Childbirth Guide: 10 Reasons Why You Should Use a Midwife During Labor and Delivery

When people hear the term “midwife” most people will assume that you might be from Amish Country and are deciding on having a home birth where you willingly choose to be surrounded by everyone from the village to witness the miracle of Life.  The truth is that this idea doesn’t come without some forbearance of accuracy.

The History of the Midwife

100 years ago when the use of midwives was more popular then Obstetricians, life probably more closely resembled that of an Amish Village then the hustle and bustle of society today.  But in the modern world, midwives come with degrees, training and menagerie of unique skill sets that make them much more savvy than the midwives of yesterday.

Midwifery Today

Today, a certified nurse midwife will have gone through 1-3 years of more schooling than the basic foundational education required of registered nurses, depending upon the extent of their education, their exact degree and the state in which they studied.  The men and women who have chosen to take this rapidly growing career path just might be more suited to deliver your baby than your every day Obstetrician. 

It’s not to say that OB’s don’t do a fine job of delivering babies every day, but the reality is that their skill sets lie within surgery or more acutely delivering babies via cesarean section or in high-risk pregnancies.  Midwives thrive in low risk pregnancies which account for more than 75% of deliveries in the US.

The Midwife Vs the Obstetrician

I am sure dozens of mothers who have had a hospital birth have realized that their OB’s are rarely in the delivery room throughout their labor, and in most cases show up a matter of seconds before the baby comes out – and in some instances don’t even make it there in enough time.  It’s not that they don’t enjoy delivering babies the natural way, but the truth is that catching a baby doesn’t require the same skills as taking one out via a C-Section. 

So why do we choose to have doctors most specifically recognized as Obstetricians deliver babies when Certified Nurse Midwives might be better suited for the task?

The Question of Education

Well, for starters, it’s a lack of education on what CNM’s (Certifies Nurse Midwives) can do, and the reality that such a job even exists in the first place.  As stated earlier, most people associate the term "midwife" with its old fashioned definition.  However, today that is far from accurate. 

So if that doesn’t reassure you that some old woman wearing a floral dress and spouting mystical chants while asking you to inhale calming oils won’t be delivering your child, I am not sure what will. 

However, here are ten other reasons that you should consider when deciding whether a midwife is right for you.

1. A midwife supports you during your labor, delivery and postpartum time. She/ he is there to help you throughout the entire process.
2. A midwife uses a tender touch when handling you at your most sensitive time – no cold steel instruments or other indignities will be used.
3. Over 90% of midwives are women, and there is nothing more reassuring then a woman delivering your baby.  Having the same biological make-up makes a world of difference in their manner when treating you.  (Although that much said, my personal experience with male midwives has been superb as well.)
4. A midwife will listen to all your concerns, questions and comments.
5. A midwife is there to give you moral guidance, not ultimatums or fear induced surgical solutions.
6. A midwife should always have your personal best interest at hand. She isn’t looking to uphold a quota or trying to meet a certain turn around time when it comes to your delivery.
7. A midwife is completely transparent during your entire pregnancy. She will go over all of your tests, charts and stats in great detail to help you better understand you and your baby as it grows.
8. A midwife will strive to meet all of your requests no matter how neurotic they may sound.
9. A midwife will fight for you and advocate for you and your baby.
10. A midwife will educate and inform you about everything that is happening around you during your pregnancy, labor and delivery. He/ she will not leave you in the dark.