Natural Birthing Options: The Joy of Midwifery

I am often asked why I chose to use a midwife for my second pregnancy as opposed to an obstatrician (as I did for my first pregnancy), and whether I was happy I made that choice.

My answer is always the same: I wanted to experience a more natural approach to childbirth, and yes, I’m happy I did.

Baby #1

When I found out I was pregnant with my first child, I waited several weeks before calling a midwife association. Unfortunately, by the time I did, their practice was full.

Although I was overseen by an OBGYN the first time around, I used natural and organic products as much as possible. I resorted to medication only when was it was absolutely necessary (I was on medication to curb my nausea). I was open-minded about the delivery process and hoped to deliver my son naturally—without an epidural—if I could withstand the pain. But in the end that wasn’t the case, due to some unnatural procedures that took place during labor.

Baby #2

Thankfully, my second pregnancy was similar to my first one in that I was able to use natural products and avoid unnecessary medications. But there was one major difference: The delivery.

When I found out I was pregnant with my second child, I immediately secured my spot with a midwife.

I was assigned to a team of two women—a head midwife and her trainee—with whom I met regularly for nine months. Each visit lasted a minimum of 45 minutes, and the care I received throughout my entire pregnancy was extraordinary.

My husband and I felt empowered as we were presented with options every step of the way and were urged to make our own decisions regarding the pregnancy and delivery. One of the biggest decisions to make was whether to deliver at home or at a hospital.

Delivery with a Team of Midwifes

When I went into labor, I paged my midwives at 5 a.m. and they met me at the hospital within the hour. My team plus an additional trainee delivered my daughter in a relaxed hospital setting. They used acupressure and massage to relieve my pain during the contractions and discussed every protocol with us. I felt safe, reassured, and at ease with my surroundings.

We welcomed my beautiful baby girl into this world after only five hours of labor—without the help of an epidural or an episiotomy.

OBGYN or Midwife?

Having used an OBGYN for my first pregnancy and a midwife for the second, I was able to fairly compare the two practices. My overall experience of using a midwife was fantastic. Of course every situation is different, and I’m not saying my experience is true for everybody.

So how do you know which option is better for you? You won’t know if midwifery is right for you unless you try it.

If you are even considering using a midwife, I would recommend securing a spot at a midwifery practice as soon as you find out you’re pregnant. They are very busy and it can be difficult to find one who has an opening for a new patient. If you decide to change your mind later on, you can always switch to an OBGYN.

I urge you to stay on top of things as you would with any health care professional.

• Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
• If you are uncomfortable with something in particular, ask if and how it can be changed.
• If you would like to have certain blood tests performed, ask to have them.
• If you are curious about a certain procedure, do the research yourself.
• Take control of your health—because it belongs to you.

Benefits of Midwifery

These are just some of the benefits of choosing a midwife to help you through your pregnancy and delivery. You can discover other benefits that are right for you.

Scheduled Home Visits: My midwife offered her clients one home visit prior to delivery and one immediately after. This gave her the opportunity to meet my family before I went into labor.

Relaxed Atmosphere: Because each appointment lasts a minimum of 45 minutes, my midwives took their time to review my chart. They discussed with me what was happening at that specific point in my pregnancy and informed me of what I could expect to happen in the weeks to come. I never felt rushed, and I felt I could approach my team with any question I had.

Feeling Empowered: My midwives always presented me with the different options available to me and allowed me to make my own decisions as to whether or not I wanted to proceed with a procedure. For example, instead of telling me I had to take the glucose fasting test for gestational diabetes, they explained the procedure to me. They reviewed what the test was for, how it was taken, what my risks were, etc. Then they allowed me to make the final decision as to whether or not I wanted to take it. They did express their opinions (especially if there was any danger to me or the baby), but ultimately the final decision was mine to make.

24-Hour Support: You have your midwives’ pager numbers, and one of them is always on call.

Home vs. Hospital: You have the option to give birth in the comfort of your own home or in a more traditional hospital setting.

Choices, Choices, Choices!

In my opinion, the word midwife is synonymous with the word choice.

It may have been because it was my second pregnancy. Or perhaps it was the will of the Universe. Or maybe it was the amazing care I received from my midwives. Whatever the reason, I would definitely choose to use a midwife again if the opportunity presented itself. I have nothing but great things to say about my experience.

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