Preparing a birth plan long before you’re expected to go into labor is smart. One of the first things that you’ll need to decide when creating your birth plan is whether you want your child to be delivered by a doctor or a midwife. For many expectant parents, working with a midwife gives them a positive experience. These are a few signs that a midwife for your birth is the best choice.
1. Your Pregnancy Is Low-Risk
If you are in good health and everything seems to be going well with your pregnancy, you may feel comfortable working with a midwife when giving birth. Talk to your doctor to determine if your midwife should be prepared to handle any specific concerns.
2. You’re Hoping for a More Natural Birth
Many pregnant women prefer the idea of taking pain medication before and during labor. If you are hoping for a more natural birth, though, you might find that a midwife will provide you with the experience that you’re hoping for.
Just make sure that you meet with a few potential midwives before making your choice; then, you can choose a midwife who understands and appreciates the value of a natural birth as much as you do. You can also make sure that you and the midwife have the same ideas in mind of what a natural birth does and does not entail.
3. You’re Interested in a Home Birth
You may not like the idea of giving birth in a hospital. Instead, you could be hoping to give birth in the comfort of your own home. If this is the case, you will typically need to hire a midwife to make it happen.
A midwife can help you with each step of preparing for your home birth. They can talk to you about the pros and cons of a home birth and can help you determine if it’s the right choice for you. Your midwife can talk to you about what to expect and how to set up your home so that you will be well prepared.
4. You’d Prefer a One-on-One Experience
Although you might trust the doctors and nurses at your local hospital, you might be worried about receiving care from so many different providers before, during, and after your delivery. If you would prefer a more one-on-one experience, you may be more satisfied with a midwife.
A good midwife will work with you throughout your pregnancy to help ensure that you and the baby are safe and prepared for delivery. In addition to being there to assist with your labor and delivery, your midwife should check in with you in the post-natal period to see how you and your little one are getting along.
You may find that the more personalized, one-on-one experience of working with a midwife is more in line with what you are hoping for. Make sure you choose carefully when picking your midwife and that you talk to your midwife about your needs and concerns throughout your pregnancy so that they can provide you with the best possible care.
5. You’re Willing to Explore Different Payment Options
Although some insurance companies will pay for a midwife’s services, some won’t, particularly if you opt for a home birth. You’ll need to be willing to explore different payment options, such as saving up the money for midwife services or making payments ahead of time, if you are interested in working with a midwife when giving birth.
For many people, using the services of a midwife is a great choice for labor and delivery. Contact us at Rappahannock Women’s Health Center to find out more about our midwife and OB/GYN services.