I recently caught up with an old friend who is in the pre-pregnancy planning stages of birth. (She equated it to wedding planning which is a great analogy. Birth is a monumental, life-changing event that doesn’t allow for do-overs and she wants to make sure she knows her options and can plan accordingly to make it as wonderful and personal as possible.)
We talked a lot about differences – the difference between doulas and midwives, home births and hospital births, midwives and OBs. One point really stood out to me that I want to highlight here: midwives are mainstream.
Did you know that in 2014, almost 95% of CNM/CM-attended births occurred in hospitals? Only 3% were in birth centers and less than 3% in home births.
Federal law recognizes them as primary care providers and they have “prescriptive authority” in every state (and the District of Columbia).
My friend and I joked about how midwives aren’t for people who want to go birth Eve in the garden-style, contrary to popular belief.
Midwives are for the woman who wants to have an active role in her care, both during pregnancy and labor/delivery. They’re for the woman who wants to build an intimate relationship with her provider(s), knowing the focus will be on her – her concerns, questions, comforts, thoughts, hopes, etc. They’re for the woman who wants to know that her provider(s) generally trusts the natural physiological process of birth and intervenes only if/when necessary.
Looking for a midwife in northern Virginia or DC? Get in touch. We’re happy to help you navigate and choose a provider that best meets your needs. Some of our favorite midwives are associated with: Arlington Women’s Center, George Washington University MFA, MedStar Midwives, and NOVA Natural Birth Center.