Midwiffery versus medical doctors. Learn the role a midwife plays as a primary care giver, as well as why they are becoming popular.
During your pregnancy, one of the most important decisions you will make is deciding on whom you will use as your primary care giver. The use of a midwife is becoming increasingly popular among pregnant women. Before deciding whom you would like to care for you during your pregnancy, you might want to look into the options available to you and decide what would best benefit you and your baby.
A certified midwife, or CNM, is a registered nurse with a master's degree or certificate in midwifery. Midwifery is the art of delivering babies while combining the best of both worlds; natural medicine and modern technology. Some mothers opt to use a midwife in a home birthing environment instead of a hospital. If the pregnancy is uncomplicated without any risks, then most likely, if you choose, a home birth with a midwife is a wonderful option that you can explore.
According to the American College of Nurse-Midwives in Washington, CNMs helped to deliver more than 270,000 births in 1997-up from only 20,000 deliveries in 1975. Many midwives choose to deliver in birthing centers, which were once used to help provide care for lower income families. However, today, birthing centers are popular among pregnant women from different economic stand points.
During the natural birth movement of the 1970's, midwives were mostly "direct-entry," learning the trade through non degree programs and apprenticeships. During that time, midwives mostly participated in home births. Today, CNMs outnumber direct-entry midwives. CNMs have been trained in everything from Pitocin to episiotomies.
According to recent research, those women with low risk pregnancies who used a midwife, have had to undergo fewer inductions, cesarean sections and episiotomies. It is also important to note that those women who used a midwife were more satisfied with their pregnancies and deliveries and recovered quicker.
In addition to being able to cover the prenatal basics, a midwife is an excellent source for providing information on nutrition and exercise, as well as other alternatives for childbirth pain relief such as acupuncture. It can also be duly noted that midwives tend to take a more personal interest in their patients personal lives.
Perhaps the main reason why midwives have increased in popularity is their wonderful way of helping mothers through the labor and delivery of their precious newborns. Because midwives view pregnancy as a natural occurrence that can be accomplished without excessive medical intervention, a midwife works to keep the mother motivated and comfortable during labor and delivery.
It is not to say that doctors are uncaring or unconcerned about their patient's well being. It depends on the type of environment that a new mother wants to envelop herself in during her pregnancy, as well as her labor and delivery. Some mothers find doctors abrasive and overly technical. And some mothers desire to have a personal relationship with their care giver. This can be impossible with a doctor who is overbooked with patients.
For those mothers who are experiencing a high risk pregnancy, it is still possible to use a midwife, but it is in the best interest of the mother and the baby to give birth in a more conventional setting, such as a hospital. In a hospital, emergency medical equipment is close by, whereas if the mother were giving birth at home, it would not.
It is important to remember that pregnancy is a miraculous occurrence in life. No pregnancy is alike. Each one is full of different circumstances and complications. Choosing a care giver who you feel most comfortable with will only enhance this important time in your life. Consider your options and choose what is best for you and your precious baby.
