In
the past year I have had the privilege to attend several births as a
student midwife and I can honestly say that every experience has touched
me in a special way. I
can remember dancing with a woman, as she swayed to the rhythm of
labor, I dabbed the sweat of many a woman's forehead with a cool
washcloth between her "surges". I
even felt the raw power of a woman, the determination of course
through her body as she leaned back in my arms and pushed with all his
strength to bring her baby into this world. Of
course, some of my favorite memories when women their newborn gently
in my hands, as her family watches born with pure admiration and awe on
their faces as they welcome their newest member. You just not only the birth of a new baby, they have the "birth" of a new mother experienced as well. Witness It is moments like these that capture make a mere look at the intense beauty and strength, the birth so special.
Pregnancy and childbirth are incredibly important elements of a journey into motherhood for a woman. This life-changing event can have a profound impact on a woman and her family as each member takes on a new role in relation to the little bundle of joy-mother, father, big brother, big sister, grandparents and others. Since every member of the human race enters this world through her womb, pregnancy and birth have always normal, basic human experiences in family life.
Pregnancy and childbirth are incredibly important elements of a journey into motherhood for a woman. This life-changing event can have a profound impact on a woman and her family as each member takes on a new role in relation to the little bundle of joy-mother, father, big brother, big sister, grandparents and others. Since every member of the human race enters this world through her womb, pregnancy and birth have always normal, basic human experiences in family life.
Worldwide, hundreds of thousands of babies are born every day, many of whom are born in the hands of a midwife. In fact, in most developed countries, the majority of births attended by midwives. However, the United States differs in this respect was not allowed as a midwife, at the turn of the 20th Century flourish. Then tried a physician-led campaign to beat the entire obstetric profession, prohibiting many midwives from practice. The shock waves of this campaign are still being felt today. Less than 20% of births in the U.S. based on a 2010 National Vital Statistics Report are attended by midwives.
In developed countries, which are an established standard of care, access to midwives for most, if not all women, their birth outcomes better than in the U.S. despite the advances in technology, specialized obstetrical training and astronomical health care costs , the United States consistently lags in the maternal-newborn health care statistics. In an excerpt from her book, In These Hands: Wisdom from Midwives, told Geradine Simkin, the Executive Director of Midwives Alliance of North America, saying: "The United States has one of the highest infant mortality rate in the modern world, ranks about thirtieth among the developed nations, and the rate is higher for babies of color. Though the U.S. maternal mortality over the past century has improved, it has not improved since 1982 and appears to be increasing. Notice maternal mortality is as bleak as some developing countries and the rate is higher for women color., the security, reliability, price and performance of our current maternity system are issues of great concern. "It is clear that the highly interventive, over-medicalized approach of women during pregnancy and childbirth, so prevalent in the U.S. no matter is not improving outcomes for mothers and babies. What is it about the integration of open access to midwives in the health care system for all women, pregnancy and childbirth improved results?
Midwives respect the normality of pregnancy and birth as a healthy part of the life cycle for women. During the childbearing years, midwives provide holistic support and address concerns about the woman physical, emotional and social well-being. While providing hands-on assistance and support during labor and birth will be required as necessary, using the least amount of technological intervention midwives. Midwives not ignore the fact that pregnancy and childbirth can do vulnerable to pathology or complications, and are not limited to specialized providers such as obstetricians or technological or pharmacological interventions, however, when there is an indication of this.
It is true that technological interventions may offer numerous advantages, but midwives estimate that each intervention also carries a certain risk. Take for example caesarean section: caesarean can be a life-saving tool for both mother and child, but we can not ignore that this is a major abdominal surgery, which carries the potential for harm. Potential risks of cesarean section include, but are not limited to bleeding, infection, and death. The different perspectives on the potential benefits and harms of routine interventive, highly medicalized care of women during pregnancy and childbirth, which are standard in the U.S. is the one of the areas that midwives differs from the field of obstetrics.
The practice of midwifery is supported by a significant body of knowledge about the normal reproductive health of women and their potential for motivating a woman, a healthy lifestyle changes. In addition, midwives spend more time with the women that they work with from appointment to appointment and provides prenatal care and education that is tailored to the individual needs of each woman and her family. Midwifery practice is supported by comprehensive knowledge of the reproductive health of women, but there is a greater focus on the potential for pathology or complications occur and a diagnosis. As you can imagine, there is some overlap between the practices in the two specialties, the midwives serve as a compliment to obstetric care, permits when required. This makes midwifery care not only suitable women with healthy, low-risk pregnancies, but also for women who are experiencing high-risk pregnancies that require obstetric management as well.
There are examples of care models, both nationally and internationally, in which women receive both midwives and obstetric care during pregnancy. These care models have a significant reduction in neonatal mortality and a decrease in the rate of birth trauma, infection and complications, particularly in rates of premature births and babies who are born with low birth weights weight to see.
An example of this care model available to the birthplace in Winter Garden, Florida. The birthplace of Certified Professional Midwife Jennie Joseph, "Easy Access Clinic" in the birthplace where no woman is ever turned away directed established. In partnership with other health care providers in the community, including the obstetrician and the regional hospital, women who care the Easy Access Clinic experienced lower rates of premature births, low birth weight and cesarean section. For example, according to the March of Dimes, the rate of premature births in Florida are about 14%. In women, the care of the Easy Access Clinic, the rate of premature births was less than 2%.
This spring, the school has Birthwise midwives to improve women where a similar model to Birthwise Community Care Clinic either exclusively or free free comprehensive midwifery care midwives who care that they currently receive obtained from a structured obstetric practice. As a service-learning clinic, much of the care is provided by midwives students while under the supervision of a certified professional midwife available. This care model allows Birthwise Community Clinic to the enrichment and education programs offer services, while the development of clinical skills, deepen their understanding of dynamic relationships in the community and in a continuous process of self-reflection involved as aspiring healthcare providers. On Birthwise Community Clinic, we firmly believe that every mother and baby deserve a midwife and we do our part to make it easier to gain access to midwives for families in our community .......
