I didn't know anything about Midwives here in Canada in the 21st Century, until a friend of mine got a Midwife for her pregnancy. She had a great experience, and highly recommended it. So, when I found out I was pregnant, I decided to look into it.
This is what I learned:
- Getting a midwife is FREE!
- Yes, you read that right! My Doctor didn't really say anything about it. They mentioned that it was a possibility, but it was kind of just a passing comment. If it weren't for my friend letting me know this little fact, I would have thought it was a special service like a 3D ultrasound.
- You have a choice. After seeing your Family Doctor for you first 20 weeks, you can switch to an OBGYN or a Midwife.
- Midwives work within a certain geological area.
- So, make sure you find one that serves your home address.
- You need to book early!
- They only take on so many clients based on your due date. If getting a midwife is something you're considering or interested in, call them right away.
- It's personal.
- My midwife knew me by name. Doctors and OBGYNS, as good as they can be, have many clients. Midwives, only taking on so many patients at a time, can be more personal. I think our Midwife was extra special. She was so good and remembered many details about me and my pregnancy without looking at a file.
- Midwives are also always on call. As a result, I had my main midwife and a back-up. If I called, or had an emergency, and my main Midwife wasn't available, I got the back-up. But it was someone I had met, not just someone on call.
- With a Midwife, you have options.
- You can give birth in a hospital, at home, in water...some even have small personal clinics near the hospital.
- They also explain things in detail. Both sides. They don't make assumptions. They'll share pros and cons, studies, and then let you make the decision. I didn't feel any pressure or judgment.
- They have resources.
- At my Doctor's office, I got some print outs in a folder. The Midwives gave me an organized binder full of useful information sorted by tabs.
- I am sure that it is different at every office. At the one in my area, they had a lending library with books that you could borrow on a variety of topics from pregnancy to raising children. They also had nursing pillows and slings that you could try out to see what would work best for you.
- They are available 24/7
- If I had a question, they would get back to me.
- I got a pager number. If I had an emergency, I could call them and get an answer right away. If it was serious, they would deal with it right then. If needed, they would meet me at the local Hospital.
- You get a personal coach/supporter
- My Midwife was there with me through the whole process. In fact, at delivery and afterwards, I had 2 midwives. They encouraged me and my husband (who felt helpless.) They talked me through everything before and as it happened.
- I didn't need a Doctor, but if something goes wrong, a Doctor is called in. In the midst of your pain, you have a medical professional who knows you and can help you stick to your birthing plan (as much as that is possible.)
- They will help you with breastfeeding.
- This will be a whole other post. But most Moms, new and "old" (like someone who has had had six kids...read an example in Today's Parent Magazine), need help. They help ensure your baby is latching properly and getting what they need.
- They follow up at home after!
- That's right! So good, it's worth putting in bold. With my other friends, after just having a baby, they had to drag themselves and their two day old baby to the Doctor's office! All those germs and possibly bad weather. With a Midwife, they came right to me. Three home visits within 2 weeks.
- When our daughter's weight really dropped, she made extra trips to watch her weight and make sure our progress was on track.
- You stay with them for six weeks after the birth of your baby.
- After the six weeks is up, you get transferred back to your Family Doctor.
You can probably guess from the list above that my experience was a good one. Both my husband and I really liked our Midwife and was impressed with the whole set-up. We will go this route again.
Until next time,
Canadian Country Mama
No comments:
Post a Comment