Finding the best care for you and your growing baby becomes a priority as soon as you learn that you are pregnant. Whether you’re about to become a first-time mother or you already have children, pregnancy is a whole new world, and you’ll need someone to help you navigate it.
The individual you entrust with your care should ideally be with you throughout your pregnancy, from your first prenatal checkup to postpartum care. The core elements you should look out for are care, compassion, competence, communication, courage, and commitment.
What is a Midwife?
A midwife is a skilled health care provider who assists healthy women throughout their pregnancy journey including labor, delivery, and postpartum care.
The main point of contact for expectant parents is midwives. They give them evidence-based guidance and information to support them through their pregnancy and prepare for parenthood as well as assist them in making educated decisions about the various alternatives and services available to them throughout their pregnancy.
The main attention of a midwife is on the mother and baby, ensuring that both are healthy. They owe it to their patients to look after them during their pregnancy. Not only does a midwife need to have the necessary education, training, and qualifications, but they also need to have the correct skill set and personality attributes to succeed in this field.
Competence and Commitment
Medical training, knowledge and experience are vital when it comes to choosing your midwife. He or she should be expected to monitor you and your health from conception to delivery. When necessary, certified midwives can also prescribe medications. For these reasons, it is recommended that you research the relevant person’s qualifications. Baylor University’s DNP midwifery online program provides state-of-the-art training through unique active learning approaches that prepare their graduates for professional practice, health care leadership, and global outreach in a Christian community.
Midwives should be perpetual teachers who feel comfortable educating their patients about a healthy path throughout the pregnancy. They can offer dietary advice, ensuring that their patients eat a well-balanced diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables. Many women may also seek information on pain management alternatives during labor, as well as information on baby care and breastfeeding. It is natural to feel frightened and nervous so it’s important that a midwife shows empathy, compassion, and understanding for your needs. Your chosen midwife needs to display competence and commitment to the job and all that it entails.
Communication
A good midwife must be able to communicate effectively. Solid written communication skills in addition to good spoken communication abilities are vital skills that a midwife must display.
Your midwife must have outstanding people skills. Certain personality traits including assertiveness and leadership are important, but interpersonal skills are also highly regarded and necessary for a midwife. Midwives interact with patients, family members, and other medical professionals daily, so you must observe these traits in your chosen healthcare provider: professionalism, courteousness, and attentiveness.
Another key talent for midwives is the ability to listen well. While effective communication is important, midwives must also take a step back and listen to their patients’ needs. Listening skills aid in the development of rapport between the midwife and the mother. Active listening, presenting appropriate information, and adaptability are all important communication skills that your midwife should possess. The capacity to communicate effectively is one of the most critical abilities of a good midwife.
Compassion, Care, and Courage
A midwife must have a sufficient degree of self-sufficiency, employ up-to-date information in practice, and have self and professional awareness to be a safe practitioner. Having the correct attitude entails being driven, dedicated to midwifery, and caring and compassionate. Midwives must be able to relate to and work in cooperation with expectant women to provide well-informed choices. Your midwife will also assist you in creating your birth plan, which will contain details such as how you want to deliver your baby and how you want to deal with pain.
In an emergency, midwives must keep a calm demeanor so that the mother and infant can be cared for as gently and effectively as possible. They must be able to react quickly and reassure frightened parents to the best of their abilities.
Your midwife needs to display emotional strength with a caring attitude. Good observation skills are vital as is a willingness to take responsibility. Patience, maturity, and the ability to take initiative are more traits to look for when seeking a midwife to accompany you on your pregnancy journey.
The one you choose should be educated but approachable, knowledgeable but laid-back. He or she also needs to be self-sufficient as well as capable of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
Is A Midwife Your Best Option?
Obstetrician-gynecologists (OB-GYNs) are trained to handle complicated and high-risk pregnancies and births. Midwives specialize in low-risk pregnancies and deliveries, and they usually use a holistic approach with little intervention.
The phrase “low tech, high touch” is well-known among midwives. Many midwives rely on their significant professional knowledge and the relationships that they develop with expectant moms to assist them in deciding how to manage the pregnancy and labor. Midwives, rather than doctors, are the most common birth attendants in many parts of the world. When the big day arrives, your midwife will be there for you throughout your labor and delivery, typically offering both emotional and physical support.
You’ll be making several large and minor decisions as you get ready for your baby’s arrival. One of the most crucial decisions you’ll make is who you’ll entrust with your care. If your pregnancy is low-risk and any of the following goals apply to you, a midwife may be the best option for you: you want to be in charge of your pregnancy and delivery; you want to have a water birth or hypnobirth; you want to have minimal medical intervention throughout your labor and delivery.
Midwives are trained to care for low-risk, uncomplicated pregnancies. Make sure your chosen midwife collaborates closely with bigger care teams that include OB-GYNs and other specialists for enhanced peace of mind. If issues arise, your midwife will be able to refer you to an expert specialist.
From your initial prenatal checkup to postpartum treatment, the person you entrust with your care should ideally be with you throughout your pregnancy. Care, compassion, competence, communication, courage, and commitment are the essential elements to look for when choosing a midwife as your support.