From the moment you find out you’re pregnant, your and your baby’s health becomes the utmost priority. There’s so much to read up on and consider, namely, who will be responsible for your health throughout your pregnancy, into your labor, and birth. Many debate on whether they should use an OB/GYN or a midwife (spoiler alert, you can have both!). To no surprise, midwives are growing in popularity every year. But many people still aren’t sure what a midwife is or what they do. So, before you make your decision, let’s explore a midwife’s role throughout your pregnancy.

What Is a Midwife?

A midwife is defined as a health professional trained to support and care for women during pregnancy, labor, and birth. Midwives and midwifery are a profession as old as time. It’s said to have been acknowledged as far back as the 17^th century, with mothers and women in communities coming together to help neighbors and family members in childbirth. Centuries later, at its core, midwifery is still the same, albeit a little different thanks to advancements in the medical field.

Throughout the years, more and more women have sought the comfort and care of a midwife, and the numbers continue to rise. In 1989, midwives attended 3 percent of births in the U.S. In 2014 that percentage jumped to 12.1 of all vaginal births, or 8 percent of all births in the U.S.  There are several different levels of midwives a mother-to-be can use:

Certified nurse-midwives (CNMs): Registered nurses who graduated from an accredited nurse-midwifery program. They’ve also passed the national exam, allowing them to practice in all 50 states and provide services beyond maternity care such as gynecological care.

Certified midwives (CMs): Non-nurses who have a bachelor’s degree or higher in a health-related field. They’ve graduated from an accredited midwifery program and passed the national exam but can only practice in some states. They, too, can provide services beyond maternity care.

Certified professional midwives (CPMs): Non-nurse midwives who have the training and clinical experience in childbirth, meaning they can deliver babies outside of the hospital. Although they’ve passed the national test, only a few states allow them to practice.

Traditional/unlicensed midwives: These midwives have opted not to pursue their midwife license in the U.S.; however, they still serve birthing families in a home setting. Their clientele tends to be from specific groups such as indigenous or religious communities.

In some cases, midwives have special qualifications that allow them to prescribe certain medications, and they can also take care of you and your baby in the first six weeks of the postnatal period.

What appeals most to mothers-to-be is that midwives don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach to maternal care and childbearing. They understand that it doesn’t ensure a positive and low-risk experience or delivery. Instead, they personalize their care for each patient. After all, not every pregnancy is the same. Their support comes in many ways, including giving advice, helping you prepare for labor, supporting your choices, offering emotional support, and monitoring the baby’s health, growth, and position.

Did You Know: It’s commonly believed that only pregnant women can see a midwife; this isn’t true! You can see a midwife throughout many stages of your life regarding many aspects of women’s healthcare, including annual exams, birth control, and educational support.

What Is Their Role?

A midwife is your partner in care. Their overall role is to support and care for the mother and the baby. Similar to OB/GYNs, midwives aim to help you understand what’s in store for you and your bundle of joy.

What sets midwives apart, though, is that they recognize pregnancy as a normal process/state of health rather than seeing it as a medical condition that needs to be treated by a doctor. This view of pregnancy as a naturally occurring event greatly influences their approach to each patient, and the overall confidence the woman develops along her journey to motherhood. They understand every pregnancy and woman is different and adjust their role in their childbearing experience according to their given details.

Midwives aren’t just limited to providing care at home; they can also provide care in hospitals, birthing centers, and medical offices or clinics. And they often work with OB/GYNs and other healthcare professionals. Here’s an in-depth look into how a midwife’s role changes throughout the months:

Pregnancy

Your relationship with your midwife is significant from day one. The midwifery model is rooted in a trusting relationship between the provider and the pregnant woman. Throughout your pregnancy, you build trust in one another, and the midwife helps your build your confidence, prepare to meet your baby, and provides care and advice. The midwife learns the mother’s plans and supports her through her unique journey.

Labor

You typically have more options with a midwife in terms of how you want to give birth, instead of just being limited to a hospital. Though you both take part in the decision-making, the mother often calls the shots. In the delivery room, your midwife will be by your side, encouraging you, offering comfort, setting the atmosphere (if that’s part of your birthing plan).

It’s also important to note that midwives can only assist with low-risk pregnancies and can only deliver your baby if there are no complications. Should a complication arise, their relationship with OB/GYNs and other physicians comes in handy. They’re able to connect you with someone who can help. If you’re concerned about the possibility of complications during your pregnancy or childbirth, we recommend partnering with a midwife who works directly with obstetricians and specialists. It’s a detail that can make all the difference in whether you feel at ease or prepared for your labor.

Why Choose a Midwife?

There’s no wrong answer to whether or not a midwife is right for you. It’s utterly dependent on your vision for your pregnancy, labor, and birth. As we mentioned before, it’s perfectly normal to have a midwife and an OB/GYN throughout your pregnancy. A midwife can provide other forms of women’s healthcare outside of antenatal and postnatal care.

Those who want to take the lead role in directing their pregnancy and delivery may find the greatest benefit of using a midwife. They’re also a great option if you prefer a natural delivery during labor and birth, want more emotional and social support, and are interested in having a home birth, water birth, or hypnobirthing.

OB2me Healthcare

Preparing for the arrival of a child requires tons of preparation and planning. There are many ways to personalize your pregnancy; using a midwife is one of them.

At OB2me, we’re dedicated to helping you prepare by providing you with the optimum care in your home’s comfort and working alongside your midwife should you decide to use one. Schedule appointments at your convenience, whether in our office or from your home’s privacy!