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A Midwifery Resource for Expectant Parents |
Why Choose a Midwife?
Read how parents answer the question
| "No study has ever revealed superior health outcomes for women with healthy pregnancies who receive their care from an obstetrician as opposed to a
midwife."(Granju) |
Studies show, and experts say that the care of a
midwife is equivalent to or often better than the care of a physician, for women with healthy pregnancies.
Midwives are trained in normal, low-risk labor and believe in a woman's inate ability to give birth. They
are trained to recognize and treat problems that may occur, but intervene only when necessary. Midwives are
less likely to interfere with the natural process of labor, and therefore are less likely to impede that
process and encounter problems.
Midwives spend more time with their clients at prenatal visits, thus allowing for more interaction
between mother and care giver, more time for the client's questions and concerns, and more time for
education. Mothers take an active part in their care while midwives tailor their care to the individual and her family.
Most midwives provide one-on-one care during labor, and allow the mother to do what she wants
to in labor. This can include walking, showering, eating, drinking, and medications or anesthesia
if desired.
"Midwifery care differs from obstetric care in philosophy, style, and practices. It promotes the
normal, speaks to psychological care as well as physical care, is woman rather than doctor centered,
empowers women, and looks to simple, non-interventive remedies before resorting to technology." (Goer, p. 301)
References
Choosing a Nurse-Midwife: Your guide to Safe,
Sensitive Care During Pregnancy and the Birth of Your Child Catherine M. Poole & Elizabeth
Parr, Wiley, 1994
Granju, Katie Allison,
The History of Midwifery, Minnesota Parents
National Center for Health Statistics "New Study Shows Lower Mortality Rates for Infants Delivered By Certified Nurse Midwives", May, 1998.
Obstetric Myths Versus Research Realities
Henci Goer, Bergin and Garvey, 1995
For more books on this topic, go to book list
Parents answer the question "Why Choose a Midwife?"
- "A midwife cares, a midwife listens and a midwife sits with you when you need her."
- Jana McCarthy mother of 8, 3 birthed with a CNM in a hospital in Anaheim, California.
- "I chose to have birth with a midwife because I thought it was the best way to insure that I could have
the kind of birth that I wanted for my child."
- Kira Smith, mother of two, one by c/section and one "awesome" midwife attended vaginal birth after cesarean.
- "....a midwife let my wife make her own decisions, gave her all the options available, and gave my wife and I
total control of the birth."
- Mike Brown, from Alabama, father of 3; first birth: MD by c/section; second and third births: natural, unmedicated with a midwife.
- "The quality of care I received from my midwife, both prenatally and at the birth and after were at least 10 times better than
any care I have ever received from a physician."
- Amy M. Zoldak, mother of one by homebirth in Houston, TX.
- "At 'doctor' births I felt pretty much tolerated...At the 'midwife' birth I seemed appreciated."
- Reverand Paul Joseph, father of 3, first 2 with an MD, 3rd with a midwife.
- "Midwives won't control you, cut you, treat you like a non-person. They will respect you, love you, support you, and treat you
like a person."
- Mary Owens of Indiana, mother of three children, the first born by c/section, the next two totally
natural midwife deliveries.
- "The great thing about a midwife is that they let you and your baby do the work, they are just there to assist you...
[Choosing a midwife] is the best possible way to ensure you get the birth you want, also the care you want for you and your newborn.
- Wendi Stevenson, mother of one beautiful baby homebirthed girl.
- "...for those who really want to have the control, want to make the choices, and want to give your new baby the best start in life,
I found that midwives offer you just that."
- Brian Roal, father of two girls, ages 4 and 2, both caught by midwives.
- "Control. I didn't want any timelines imposed on my birth..., I didn't want unnecessary ultrasounds, etc.
Worked out so great the first time that I'm now a few weeks away from delivering #2 at home. =)"
- Catherine Juon, mother of one (and soon to be two!) born at home.
- "The attention to my partner and our babies was outstanding... I felt [our midwife] was more attendant to the gestational
development of my partner, of me, and of our baby. She was attuned to the "readiness of the whole family unit."
...For normal, healthy moms and babies, midwifery is the best care available. For the rest, there are a lot of good MD's
as well."
- Michael Montoya, father of 2 homebirthed with midwives.
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