safer than a hospital birth while under the care of a
medical physician for healthy low risk
mothers. However, as indicated by BwB’s vigilant screening &
adherence to risk factor guidelines, there are women & babies that
will need more intensive medical care under the direction of a medical
practitioner in a medical facility.
