Midwives

I wanted to write a little blog on midwives and the expertise, training and experience they have to offer.

I have heard SO many times from mama's "if I would have had a homebirth/midwife, I and/or my baby would have died!"

This statement just kills me. It is usually said by those who are just not really informed on exactly how trained and skilled midwives are. (Disclaimer: Yes, I know there are bad midwives out there - but there are also bad doctors). It is also usually said by a mama who has experienced obstetrical interventions during labor. Statistics will show that one intervention many times leads to another. Whereas if you leave birth alone, it is much less "dangerous" and usually requires no (or very little) intervention.

Midwives, specifically homebirth midwives, lay midwives, direct entry midwives, etc. really only work with women with normal, low-risk pregnancies (the same can be said about CNM's, but as they usually work in hospitals there is more leeway there).

An OB will use medical "tools" to diagnose a high-risk pregnancy (ultrasound, namely). Midwives use their own tools to come to the same (sometimes even more accurate!) conclusion.

Measuring fundal height is one tool used by midwives for checking on babies growth as well as fluid levels.

Palpating the uterus will tell midwives many things, such as the babies position (checking for breech).

Midwives use dopplers and fetoscopes to listen to the heartbeat as well as placental sounds.

Midwives routinely check pH, protein, etc in mama's urine. They also run blood tests multiple times throughout pregnancy, as well as check pulse and blood pressure at every visit.

These are just a few of the "tools" that midwives use to monitor the health of mamas and babies. If at any time they are unsure of something, if mama is showing signs that something isn't quite right, they will immediately refer her to an OB. If everything checks up as normal, they can continue care with the midwife. However, if there is something not right, they would transfer care to the OB.

Many/most midwives have EXCELLENT records for outcomes as far as maternal mortality, fetal mortality, as well as transfer to hospitals, c-section etc. They do not take risks - the mama and baby's health are of the utmost importance to the midwife. They know and understand their abilities as well as their limitations (such as - they cannot perform a c-section).

This is true for the prenatal period as well as during labor and birth. Midwives are highly skilled and trained to recognize all complications of labor and birth. And again, they don't take risks, they will transfer to hospitals at the earliest signs, not waiting for things to get too far.

Midwives usually carry oxygen as well as some drugs (such as pitocin) to their births. I had oxygen during my labor toward the end when I was running out of energy. I also had some excessive bleeding after the birth. My midwife gave me a shot of pitocin in the leg to help my uterus to clamp down quicker, slowing the bleeding down quickly.

They are also trained in infant resuscitation and carry tools for that as well.

Midwives are highly trained in normal pregnancy and birth. More so than OB's, who are trained in pathology and surgery.

Homebirth is not for everyone, and not even everyone who wants one can have one (if they "risk out"). However, for those women who have normal pregnancies it is just as safe - if not SAFER than a hospital birth. (Statistics support this statement, unfortunately those who oppose homebirth report statistics that include unintentional homebirths, including those on the way to the hospital, etc. that are not attended by a skilled midwife).

My midwife has delivered over 1,000 babies and has an excellent record of success in all realms. She is truly an expert on birth!

love,

s