Labor and Delivery
My role at your birth is to act as the guardian of normal birth. I believe that your birth will proceed safely if I interfere as little as possible, so I will attempt to remain in the background. I will monitor the baby’s heart rate on a regular basis, and provide as much or as little labor support as you request. Midwife means “with woman”. To me that means I will be there in the capacity that you need. Some women need me to hold their hand and talk them through every contraction. Some women need me to be silent and invisible and sit in the corner and watch, or even in the other room and come in only to check on the fetal heart tones and to assist the actual delivery.
Every woman is different and every birth is different. There is no right way to give birth, there is only the way that works best for you. I will give you the space and assistance to find that way. I will make suggestions for comfort measures and position changes if there is a need. These comfort measures may include heat, cold, herbs, aromatherapy, homeopathy, massage, water, movement, music, food, beverages, time alone with your partner, prayer, rituals, hugs, empathy, or other things.
When the baby is being born, I usually use warm compresses on your perineum because most women find this comforting, and because it may reduce the risk of laceration. This will not be done if you don’t want it. I encourage a slow, controlled delivery to reduce the chances of a tear. The baby will be suctioned only if absolutely necessary, not on a routine basis. Most babies do not need any suctioning at all. Baby will be placed on your abdomen, skin-to-skin with you, and then covered with a warm blanket. The cord will not be cut until it stops pulsing. The placenta will be delivered in a gentle and unhurried manner. When mother and baby are stable I will leave you alone for private family bonding time. There will be no mother-baby separation.
