Midwives

Have you ever wondered what the difference was between a midwife and a doula. About a life time ago, when I had my first baby, doula was a word I had never even heard of, and midwives where often just an older woman, with much life experience, helping out at home birthing..

Today Midwives are fully trained certified professionals, who can provide primary health care, including: prenatal care, labor and delivery care, after birth care , gynecological exams, and newborn care. They are qualified to attend, to normal pregnancies, normal births, and healthy babies. Midwives will consult with family docotrs, obstetricians and pediatricians should the need arise and have clear indications and guidlines as to when to consult and when to transfer care at any time.

Doulas on the other hand do not provide medical care, and do not deliver babies.. . They are trained to provide continuous emotional and physical support to the laboring woman and her partner. The word doula actually means helper. They help you and your partner to gain the most from the entire birthing experience. They are also skilled at providing non medical methods to help reduce pain and stress. They use massage, breathing techniques, relaxation techniques, acupressure, hydrotherapy, and positioning techniques to help during labor and delivery.

Woman opting for the services of a midwife, or midwife, doula team, reported feeling more respected and supported so that they were able to give birth safely, and with more power and dignity than ever before. According to several studies women who engaged the sevices of a midwife, doula team generally had fewer episiotomies, required less anesthesia, and had more successful vaginal births after c-sections. They also seemed to heal more quickly and were more satisfied with their experience than those who give birth under a doctor’s care alone.

Midwives are certainly not for everyone but if yours is a low risk, normal pregnancy, than this is just one of many options open to you. The doula can be used regardless of the actual primary health care provider choosen. The best time to check into all options, is soon as you choose to become pregnant Then their is no rush or pressure to decide.