For the sake of better health, safety, and enjoyable experiences, I encourage women with healthy pregnancies to consider midwives. The statistics show that this is usually a safer option, but there are other factors to consider, too. There are some great OBs out there and some not-so-great midwives. Learning about what the options are and what each mom prefers is relevant. But when looking for safer and healthier outcomes, midwives do excellent work!
It's been interesting to learn that many women don't know much about midwives. I would like to offer a little something for fun here. Check it out, what you think?
Are you using a midwife? Is she a nurse-midwife out out-of-hospital midwife?
How is your maternity care?
What are the differences you've noticed between OB and midwifery services? (If applicable.)
MIDWIFERY: Astonishing Facts
In the United States, with the highest per capita expenditure on health
care of any nation in the world, now ranks 25th among Western
industrial nations in infant mortality. Almost every other
industrialized nation in the world has better infant survival rates
than we do.
(The State of the World's Children, 1996, UNICEF)
In every single one of the nations where infant mortality rates are
lower than ours, midwives are the principal birth attendants.
The largest study ever done of freestanding birthing centers (where
midwives are the primary providers) in the United States was published
in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1989. The results found that
the infant death rate for all births at birth centers was much lower
than that for births occurring in hospitals. If that wasn't astounding
enough, it was also found that the cesarean rate was 4.4 percent - less
than one-fifth the typical hospital average. Satisfaction with the
birth centers was so high among the women in the study that 99 percent
said they would recommend the birth center to friends. To top it off -
costs averaged 30 percent less than hospital maternity care.
(New England Journal of Medicine: "Outcomes of Care in Birth Centers- The National Birth Center Study" 12/28/89
It is estimated that if all American women had birth attendants with a
midwife approach, mother and baby mortality rates would be halved, and
the rates of brain-damaged children and other birth injuries and
complications in newborns would be cut by three-quarters. Others add
that we'd save $8.5 billion a year.
("Mothering Perinatal Healthcare Statistics and Sources," Mothering 1993)
Every president of the United States except Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton was born at home.
The sober truth is that the data does not speak well for contemporary
obstetrics. A three-year experiment was undertaken at Madera County
Hospital in California, during which time midwives managed the vast
majority of births. The neonatal death rate during these three years
was reduced to less than half of what it had been when obstetricians
were managing births. The program was terminated, despite good results,
because of opposition from the California Medical Association.
Obstetricians again assumed control of births. During the next two and
a half years, the hospital's neonatal death rate tripled.
("Reducing Neonatal Mortality Rate With Nurse-Midwives," American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1971)
FROM: http://midwiferyinformation.homestead.com/page1.html
(midwives) Woman's Way and Obstetric Way
| Women's Way of Birth | Obstetric Way of Birth |
|---|---|
| Cultural definition of birth | |
|
|
| The setting for birth | |
|
|
| Caregivers: the support they give and the conduct of labour | |
|
|
| Techniques used | |
|
|
http://www.moondragon.org/articles/comparison.html
Birth is not only about making babies. Birth is about making mothers ~ strong, competent, capable mothers who trust themselves and know their inner strength.
~Barbara Katz Rothma
When you change the way you view birth, the way you birth will change. -Mongan
~Johana~Wife to Johnny*Mommy to Jaylyn 6*Joshua 5*Jamyra 9 months*and baby #4 due June.
I actually had an OB for my prenatal visits and had a midwife for my delivery! I loved them both!! I actually got to deliver my DS myself.... at the hospital! I loved it!
If you have a normal pregnancy, I would go with the midwife for sure! That was the best delivery ever! I watched my 2 sisters have their babies under the supervision of OB's and they were much more strict to the business, hurry up and push him out already kind of guys. But my Midwife took her time, and let me push when I felt like I was ready! so great!
I am seeing a midwife. I also saw her throughout my first pregnancy. She is a CNM (Certified Nurse Midwife), so I still have the comfort of having a midwife, but in a hospital setting if I choose, so I will have everything there if I need it.
I think that midwifes are all in all more personal with their patients, which is what I love.
Wouldn't choose anyone else to take care of me and the bab. :)
Below is my midwive's bio. I have had 2 births w/ an OB and my last was w/ a midwife and this one will be also. The level of the quality of care you get w/ a MW is AMAZING! I go in at my appt time and see her then and have an hour if I need it! No cold offices or waiting forever or dealing mostly with just nurses. It's nice to feel like it's not a medical issue just being pregnant! Best of all, no one to just run in and catch the baby at the time of birth. It was so amazing to have her there w/ me during my LABOR (even though it was a short time, 1hr, by the time we got to the birth center). It's so great to feel like the person who will birth your baby really cares about you and your baby, in a way I've NEVER felt w/ an OB!
I do home births and birth center births. I have been a licensed Midwife for nineteen years. I have been a primary midwife, and/or a primary birth assistant at over 900 births. I have received professional certification by the Association of Texas Midwives. I have also been decreed by the North American Registry of Midwives as a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM). This is the highest educational honor given by the Midwives Alliance of North America. (MANA) I have also taken and passed the midwifery course offered by the Texas Department of Health. I believe that pregnancy and childbirth, if given the opportunity, are normal functions of a woman’s body. God created a woman’s body to carry and birth babies. Healthy, low risk women, in my opinion, deserve the right to birth their babies without interference. To choose a home birth is such an option. The labor and birthing process is given back to the mother with wonderful results at a home birth. My philosophy is one of prevention and education, rather than intervention and control. Through nutritional counseling, consistent prenatal care and open communication, I believe one can be guided in caring for self. I believe it is important for each parent to take responsibility for the health and education of the complete birthing family. This would include consistent attendance of prenatal visits, childbirth classes and follow-up care. These steps will give the best opportunity for parents to experience the joy and fulfillment a home birth can bring. I want your family to be as involved in your pregnancy and birth as they want to be. It is not uncommon for the children to be on the exam table with mom to help me “feel and hear” baby. Dad’s also having the option of catching their own babies if they chose. It is such an honor to assist families in adding a blessing to their household. I will do whatever I can to serve you and assist you with the birth you desire.
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on Nov. 20, 2009 at 12:13 AM