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Midwives provide informed choice to their clients for all aspects of their midwifery care. Mothers are thoroughly informed of the consequences, of both their actions or lack of action, on their baby and themselves, in an unbiased manner, with evidence-based information. This can be a great distinction between obstetric care and midwifery care. OBGYNs have all their clients sign a consent form, but not all OBGYNs discuss all the options that are avaialble to their "patients", including all the possible consequences of their actions.

When I was pregnant, at my monthly prenatal visits my midwife, we spent at least an hour going over my health and my babies health. We thoroughly discussed all the decisions I had to make for myself and my baby (and I intentionally say we, because in midwifery care I am ultimately responsible for making these decisions and not just the midwife). My midwife knew what was normal for me and my baby, and therefor she was able to recognize if something out of normal was occuring. This was one of the primary reasons I chose to have my baby with a midwife. I did not believe that an obstetrician that I saw once a month for 10 minutes could know what was normal for me and my baby. Therefore how could the OBGYN recognize what was abnormal for us?

These are just two distinguishing factors that set midwifery care apart form obstetric care. If OBGYNs could adjust their practice to reflect just these two aspects of midwifery care, their quality of care would be substantially better, and therefore increase the positive the birth outcomes for their clients.

posted 2 years, 9 months ago
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Comments from mothers and family with direct experience with midwives are so important for educating the public on midwifery care. Thank you for sharing.

posted 2 years, 9 months ago
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Andaluz, a birth center with several midwives, sees a higher volume of clients than an individual homebirth midwife. Therefore, they have a higher incidence of reports statistically speaking.

posted 2 years, 9 months ago
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Thank for your well-stated comment. You have obviously seen birth both in the hospital and out, and you have a first hand view of the medical establishments perspective.

posted 2 years, 9 months ago
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The retired OBGYN is ill informed when he made the statement, "Women are making a sefish decision when deciding to birth at home." I chose to have my child at home primarily for the health of my child and not just for my own experience. When a women is pregnant her health is the predominant factor when determing the health of her child.

posted 2 years, 9 months ago
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