When my husband Matt and I found out we were pregnant with our daughter Finnley, we both knew we wanted to use a midwife instead of an OB. A midwife is different than an OB in the sense that they usually have a more natural/holistic approach to care. While they are trained to deliver babies, they usually care for women with a normal, non high risk pregnancy. For example, instead of going to drugs to help progress labor, they are more likely to suggest things like walking, using a yoga ball, and changing position. An OB may start with Pitocin, or have a more technical approach to care. Midwives are just as capable to assess a pregnant woman, diagnose problems, and remedy them as needed, but will transfer care to an OB if the patient becomes high risk. We chose a midwife because I knew that I wanted to have a natural delivery without any medications and I wanted our baby to come when she wanted to, without anything speeding her along. My husband and I believed that with a midwife, the birth that we wanted was more likely to happen.
After doing tons of research we decided to use the midwife group from the Women’s Specialists of Houston. Luckily for us, they are housed here at the Pavilion! The group consists of six Certified Nurse Midwives, meaning they are Advanced Practice Nurses that are certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board. Not only has the group been around since 1994, they work in collaboration with the physicians in the practice, just in case you need a higher level of care. The midwives are on-call 24/7, just like the doctors, and do all prenatal visits themselves (they also provide well-woman, family planning and post-partum care).
One of my favorite things about the midwife group was that at each visit you see a different midwife. This was especially important to me and my husband because there was no way to know who would be on-call when we went into labor. I couldn’t fathom getting to the hospital and finding out the doctor on-call was someone I had never met. Because of this practice, I knew each midwife personally, formed a relationship with and trusted each one. I knew that whoever was on-call would be someone that had been a part of my care from the very beginning and I trusted my life and most importantly, my child’s life in their hands.
There are a few questions I get asked all the time by people that aren’t familiar, or even know you have a choice, when using a midwife.
- Don’t all midwives do home births?
No, some midwives work in hospitals and birthing centers, there are some that only do home births though, if that’s what you’re interested in!
- What if you had to have a C-Section?
Thankfully I didn’t, but if there was an emergency that could only be handled by an OB, there is always an on-call physician present in the Pavilion in the event a problem arises that isn’t under the scope of practice of the midwife.
- Does having a midwife mean you can’t get any pain medication?
No! I chose to go the drug-free route and was so proud of myself for having a pain medication free childbirth. But, having a midwife doesn’t mean you have to do that. You can still get an epidural, or the pain medication of choice. Having a midwife doesn’t prevent you from having the birth you have planned. They are there to help, support and give you what you need on one of the most exciting days of your life!
If you are considering using a midwife in the future, I would suggest sitting down with your partner and discussing what sort of childbirth you imagine and ask yourself some questions. Do you want to attempt a drug free birth? Do you imagine yourself trying alternative methods for pain management such as being in the bath or shower, massage, aromatherapy oils and changing position? Do you want to have some freedom in your labor by having the option of moving around? Or, would not having an OB cause you anxiety? Feeling comfortable and confident in your decision is extremely important, so take your time, do your research and follow your gut!
Using the Midwife Group at the Women’s Specialists of Houston was one of the best decisions I made during my pregnancy (besides having a Doula, but that is another story for another time).
Now that Matt and I are expecting baby Curie #2 (SURPRISE!), I am so excited to be using the midwives again. I know we will get the time and care that we need to grow and thrive. I am so thankful for what they do every day and thankful that Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women gives those like me the opportunity to have the pregnancy and birth that we want, even if it is a little unconventional.
Read Bump Watch next week to see one mother’s experience through a videotaped midwife delivery.