You Asked, We Answered! Here’s Everything You Need to Know about Midwives
According to records held by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ (ACOG), there are 35,000 home births per year in the United States alone. However, Latino and black women experience higher infant mortality rates.Â
Which is why hiring a midwife is vital.
Midwifery had been a mainstay even before it was officially licensed in New York in 1716. According to Midwifery Today, literacy levels placed midwives at a vantage point as they were more competent in child delivery compared to doctors.Â
To date, midwives remain relevant in the childbirth process.Â
In this post, we answer all your burning questions about midwives.
Let’s get started.
Why Do Black Women Need a Midwife?
As reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, African American women are 3-4 times likelier to die of pregnancy-related complications than white women. These deaths are usually related to heart conditions, high blood pressure, blood clots, bleeding, and infections.Â
The most grave pregnancy complications, such as hemorrhaging and heart attacks, are referred to as severe maternal morbidity (SMM). These conditions affect more than 50,000 women in the United States every year, and the number keeps on increasing.
Since black women face a childbirth mortality crisis, they need midwives more than anyone. Research has shown that sufficient prenatal care can significantly decrease the risk of preterm birth and infant mortality. Midwifery is a good method of care to offer pregnant black women who are at a disadvantage when it comes to receiving quality prenatal care from the health care system.
Can I Have Both a Midwife and a Doctor?
Yes, you can have a midwife and a doctor present during childbirth. Midwives are trained to professionally handle low-risk births. However, if you have a high-risk pregnancy and insist on a home birth, you will need to have both a midwife and a doctor to monitor the complications that might arise.
What’s the Biggest Difference between an OB-GYN and a Midwife?
An OB-GYN is a doctor with specialized training on how to handle reproductive matters, including childbirth. A midwife, on the other hand, is only limited to handling low-risk pregnancies in any setting. If your midwife determines that your pregnancy is high-risk, they are obligated to refer the case to an OB-GYN.Â
Does a Midwife Replace an OB-GYN?
No. An OB-GYN provides specialized maternal care while a midwife plays a supporting role during pregnancy and labor.
What Qualifications Should a Midwife Have?
According to the American College of Nurse-Midwives, midwifery programs that lead to the Certified Midwife and Certified Nurse Midwife credentials involve graduate education. A Bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement for most programs. However, some programs accept registered nurses who do not have a Bachelor’s degree, provided they take a bridge program to a BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) before the midwifery education program.Â
A couple of programs require a Bachelor of Science in Nursing for acceptance but many accept individuals with a Bachelor’s degree who are not registered nurses. The programs give expedited nursing education before the midwifery part of the program. This is why most midwives are also registered nurses.
Is a Midwife a Must?
Whether or not you need a midwife is a matter of choice. You need a midwife if you have planned for an intimate, natural home birth. They will serve as your partner in pregnancy. Â
In a study published by the Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health, 89.1% of 16,924 women who planned home births after they went into labor gave birth at home. A low-risk, pre-planned home birth requires a midwife.Â
Can You Tell Me the Upsides of Having a Midwife?
Carrying a child to term is a trying time for the mother-to-be. A midwife acts as a guide and helps you from the time you conceive to the delivery date. The American College of Nurse-Midwives lists a host of benefits of having a midwife. Here are 5.
- They reduce the need for intrusive procedures such as anesthesia and C-sections.Â
- Help decrease chances of infant mortality
- Help reduce unnecessary perineal tears
- Ensure an early start to infant nutritionÂ
- Lower the delivery cost for you and the insurance company
Are Midwives Insured?
Laura Dellos, a Nurse Midwife at the University of Iowa Healthcare, says that it is common for most insurers to cover midwife care. Since obstetrician-gynecologists can be expensive, most insurers have a network of certified midwives to keep their running costs low.Â
It is important to note that most insurers will not cover midwife delivery for home births. Still, you can save money if you settle on payment terms with your midwife. They might even give you a discount for a home birth.
Do Midwives Carry Out Complicated Instrumental Birth Procedures?
Pain is part and parcel of natural childbirth. In some cases, epidurals, episiotomies, and C-Sections may be needed to ease the process and to preserve the life of both mother and child. However, a midwife cannot administer these procedures.Â
These 3 medical procedures require a trained OB-GYN. However, a midwife can be present and observe the procedure, and also help in delivering the baby. A study published by PubMed concluded that most women who saw midwives didn’t need Caesarian sections and other medically invasive procedures.
In this video, you can see nurse midwife Lorraine Farkas help a second-time mother deliver a baby. She encourages the mother-to-be and offers professional guidance throughout the process.
What Is the Major Role of Midwives During Labor?
A midwife plays a vital role in your well-being during pregnancy and post delivery. During labor, they are there to give you emotional and physical support and to make sure you acclimatize to the motherhood role after you give birth.
Do Midwives Deliver Babies?
Absolutely yes! A midwife can deliver a baby either at a birthing center or at home. Based on their assessment, a hospital delivery may also be an option.
Are Midwives Just As Good As Doctors?
Yes, when it comes to the role they play, midwives are just as good as doctors. In communities where healthcare is not the best, having a midwife could make the difference between a healthy birth and infant mortality. While they may not have the same skills as doctors, midwives have a high rate of successful deliveries.
Are Midwives Safe? What about Home Births?
Midwives are medically trained and certified by various bodies to offer services. A list published on WebMD gives a detailed overview of the services a midwife provides. These services are all focused on making sure you, the expectant mom, stays healthy and that your baby is delivered as healthy as possible.Â
A midwife can work with an OB-GYN to ascertain you are in the right condition for a home birth. If you are healthy and your pregnancy is low-risk, a home birth can be just as safe as a hospital delivery.Â
There is still an ongoing debate on the safety of home births. On one hand, bodies in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand support it while some bodies call for further research. Yet, The Canadian Medical Association Journal concluded that home births were associated with lower use of obstetric interventions and adverse maternal outcomes
What Should I Expect When I Go to See a Midwife the First Time?
The National Health Service recommends that you schedule your first midwife visit before you are 10 weeks pregnant. During the initial visit, you can expect general questions such as:
- Medical history
- History of drug use
- Family and support network status
- Residential and income detailsÂ
These questions help the midwife to evaluate the potential harm you are exposed to as a mother-to-be. During the visit that lasts at least one hour, your midwife may also:Â
- Check your vitals: height, weight, BMI, and blood pressure
- Take a blood test to check your HIV status and other potential health risks
- Conduct a urine test
After the initial tests, they might give you information on what to expect during pregnancy and antenatal care, offer diet plans, and give options on where to deliver the baby.Â
What Questions Should I Ask a Midwife?
A midwife is one of your closest allies during pregnancy. Before choosing one, be sure to ask some of these important questions:
- Are you certified?
- What is your certification level?
- Are you registered?
- How much do you charge?
- Do you take insurance?
- What are my options if I get complications?
- How often will I be required to see you?
- Do you facilitate births? Where?
- Do you offer options in case of extreme pain?
The Take-Home Message
Hiring a midwife is a cost-effective way of making sure you have a smooth pregnancy and a natural delivery. In the delivery room, a midwife is your source of support and encouragement. You can tap into their vast knowledge, especially if you are a first-time mom.Â
Consider seeing a midwife early on so you can have someone to guide you through your pregnancy. Visit legitimate sites such as Midwives Alliance of North America for a list of verified midwives. Â
If you want a natural and intimate delivery, schedule an appointment with a midwife as soon as possible.
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