“To my doctor, I was just another mom delivering a baby, but my midwife really took care of me and understood what I wanted,” my grandmother told me.
Midwives have been shunned for years though the image is changing, still, lots of people still think of them as untrained “coaches” who deliver babies at home or who insist that you give birth without drugs.
There are several pros of having a midwife to deliver your child. So, if you’re considering going for it.
Using a midwife is just as safe as using a doctor
Studies show that moms who use midwives have increased access to prenatal care, lower rates of cesarean births and obstetric interventions, and babies with higher birth weights. In addition, even home births for low-risk pregnancies using certified professional midwives are just as safe as low-risk hospital births. My mom was also delivered by a midwife.
Midwives provide physical and emotional support
Midwife means ‘with woman’ and that’s what all moms-to-be want in their labor – emotional support. Midwives are likely to spend more time with you than most doctors and offer both emotional and physical support during prenatal visits, labor, delivery, and the postpartum period. Midwives are especially good at helping new moms with breastfeeding, handling anxieties, and improving nutrition.
Midwives favor less invasive birth practices
Though midwives will help administer pain medication if a mom wants it, they tend to favour natural methods to ease the pain of labor and delivery. For example, they might give a mom a deep massage or encourage her to use an exercise ball to feel more comfortable, a warm compress to help the area stretch naturally and avoid tearing, or even a Jacuzzi to relax. All this means that women who choose midwives are more likely to have a natural vaginal birth and to recuperate faster.
Are they certified?
Yes, they are definitely certified. Midwifery-led care is based on the principles of dignity, privacy and compassion for women and respectful maternal care. A certified midwife, in the globally accepted context, like in Europe where 75% of births are attended by midwives, is someone who has completed a midwifery education programme based on the International Confederation of Midwives standards, and has acquired the requisite qualifications to be registered legally and licensed to practise midwifery.
If you’re trying to hire one, ask your doctor, friends and relatives. You might have a life-changing experience.
Have a safe delivery!
