Why Midwifery Care?
Why Midwifery Care?
What is a midwife?
What is a midwife?
The Model of Care Matters
Social scientists who are experts in women’s health, reproduction, and maternity care have identified characteristics that define models of maternity care. In 1979 sociologist Barbara Katz-Rothman was the first to define the difference between the medical model and midwifery model of care. In 1992, medical anthropologist Robbie Davis-Floyd described the technocratic and holistic models of birth. Others have provided further clarification. Each model is different in terms of scientific, humanistic, economic and outcome efficiencies and deficiencies, as well as effect on providers and recipients of these models of care. What is important to note when reviewing models of maternity care is that each model relies on different skills, tools, language, underlying beliefs, interventions, and power relationships between patients and providers.
Midwives Model of Care™ Is Woman-Centered
The Midwives Model of Care™ is a fundamentally different approach to pregnancy and childbirth than contemporary obstetrics. Midwifery care is uniquely nurturing, hands-on care before, during, and after birth. Midwives are health care professionals specializing in pregnancy and childbirth who develop a trusting relationship with their clients, which results in confident, supported labor and birth. While there are different types of midwives practicing in various settings, all midwives are trained to provide comprehensive prenatal care and education, guide labor and birth, address complications, and care for newborns. The Midwives Model of Care™ is based on the fact that pregnancy and birth are normal life events. The Midwives Model of Care includes: monitoring the physical, psychological and social well-being of the mother throughout the childbearing cycle, providing the mother with individualized education, counseling, and prenatal care, continuous hands-on assistance during labor and delivery, and postpartum support, minimizing technological interventions and identifying and referring women who require obstetrical attention. The application of this model has been proven to reduce to incidence of birth injury, trauma, and cesarean section.
Midwifery Model of Care Works Well in Any Setting
The midwifery model of care, whether practiced in clinics, private homes, hospitals or birth centers, has at its core the characteristics of being with women, listening to women, and sharing knowledge and decision-making with women. The goal of the midwifery model of care is to support women and their families in the process of birthing their babies safely, unhindered and with confidence. Every woman deserves access to the high quality, safe, personalized, attentive, affordable, and respectful care of a midwife.Women Receive Personalized Care with a Midwife
Midwives Have Excellent Outcomes
Across our planet, eighty percent of people alive today have been born with midwives. In many of the industrialized countries of the world, midwives attend approximately 70% of all births. The countries with the lowest mortality and morbidity rates for mothers and infants are those in which midwifery is a valued and integral pillar of the maternity care system. The midwifery model is a low-tech, high-caring model that produces excellent outcomes not only for low risk women, but for vulnerable and at-risk women as well.
The Midwives Alliance is committed to advocating for women’s access to a full-range of birth options. If you are a legislator, hospital administrator or health insurance policymaker, MANA can show you how the Midwives Model of Care ™ can benefit your constituents and your community.
(MANA, 2019)
Why choose a midwife?
Using a midwife is growing in popularity as increasing numbers of women choose midwifery care in some form or another for their pregnancy and birth. Here are some of the top reasons given for choosing a midwife. Here's why women choose midwives for their pregnancy care.
You’re a Low-Risk Woman
Midwives generally only take care of low-risk women. This means that your midwife has been trained to ensure that you do your best to stay healthy and low-risk throughout your pregnancy by guiding you in your choices towards healthy options. It also means that she is constantly watching to ensure you are within these healthy parameters, like a lifeguard, only stepping in when needed. Occasionally you will have a midwife in a high-risk practice, she provides patient education in these settings.
You Want a Normal Birth
Midwives tend to have much lower intervention rates, like a lower cesarean and induction of labor rates. This eases the minds of many women who are hoping to avoid unneeded interventions. It also means that your midwife has plenty of ways to help you cope with pregnancy and labor that don’t involve medications when they aren’t needed. Some midwives do use medications in labor, depending on the location of your birth. Your midwife is also more likely to spend time with you, helping you through labor.
You Enjoy Longer Prenatal Care Visits
On average you will have more time with your midwife. This is great not only to get to know her and vice versa but for her to answer your questions thoroughly and explain what is going on. This can have a very calming influence on pregnant women.
You Like Midwifery Style of Pregnancy Care Better
A midwife is more likely to be your partner in your care, rather than the director. You are more likely to have her ask you to take part in your care. Some practices have the women weigh and measure themselves to see for themselves how to care for their bodies. By trusting a woman’s body and instilling that faith, the midwife is helping support you in the natural sense of pregnancy and birth.
Why choose a midwife?
Using a midwife is growing in popularity as increasing numbers of women choose midwifery care in some form or another for their pregnancy and birth. Here are some of the top reasons given for choosing a midwife. Here's why women choose midwives for their pregnancy care.
You’re a Low-Risk Woman
Midwives generally only take care of low-risk women. This means that your midwife has been trained to ensure that you do your best to stay healthy and low-risk throughout your pregnancy by guiding you in your choices towards healthy options. It also means that she is constantly watching to ensure you are within these healthy parameters, like a lifeguard, only stepping in when needed. Occasionally you will have a midwife in a high-risk practice, she provides patient education in these settings.
You Want a Normal Birth
Midwives tend to have much lower intervention rates, like a lower cesarean and induction of labor rates. This eases the minds of many women who are hoping to avoid unneeded interventions. It also means that your midwife has plenty of ways to help you cope with pregnancy and labor that don’t involve medications when they aren’t needed. Some midwives do use medications in labor, depending on the location of your birth. Your midwife is also more likely to spend time with you, helping you through labor.
You Enjoy Longer Prenatal Care Visits
On average you will have more time with your midwife. This is great not only to get to know her and vice versa but for her to answer your questions thoroughly and explain what is going on. This can have a very calming influence on pregnant women.
You Like Midwifery Style of Pregnancy Care Better
A midwife is more likely to be your partner in your care, rather than the director. You are more likely to have her ask you to take part in your care. Some practices have the women weigh and measure themselves to see for themselves how to care for their bodies. By trusting a woman’s body and instilling that faith, the midwife is helping support you in the natural sense of pregnancy and birth.
Get in touch!
Get in touch!
Address
Address
3264 N. First St
Jena, LA
Appointment only
Contact
Contact
(318) 321 3587
fax 855 674 1824
Hours
Hours
Appointments available