A MIDWIFE IS

A MIDWIFE IS

A midwife is a trained health professional who helps healthy women during labor, delivery, and after the birth of their babies. Midwives may deliver babies at birthing centers or at home, but most can also deliver babies at a hospital.

Women who choose midwives usually want very little medical intervention and have had no complications during their pregnancy. Because giving birth to twins is more complicated than giving birth to a single baby, many doctors don't recommend using a midwife unless under the direct supervision of a doctor.

What Does Your Midwife Do?

Like a doctor, your midwife can provide care before, during, or after your pregnancy. Your midwife will:

1.     Provide family planning and preconception care

2.    Do prenatal exams and order tests

3.    Watch your physical and psychological health

4.    Help you make your birth plans

5.    Advise you about diet, exercise, meds, and staying healthy

6.    Educate and counsel you about pregnancy, childbirth, and newborn care

7.    Give you emotional and practical support during labor

8.    Admit and discharge you from the hospital

9.    Deliver your babies

10. Make referrals to doctors when needed

Midwives have a relationship with an OB who provides consultation as needed. Your midwife may refer you to an OB for care if a problem develops during your pregnancy. Your midwife also may team up with another midwife or doula to help with your labor and delivery.

     You may want to consider working with a midwife if:

You want your childbirth to be as natural as possible with little medical intervention, such as an episiotomy, fetal monitoring, labor induction, etc.

You want the emotional, practical, and social support that midwives provide.