Midwife means ‘with woman’

The benefits of midwifery care include safety and continuity of care. Midwives view pregnancy and childbirth as normal biological events.

Training programs vary, but most certified midwives are knowledgeable in human reproduction, anatomy and physiology, fetal development, prenatal care, use of diagnostic testing, risk assessment in pregnancy, management of normal labor, emergency techniques, newborn assessment, use of medications, and birth control education.

In addition, unlike most doctors, midwives are also well-versed and skillful in nutrition, childbirth education, labor sitting, protection of normal labor, prevention of complications, postpartum care and support, breast feeding, use of alternatives to pharmaceutical medications, and well woman gynecology.

Midwives actually promote parent participation in health care decisions by offering information and education to families throughout their prenatal care, labor and birth, and early parenting. Both the helpful and harmful aspects of medical interventions are discussed. The midwives support and expertise assist families in making their own informed decisions when difficult or unexpected situations occur.

The midwife has an important task in providing counseling and education, not only for the pregnant woman but also for the family and community. Midwives provide specialized services during regular prenatal visits: They help the family prepare for upcoming life changes, they educate about the practical and philosophical aspects of childbearing, as well as placing emphasis on nutrition and preventative measures. On the average, each prenatal visit with a midwife generally lasts from 1 to 1-1/2 hours, giving sufficient time for questions to be asked and concerns to be heard and addressed.

Midwives support the right of the parents to choose where they wish to give birth. Midwives help parents determine which setting is most appropriate for them, based on the mother’s history and on-going health, and on the family’s individual needs, desires, and preferences.

It is well documented that women who feel safe and supported during labor experience less pain and require little or no medication. When a woman in labor feels frightened, threatened or stressed, her body releases excessive amounts of chemicals (catecholamines), which can cause fetal distress.

How a woman is treated and how much support she has in labor can directly influence the length of her labor and the health of her baby. Her midwife provides active guidance and support during labor. Through her respect for the natural process of childbirth, she can instill confidence in the laboring woman.

Midwives actively encourage the bonding process, knowing that early and continuous contact with the newborn promotes the success of breast feeding, increases the parent’s self-confidence and strengthens family bonds. Healthy interaction between parents and baby, begun in the immediate postpartum, help prevent later dysfunctional relationships.

The first weeks with a new baby can be filled with delight and frustration. For this very reason, midwives are available 24 hours a day in the early post-partum weeks to continue the care offered throughout the pregnancy: Check on the mother’s and baby’s health, facilitate the partner’s participation, and help the family adjust. Continuous contact post partum with the team of midwives and care providers, helps the parents adjust to the enormous changes in their lives, integrate the experience of labor and birth, bolsters their confidence in their ability to parent and lessens or eliminates post partum depression.

Midwifery is safeguarding the natural process of pregnancy, labor and birth.

Vital Roots Birth Services is a four midwife practice offering complete preconception, prenatal, labor and post-partum care, as well as a variety of women centered classes. We offer home birth, water birth, and doula services. Our service area ranges from Petrolia to Bridgeville, Benbow to Eureka.

Current Classes Include: Childbirth Education, March 2, 9 and 16, 5-7:30 p.m.; Intro. to Fertility Awareness, March 23, 30 and April 6, 4-6 p.m. Contact Olympia at 223-5322 or Laura at 223-1638 to learn more and to reserve your spot.

A midwifery Open House will be held on March 15 from 6-8 p.m. All are welcome.