This post is originally from my personal blog. I thought it should also be here.
The other night I attended a seminar with the purpose of introducing the community to the new Certified Nurse Midwife that will be working at the Clarian Arnett Hospital. This will be the first CNM to work at a hospital in our area. What an amazing breakthrough! Welcome, Sharon Smith, CNM! My hope is that the demand for care from a Midwife will rise, and the hospital will hire more. Our community is in dire need of some change and improvement upon prenatal and childbirth care. Like I have said before, our choices until now have been fairly black and white.
The evening started with a dinner. I sat at a table with a friend, and a few very nice women I had just met. One was a NICU nurse, another a Lactation Consultant, and the other a Doula. The conversation was great! Following the dinner, Sharon began her talk, starting with a brief history of Midwifery. One thing she pointed out was the meaning of Midwife: ‘with woman’. She went over her credentials and where she got her education. She received her Masters of Science in nursing in Nurse-Midwifery at the Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing. She has over 10 years experience working with women during pregnancy and childbirth and other life transitions.
The next portion of her talk was focused on what services she will offer to the community. They are as follows:
Routine Obstetrics
Support for Natural Childbirth
Health Education and Preventative Care
Preconception Care
Family Planning
Routine Gynecology
With these services the patient will be introduced to a more individualized and higher level of care. A Midwife’s philosophy is to focus on prevention and education. This would mean more of a collaborative relationship between her and the patient. She will offer advice for staying healthy by paying attention to nutrition and exercise. Concerning pregnancy and childbirth, the woman is encouraged to participate more in decision making. The Midwife will work with the mother to keep her pregnancy low-risk and give her the opportunity to decide how she would like to bring her child into the world. A Midwife’s view of pregnancy and birth is that it is a normal process. All of this means more time spent with mom. I love this. The small amount of time I spent with my previous OB always seemed oddly short. After my experience with a Midwife, I was immediately drawn to her model of care.
So, if you choose to use a Midwife for your child’s birth, and your goal is for a natural birth, she will work with you to try and avoid any unnecessary interventions while laboring. A Midwife is quick to try all other options before it comes down to using an intervention such as an epidural, an episiotomy, or a vacuum. This does not mean if you decide to use some sort of labor augmentation that she won’t support you. The choices you make for your birth are still in your hands, and the Midwife will stick with you throughout the course of labor and birth. She will also remain with you for postpartum care. She will stay to assure you and baby are doing well and breastfeeding (if that is the plan) has been initiated.
Overall, I feel the that the support you get when using a Midwife is tremendous. You get the education and preparation you need to fulfill your plans for pregnancy and birth. And you get a care provider that listens and supports you in your decisions for your family.
Tags: CNM in hospital, midwife
Your generation is so lucky. I envy that. When I planned a home birth 24 years ago, it was barely legal. When I didn’t have my son circumsized, my sister reported me to child protective services. And cloth diapering? The only diapers available were mail order through the Sears catalog. I made my own covers, I hated those vinyl plastic pants. The only thing I don’t get about today is the continuing debate over nursing in public. I was very humorless about that even then. The day I’d go into a restroom to feed my child, is the day everybody else eats in the bathroom. Stupid stupid.
I am 18 weeks prego, and I chose Sharon smith as my midwife, and absolutely love her!!! She answers all questions and explains everything in a a way that you can understand, she takes as long as you need in your appt, and I have never at all felt rushed! I had my other two children with a reg dr, and I wish I could have had the option of a midwife with both of them, so far my experience with Sharon has been amazing and I look forward to her help with a drug free birth
Wonderful! I’m so glad you have gotten the chance to experience the care of a Midwife. I’m hoping that as more women use her services, the demand for more Midwives will come. I think Lafayette needs more Midwifery care in hospitals.
I’m not sure if you’ve heard of CHOICES, The Natural Birth and Informed Parenting Network that is here. It meets monthly on the second Monday of each month at the West Lafayette Public Library. You should come! Each month has a new topic. Tonight is the annual Vaccine Seminar. Check out the website. http://www.lafayettebirthchoices.com/
I am fortunate that Sharon is one of my best friends and she was the midwife at my daughters birth.
I had had a very bad experience with my sons birth and I did not believe that childbbirth could be empowering, fulfilling, or joyous. Sharon convinced me differently. I wrote my birth plan, toured the birthing center at Methodist. And prepared for my daughter.
When I went into labor a month before my due date, I thought my hopes of a natural birth were lost. Not with Sharon at my side! My labor progressed quickly and I did great with Sharon’s guidance. My daughter is 7 now and she is a healthy, bright and gifted little girl!
I am convinced that midwifery is the way to go! Sharon is an amazing and gifted midwife!!
Wonderful! Thanks for sharing!
I just found out I am prego YESTERDAY and called today for an appointment with Sharon. I read articles about her coming to lafayette long before I was going to have a baby and knew I wanted exactly what she was to offer!
Good news!! Congrats!