Birthing Choices Part I: Midwifery
The birth of my daughter was nearly perfect. If I am blessed with another child, though, I plan to give birth at home, possibly with the presence of a midwife. I most certainly will consult a midwife for prenatal care, rather than go to the office of a group of busy OBGyn's. The care is more personal, more natural and less invasive. With a midwife, you can avoid the routine use of ultrasound, doppler heartbeat monitors, internal exams and other unecessary procedures and tests during pregnancy. I remember sweating over the AFP test early in my pregnancy until my husband I finally decided not to have the test administered. We received a great deal of verbal opposition and condescension from the physicians in the OBGyn practice where I was a patient. We were often treated with disrespect and made to feel like a nuisance. It was a less than caring and compassionate atmosphere. Next time we are going to do it right. The following is some great information, most of which I found at http://www.midwiferytoday.com Please read and feel free to start a discussion on midwifery if you have anything to add.
There are three basic types of midwives:
CERTIFIED NURSE MIDWIFE A Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) is a registered nurse who is educated in the two disciplines of nursing and midwifery and who has met ACNM certification. She may work through a hospital, or in a birth center setting, or in an independent homebirth practice in collaboration with a physician. There are only about 150 CNMs doing homebirths, however, because they must have written collaboration with a physician.
CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL MIDWIFE A CPM is certified by NARM, the North American Registry of Midwives. She has generally passed both a written test and a skills exam. She may have received her training in a school, or in a manner similar to the lay midwife. Apprenticeship is encouraged. There are also licensed or certified midwives in some states. Buy Paths to Becoming a Midwife for complete definitions. These midwives work in Birth Centers or at home.
LAY MIDWIFE Empirical This is a woman who has apprenticed with an experienced midwife and may have attended additional workshops and classes to supplement her education or she may have attended a school. Her focus is on homebirth or Birth Center births. She may be affiliated with a physician, but is not under the physician's directive. She chooses not to be certified.
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