Is It Safe?
In the largest study of its kind internationally to date, researchers analyzed over 5000 home births with the care of Certified Professional Midwives across the US and Canada in 2000. The study compared outcomes and medical interventions between home births and low risk hospital births. The research indicated lower rates of medical intervention in the home birth group but similar intrapartum and neonatal mortality rates to that of low risk hospital births in the United States. More information and discussion can be found at Henci Goer’s blog.
Midwives Model of Care
• The Midwives Model of Care is based on the fact that pregnancy and birth are normal life processes. The Midwives Model of Care includes:
• Monitoring the physical, psychological, and social well-being of the mother throughout the childbearing cycle.
• Providing the mother with individualized education, counseling, and prenatal care, continuous hands-on assistance during labor and delivery, and postpartum support
• Minimizing technological interventions
• Identifying and referring women who require obstetrical attention
• The application of this woman-centered model of care has been proven to reduce the incidence of birth injury, trauma, and cesarean section.
How to Choose a Midwife
First, determine what kind of birth you want. A water birth in a birthing center? A home birth, a natural hospital delivery? It’s ok if you are not sure yet, you can interview different midwives who work in different environments, and ask them about the pros and cons of each one.
Next, visit the Find a Midwife section for midwives in your area. Visit their websites and facebook pages to understand a little bit more about how they practice and how they were trained and educated. Ask around in your community who other people have worked with and what their experience was like.
Contact several midwives and schedule interviews. Gather some questions you would like to ask your potential midwives. There are many lists out on the internet to help you, some of our favorites are here. After meeting with several midwives, trust your instincts.
How to Help Midwifery in Michigan
Find Friends of Michigan Midwives on Facebook! We welcome your support and volunteerism!
