For Camille's birth, we elected to use a doula (you can read more about that decision and our experience here). In short, it was awesome and Ian and I will still tell you to this day that it was the perfect decision for us, and money well spent.
This time around, I didn't feel that it was as necessary, but I did decide to transition my care in my OB practice from the physicians to the team of midwives. This is a small group that is actually in the very same practice. In fact, I've even seen physicians for appointments in this pregnancy when the midwives weren't available. They work seamlessly as a team and have great communication.
So, what's the biggest difference I've experienced so far?
The midwives (in general) seem to take on more of a holistic, old-school approach to labor and birth. When I delivered Camille, I pushed for two hours, and the majority of that time it was just with nurses. Our delivery doctor came in right as Camille was about to be born and he handled that actual birthing part as well as the post-care that I needed.
My midwife will be there from start to finish, and I like that. The entire time that I am pushing (and oh gawwwsh, please don't let it be two hours again!) she will be coaching me and helping me to find the best laboring techniques that work for me. The birth will still happen at a hospital, the same one where Camille was born, and physicians are right there should they be needed.
I was also really surprised to learn that the majority of labor nurses associated with my particular practice end up using the midwives for their own births, so that made a big impact on me.
I mentioned the other day to my midwife that I was really happy that the baby turned head-down because I didn't want to think that I spent the majority of my pregnancy getting to know the midwives, only to then have a physician perform a C-section for me. She said, "Oh honey, we would have been in the room with you! Should you need a C-section, we will be there with you helping the doctor." That just made me feel so great, that they truly will be there by my side even if a physician is needed.
Time-wise, I feel they have spent a little more time in the room with me. Yesterday, the midwife even remembered that Camille loves to have her heartbeat heard, so she used the doppler on C's tummy before we all listened to the new baby's heartbeat (which was high 160s, low 170s!). Now, that is a great experience! Bedside manner is so important to me.
I also loved that yesterday, when I asked about red raspberry leaf tea and evening primrose oil, the midwife was like, "Absolutely, you can definitely start taking those now as a labor aid" instead of looking at me like I had two heads. She said she truly believed they can help tone the muscles used for labor and aid in the birthing process.
If you decided to use a midwife for your birth, would you consider sharing about your experience below? I'd love to hear from you!
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