5 of 11

Write now Article Tools

Pregnancy is such an informed business now, more so than it ever has been. No longer do you just have to rely on the information of predecessors to figure everything out. You have books, magazines, experts, television shows and even entire channels dedicated to babies. So in this age of information, with all the choices and decisions you must make, another choice has recently re-emerged from the middle ages. The midwife.

Once a type of nurse that aided in pregnancies; they were often just experienced women who did things like place a knife under the mattress to cut the pain. Herbal remedies and chanting could be found within a midwife's range of expertise. It was into the new age of physicians that we looked to for our answers and prenatal care. However, now there has been a resurgence of the medical position of midwife.

First, let me address this from a female view of the obstetrician. He says hello, you see him for five minutes during each 45 minute appointment. He says some encouraging words and then you sit with everyone else in the office for the rest of the time. He isn't the one who looks at your ultrasound. He isn't the one who gives you advice. He also isn't the one who is in the hospital with you when you go into labor. He stops in from time to time sure, and then when it is time for the baby to pop out he might be there or his assistant will be. Basically, he gets paid a lot of money to hang around just in case something goes WRONG. But what about the emotional support or hundreds of questions you may have?

Next, we have the new choice of midwifery. An age old term revitalized to give us an new option of more personal care. Not only do you meet with this person every time you go to an appointment, you get a chance to build a relationship with someone whom you can talk to with at length. They do not rush you through the appointment, in fact in my experience, I probably went over my time limit with questions. I was able to call her on her cell anytime and when I was induced because I was late, she was there for me the whole 24 hour period. In fact, she only had to leave my side because a few obstetricians were not able to make it to deliver their own babies and she had to cover for them.

There are also a few other perks. One for instance, is that because they are with you the whole time monitoring your situation, they are able to make decisions that an obstetrician normally won't make. For instance, with me, a prior condition that I have was exacerbated because of natural labor and with my midwife there watching it was able to order a late stage epidural for me so that I would not risk any further complications. Had I gone with an obstetrician, the time it would have taken to get him out to the hospital, be evaluated, and order the anesthesiologist to insert the epidural, I might have gone into a seizure. The care and comfort I was given was immeasurable as I went through my labor without support of any one other than my ailing mother who could not be there most of the time.

While this was written purely from a single view point and with lack of a lot of fancy jargon to back up my opinions, there is much value in personal experience. I could have provided the brochure style fact list as supporting evidence. Yet, I feel that this was the best argument to convey the benefits of the midwife choice. The human choice.

Learn more about this author, Jaime Roxann Wright.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about The benefits of choosing midwives rather than obstetricians?
We want to hear your view. Write now!