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Monitoring the
physical, psychological and social well-being of the mother
throughout the childbearing cycle.
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Providing the mother
with individualized education, counseling, and prenatal care,
continuous hands-on assistance during labor and delivery, and
postpartum support.
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Minimizing
technological interventions.
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Identifying and
referring women who require obstetrical attention.
The application of this woman-centered model of care has been
proven to reduce the incidence of birth injury, trauma, and
cesarean section.
Copyright
1996-2001, Midwifery Task Force, Inc., All Rights Reserved. For
more information about the Midwives Model of Care visit Citizens
for Midwifery
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM A CAREGIVER WHO
PROVIDES THE MIDWIVES MODEL OF CARE
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Respectful Treatment
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Gentle, nurturing
care that respects you, your family, and your beliefs.
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Respect for your
informed decisions about medical tests, recommendations and
interventions.
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Willingness to support your birth plan, including any family
members and friends you may want present at your birth.
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Freedom to move,
eat, bathe—to do what help you during labor and birth; your
midwife doesn’t “prohibit” or “allow,” but patiently supports and
guides you as needed.
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Respect for the
birth process as it unfolds uniquely each time. Although amazing,
being pregnant and giving birth are actually normal life processes
for which a woman’s body is well-designed. Each woman’s experience
is unique.
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Respectful care
regardless of setting, although at present this kind of care is
most readily found in homes and birth centers.
Personal Attention
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Prenatal visits that
allow plenty of time for questions and answers – 30 to 60 minutes
for each prenatal appointment is common.
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Meaningful
discussion to explore and help resolve fears and concerns you or
your family may have.
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Caring attention to
develop a trusting and nurturing relationship with you and your
family that can help you to labor and birth naturally and safely.
Plenty of Information
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Plenty of
information about pregnancy, birth and the newborn, and about
breastfeeding and newborn care
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Suggestions about
ways you can take good care of yourself and your baby.
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Encouragement and
practical suggestions for you to have good nutrition and make
healthy lifestyle choices.
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Full information
about any recommended tests, procedures or treatments so you can
make informed choices about your care.
Appropriate Monitoring
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Regular and thorough
check-ups for you and your baby throughout your pregnancy, during
labor, and after the birth, to make sure both of you are doing
well.
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Recommendations for
diagnostic technology when appropriate.
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Planning with you
for the unexpected and for the rare emergency.
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Referrals to other
health care specialists or to a different birth setting if needed.
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Expertise in normal,
natural childbirth. Because they are experts in normal pregnancy
and birth,
midwives are experienced in the variations of normal birth and recognize the early signs of conditions that are not
“normal,” including medical conditions or complications that may
occasionally arise during pregnancy or the birth process.
Confidence in Your Body
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Help with
discovering your own body’s ability to give birth, in its own way
and in its own time.
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No routine
treatments or arbitrary timetables that can interfere with your
body’s healthy process of laboring and giving birth.
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Truly individualized
care, privacy, and natural childbirth
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Support for doing
the work of giving birth - rather than someone else “delivering”
your baby, you are empowered to give birth to your own baby
yourself!
Natural Techniques for Comfort
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Help you cope with
the discomfort of labor. Midwives have found that encouragement,
massage, relaxation, laboring in water, changing positions, and
other approaches are often very effective.
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Encourage the
progress of labor and help you give birth to your baby gently and
lovingly.
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Help you avoid risks
(to yourself and to your baby) that are associated with many
standard medical techniques and hospital protocols.
A Care Provider Who Stays With You
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Attentive, sensitive
care and emotional support in tune with your needs throughout
labor. Research has shown that having a “sympathetic female
companion” with you through labor and delivery reduces the chance
of complications and the likelihood of an unnecessary cesarean
section. The Midwives Model of Care means that your midwife stays
with you and “mothers the mother.”
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Postpartum care and
help with breastfeeding. After your baby is born, the midwife will
stay with you until breastfeeding is established and both you and
your baby are resting comfortably. She will arrange a visit after
the birth to check you and your baby and to answer any questions.
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