Why Choose a Midwife?

When you successfully become pregnant, you might not know if you want an OB-GYN or a midwife to help you during delivery. Both experts can help you give birth, but you might not know which is best for you.

However, whatever you choose, a doctor or a midwife, both will provide professional medical care depending on your condition and other factors. Various factors will influence your decision to choose a midwife over a doctor.

You might ask yourself, should I get a midwife? Your reasons for choosing a midwife will matter, like what type of birthing plan you want and where you plan to deliver. Or do you want an all-natural birth plan in the comfort of your home or at a birthing facility? 

Well, whether your pregnancy is routine or high-risk or whether insurance is covering labor costs, these factors and others can also influence your decision. 

Nonetheless, this article will help educate those considering choosing a midwife over a doctor. You can decide if a midwife's natural birthing plan is right for you and learn what a midwife does during your pregnancy journey.

What Is a Midwife?

A midwife is a skilled healthcare professional who deals with pregnancy, childbirth, newborn care, and postpartum health. Midwives are trained to provide obstetric and gynecological services, including primary care, prenatal care, and routine gynecological care like annual exams and contraception. 

What does a midwife do? In simpler terms, midwives help women before, during, and after the birth of their babies. They can also help with education, birth control, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) screenings, and more.

This tells us you can see a midwife many times throughout your life. In fact, more and more women in the U.S. are going to midwives for all kinds of wellness women's healthcare.

Most midwives in America are Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs). This means they have a master's or doctorate degree from an accredited nurse-midwifery program, like the competent midwives at Circle City Midwifery. They have also passed the national midwifery certification board exam and are licensed by the state. Midwives are experts in uncomplicated Ob/Gyn care.

5 Reasons to Consider Choosing a Midwife

More and more American women choose to have midwives deliver their babies yearly.

That's because more and more American women are learning that modern midwives are highly trained professionals. They use up-to-date and evidence-based information to help women have healthier pregnancies, safe natural births, and the best possible recoveries after giving birth.

Midwives often advocate watchful waiting to minimize unnecessary medical interventions. They can also determine when obstetrical attention or medical intervention may be necessary. Here are the top reasons why you should consider choosing a midwife:

1. You Want to Have a Natural Birthing Experience.

The midwifery model of care focuses on giving you and your baby the support and knowledge you need to have a healthy and safe pregnancy, labor, and delivery.

The midwives understand how important the birthing experience is and believe in giving you as much control as possible during the birthing process. So, this will make you less likely to want unnecessary medical help. Midwives are chosen for prenatal care and delivery because they are well versed in various natural birthing plans.

Moreover, midwives reduce the risk of medical induction, epidurals, and episiotomies during labor with foregone and holistic birthing methods. Through specialized training, a midwife can help minimize the risk of an unplanned cesarean, even if the baby isn't in the correct position at the beginning.

2. You Want Natural Care

Midwives support letting nature take its course throughout labor and delivery when circumstances allow for it. At Circle City Midwifery & Women's Health Services Inc, our midwives also support the appropriate application of technology for present or potential health issues when intervention is required. The health and safety of the mother and child come first. 

This philosophy of natural care for birthing plans offers the following advantages:

• Fewer people using regional anesthesia
• lower induction rates,
• Reduced likelihood of needing a C-section and preterm birth
• Third- and fourth-degree perineal tears are less common.
• lower neonatal mortality rates
• greater chance of VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean)
• improved satisfaction with the care quality
• the potential for lower birth expenses

3. Your Birth Plan Is Entirely Under Your Control.

A midwife provides the mother or birthing person additional alternatives for their birth plan, and many women or birthing persons prefer to employ one. You are empowered to choose a birthing plan compatible with the health of yourself and your child, what type of environment you decide to birth your child into, and what medication you prefer or do not prefer to use.

Plus, if you use a midwife for your care, you have a better chance of having a natural birth that follows the measure you prefer. Midwives are familiar with natural birthing plans that include skin-to-skin contact immediately after birthing, delayed umbilical cord clamping, and preservation of the vernix on the baby's skin. When a midwife helps deliver a baby, the baby has a higher birth weight. Additionally, the risk of being born too early is lower.

When labor starts, your midwife is by your side. If you're having pain during delivery or complications arise, you'll get help. Medical interventions, including painkillers, a trip to the hospital, or even a Cesarean, could be necessary for severe complications. 

Moreover, your midwife will help you with breastfeeding and adjusting to life with a baby even after your natural delivery. They will also check your health as you enter the postpartum period. You'll get a customized delivery. 

4. You Desire Collaboration With Your Provider.

 Evidence shows that the emotional, physical and informational support midwives give to clients and their families during the birthing process accounts for the reduced need for westernized clinical procedures during labor and birth, fewer birth complications, and more satisfying experiences during labor, birth, and postpartum. 

The Circle City Midwifery & Women's Health Services Inc midwives understand the importance of advocating for the birthing person by being sympathetic but informative in providing knowledge and assurance during pregnancy and childbirth.

The mother or birthing person needs to understand the process to voice opinions about their healthcare decisions. Other medical providers sometimes prefer the birthing persons to be more compliant and solely recommend procedures to ward off pain and discomfort rather than hearing out their concerns or preferences. 

Midwives believe in providing collaborative healthcare regarding prenatal and perinatal care. 

Additionally, a midwife can help during labor and delivery and for a few months afterward.

5. You Want Active Support During Labor.

During normal obstetrician-attended birth, your doctor may check in periodically. Still, they are typically only present during active labor and delivery. Your labor partner and the hospital's nursing staff provide continuous support and guidance.

Contrarily, midwives offer ongoing support and direction throughout the labor and delivery. Midwives employ easy procedures like walking and postural changes. They also help in natural pain management methods like focused breathing, massages, music therapy, and hydrotherapy to assist the labor process.

We’d Love to Help Empower You with a Natural Birth Plan!

If you are searching for a midwifery in Corona, California, or find yourself casually googling "midwifery near me" from time to time, take the next step with us. 

Look no further than Circle City Midwifery & Women's Health Services. We conveniently offer natural birthing plans in Corona, California! We are a modern midwifery-led practice providing care for women of all ages!

You'll receive a thorough prenatal education by choosing a midwife for your delivery. Postpartum and infant care are also provided. Your preferred midwife will be on call 24/7 during your pregnancy journey. 

All our midwives are certified nurse midwives(CNMs). At Circle City Midwifery & Women's Health Services Inc, we provide the highest quality care as we welcome your new baby into the world. Call us at (951) 547-4208 right now.