"As a woman lives, so shall she birth." – Lewis Mehl
I believe that healthy women do not belong in the hospital to give birth. Birth does not belong under the regulation of machine, medicine, nor doctor, unless things are not progressing normally or a woman has a disease. Birth is woman-centered, and best attended by women who have experienced natural childbirth, birth unfolding as it will at its own pace and time, not interfered with.
As a midwife, my role is to provide prenatal education, baseline testing, nutritional counseling, and to listen and learn about a woman and her circumstances to identify risk factors. Knowing the natural rhythms of childbirth, it is not necessary to examine women in labor unless things are not following normal parameters. Women do best when not interfered with. Often a woman in labor will receive no vaginal exam, or her first exam when the baby is already well descended into the vagina and almost crowning. Other times a labor may be moving forward, but seems to be taking much too long for the work being done. Here an exam would benefit to check baby position and descent. Our philosophy, “As a woman lives, so shall she birth,” reminds us that we all do not work in the same way. A woman who is very organized, gets a lot done in a short amount of time, and multi-tasks seemingly effortlessly is more likely to birth efficiently provided the baby is in a good position. Other women move very slowly. They are not expected to birth quickly when it is against their nature or natural rhythm. Midwives are familiar with the sounds of normal birth. Moaning is very common, and women make different sounds in early labor, transition, and during active pushing. Following these sounds replaces the need for physical exam in most cases.
I feel children should be allowed to participate in prenatal visits, measuring a mother’s belly and listening to the heartbeat. Caring for a new family member starts here. Family unity starts here. Interested children may ask questions, expect explanations, and see pictures of what is going on “in there.” Some children want to attend the birth, or be allowed into the birth room just after the baby is born. I support this, provided an adult is present to be responsible for each child in attendance. Most of us are fascinated with birth.
The first hour after birth is crucial to mother/infant bonding. The midwife recedes into the background allowing the family to explore their new member. Babies are comforted by their mother’s smell and warmth, familiar voices of siblings. Mothers are at less risk from hemorrhage when babies are allowed to nurse during this first hour, causing the uterus to contract and remain firm. Establishing nursing while the baby is still in the awake phase after birth is part of a necessary symbiotic relationship. Often the whole family gets in bed together to be part of this special time.
Peace begins at home.