In
recent decades, expectant moms across the nation have been making a slow but
steady return to their historical roots in terms of pregnancy care and
childbirth. An increasing number are choosing a delivery experience that was
the norm in early America and, in many parts of the world, still is today.
These women are embracing the traditional—yet evolving—practice of midwifery.
Sept.
30–Oct. 6 marks National Midwifery Week, when Women’s
Health Associates joins the medical community and family-centered organizations
everywhere in highlighting the work of America’s certified nurse-midwives
(CNMs) and certified midwives (CMs). With passion and dedication, we
collectively deliver more than 300,000 babies in the U.S. every year and
provide primary gynecological care throughout countless women’s lives.
Midwifery: A natural history
In
times past, the primary attending caregiver during labor and delivery typically
was a “lay” woman, informally trained to support the mother and provide initial
care for the newborn. While these functions remain at the core of modern
midwifery practice, today’s midwives are specially trained, licensed and
certified, most in nursing as well. Certified nurse-midwives address women’s
health needs from adolescence through menopause and beyond, in addition to our
essential role as care provider during pregnancy, labor and childbirth.
With
the establishment of obstetrics as an important medical field in the early
1900s, the vocation of midwifery faded from common practice for several
decades. Its gradual resurgence came in the 1960s and 1970s, as a handful of
hospitals began offering formal training programs.
According
to a report from the American
College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM), the proportion of CNM/CM-attended births has
risen nearly every year for at least the last 20 years.
Advantages of midwife-led care
Women
often choose midwifery care for its holistic, woman-centered approach, which actually
may lead to better outcomes and lower health-care costs. Research shows that women
receiving care from CMNs experience lower rates of cesarean births and labor
induction,
lower use of regional anesthesia and higher rates of breastfeeding than women
strictly under physicians’ care.
While
these facts speak volumes, it’s important to note that collaboration is
critical in today’s Ob/Gyn practice. As CNMs, we work very closely with our
physicians, ensuring that every woman has access to the best medical intervention
if concerns should arise.
If
you’re seeking a personalized, optimal care experience during pregnancy and
childbirth, or at any stage of life, our CNMs are ready to partner with you. Contact us for an appointment today.
