Why I Chose a Midwife: Part I

Before I gave birth I started writing some thoughts about why I had selected a midwife and why I had opted to do a home birth. I did not deliver at home, but at Mt.Timpanogos Hospital in Orem, UT. But I will share my thoughts about what I wanted to do and the blessing it was to have a midwife by my side during this process. 


Here's a little background as to how I came to the conclusion that I wanted a home birth. Two years ago, if you told me I was going to choose to give birth to my first baby at home, I would have either 1) thought you were crazy or 2) figured it happened by mistake. I know this is true, because I remember talking to a friend about a neighbor who had had her baby at home. I asked if they just hadn't made it in time to the hospital. My friend informed me that it was intentional and I remember thinking that this woman was both a little crazy and weird and possibly irresponsible. The friend told me that this woman had educated herself and prepared for it. Well that's good, I thought, maybe she's not totally irresponsible. 

So here I am, about two and a half years later, summarizing why that's the route I would have selected for myself. Obviously my perspective has changed since then, or, you might think, I'm just a little crazy and weird and possibly irresponsible. And that's okay if that's what you think. I know that I made the best decision for me even though we didn't actually end up delivering Luke at home. 

So why a midwife?

Initially it started with researching insurance options. Our current plan didn't include maternity coverage (like so many private insurance plans in Utah). This entailed a lot of online research, phone calls, and questioning friends about what they're doing/have done. I discovered that several people I knew had chosen prenatal care through a "birth center" with "midwives" (let's just say at this point my image of "midwife" is a black servant on a cotton plantation in the South that comes into a little wooden shack bringing a basket and maybe some blankets, towels, and a stick to bit on for pain relief). I knew that that couldn't really be what these woman had selected for their prenatal care but didn't know much more about it. I learned a lot more about midwives and what they really do, when I happen-chance found The Business of Being Born on Netflix one night (I won't summarize the content of the movie because it taught me SO MUCH about labor and birth which I had no idea about. Although I will highly recommend that you watch it for yourself!). Most importantly I learned that the care of a midwife was different than the care of a physician/OBGYN.


Disclaimer: I am not anti doctors or modern medicine. This is just why I wanted something different for maternity care.

Brief summary of why I don't like going to the doctor. 

• Make appointment -usually not at a very convenient time
• Sit in waiting room -waiting 
• Go back with nurse and sit in room -waiting 
• Finally see doctor
• Doctor confirms my self-diagnosis I have made via internet research
• Doctor writes prescription, and leaves
• I pay lots of money for what I feel like is minimal personal attention 

No me gusta! (Translation: I don't like that!) But I do it to get the prescriptions I need for my various health needs. 

Birth does not = needing a prescription. 

Having a child is the most significant thing that has happened in my life since I married my husband. Giving birth is a big deal. I wanted those that were involved to really be a part of it. It's an experience. A physical, emotional, and spiritual experience that is also very personal. I wanted personal care and attention and I don't feel like I get that at the doctors office. 


Perhaps some women have different experiences for their prenatal care, but my perception of what a doctor would do is check my vitals, tell me I'm healthy, and send me on my way. And then possibly (depending who is "on-call") be at the birth and catch the baby at the very end when all the laboring is done. So choosing care from a doctor didn't seem like the choice for the personal care and attention that I wanted. I felt like the care of a midwife would entail more personal prenatal appointments, the opportunity to establish a relationship, a surety that I know who would be attending the birth of my child, and the commitment of that person being there the entire time -helping and assisting during the entire labor. 

Other reasons I opted to use the care of a midwife:

• I began to view birth as a natural process not a medical procedure
• I believe my body knows what to do best and, being a dancer, have always felt more connected to my body and had confidence in it's ability to birth
• I'd be able to eat and drink during labor. (Shelley without food = not a happy Shelley)
• Major focus is given on preventative measures by eating healthy and taking care of my body all along the way
• The cost is affordable for cash-paying medical customers like ourselves (our insurance covers emergencies and birth isn't an emergency)

So I began researching midwives in the area and having initial visits to find one that I thought was a good fit for me! After interviewing several woman I felt the most comfortable with Sherri Price and selected her to provide my prenatal care.

*****

More on this topic on my next post...