What You May Not Know About Modern Midwives

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, scared, annoyed, stressed, or otherwise uncomfortable when thinking about the current state of healthcare for pregnant women, you may want to consider getting a midwife. Many people don’t understand the profession of midwifery, unsure of what they do at all. 

A midwife can be the link between you and a successful pregnancy and delivery. They can empower you to take greater ownership of your pregnancy; reminding you that pregnancy is a normal life process rather than a pathology to be managed. All of this can help you make the best decisions for you and your baby.

What does a midwife do?

A midwife accompanies a mother-to-be through all things pregnancy, labor, and delivery. A midwife may perform gynecological exams, monitor the physical and psychological well-being of a mother during pregnancy, and provide prenatal counseling, among other things. 

Most pregnant women see their midwife as the backbone of their entire pregnancy, turning to them when in need of support and advice. Midwives are qualified health professionals that focus on helping women deliver babies as naturally as possible, so in many cases, that means minimizing technological interventions and facilitating natural remedies. 

Because of the midwife’s emphasis on comfort, you can choose to have a midwife whether you plan to give birth at home, a hospital, or a birthing center.

A brief history of midwives

Known midwifery dates as far back as the 1600s, although it’s near-certain that some form of midwifery existed even before then. But only relatively recently did midwives become understood and respected. As recently as the 1920s, the midwife profession was seen as shifty and untrustworthy. Physicians at the time thought that women — who comprised the majority of midwives — were incapable of learning, and some notable doctors even tried to abolish the profession. 

Luckily, midwifery experienced a rebirth starting in the late 1920s, and more midwives started undergoing formal training. This boom led to the eventual acceptance of family-centered delivery rooms, childbirth education, and allowed mothers to make more choices about their pregnancy, labor, and delivery circumstances. 

Now, most certified nurse-midwives work in hospitals or independent birth centers, working in tandem with other healthcare professionals who are essential to successful childbirth. 

What you need to know about modern midwives

Modern midwives serve as an integral part of the network of healthcare providers that are responsible for a healthy and successful pregnancy, labor, and delivery. 

All of the midwives at Southern Crescent Women’s Healthcare are certified nurses midwives or registered nurses who have completed the nurse-midwifery education program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME).

This program teaches nurses how to work in close collaboration with physicians and obstetric specialists, as well as labor and delivery personnel, to make sure all aspects of your pregnancy and delivery are as comfortable and healthy as possible. 

The modern midwives at Southern Crescent Women’s Healthcare specialize in natural delivery, although you will be given the option to take pain relief medications through intravenous (IV therapy) or an epidural during labor. 

To learn more about our midwifery services, schedule a consultation at one of our convenient Georgia locations. Call or book online.