A recent client’s experience with her obstetrician and place of birth got me thinking about how parents choose who is going to attend the birth of their children and where it will be. Some people plan before they even become pregnant. Some people just take the first name that they come across.
Most typical ob practices have anywhere from five to eight doctors. There may be one in particular that you see regularly, but who attends your birth is left up to the on-call schedule.
A private family practice pretty much guarantees that you will have YOUR dr. at your birth, which is nice. However, as with most doctors, your appointments will consist of LONG waits and short visits. Pee in a cup, get weighed, take vitals, measure belly, and listen to heart beat. Any questions? No? Bye!
A midwife appointment can be anywhere from her office to your home. It can be as long or as short as you want. She *typically* makes an effort to build a real relationship with you. Does this post sound biased? Yeah, to me, too.
No matter who a family chooses, they should take in to consideration the principles of the Mother Friendly Childbirth Initiative.
It seems pretty simple-things like:
- Birth is a normal, natural, and healthy process;
- A woman’s confidence and ability to give birth and to care for her baby are enhanced or diminished by every person who gives her care, and by the environment in which she gives birth; and
- Interventions should not be applied routinely during pregnancy, birth, or the postpartum period. Many standard medical tests, procedures, technologies, and drugs carry risks to both mother and baby, and should be avoided in the absence of specific scientific indications for their use.
Unfortunately, in our area (Upstate SC), there are only 2 obstetric practices that follow those principles. The list of midwives is over 5 times as long.
Go to Upstate Birth Network for more information about our local Mother Friendly providers.
This is one of the most important moments of your life! Make sure the people involved are there for YOU and your best interests.
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