What is the role of a Direct Entry Midwife? Are you responsible for getting women through labor? No, you are not! Yet too many mothers-to-be and fathers-to-be place unrealistic expectations on their independent midwife Independent midwives do a great job, have a tough job, and are too exhausted!
As an independent midwife, whether a nurse-midwife, CNM, direct-entry midwife, or lay midwife, you know that being at long, tiring births just takes it out of you. There are wonderful advantages for pregnant women when they can have a continuity of care midwife. Midwife and a woman get to know one another. Expectant families feel a midwife gives them more time than an obstetrician and it’s comforting that there is only one birth professional who gives care during pregnancy, birth and after birth.
Become part of a new childbirth movement …
We can grow a skilled birthing population by getting mothers-to-be and fathers-to-be to use Birthing Better Childbirth Preparation pregnancy and childbirth skills! Skilled expectant parents have to support YOU as an independent midwife. It’s about time.
What an amazing thought; all pregnant women KNOWING how to give birth and every father-to-be/partner, friend or relative knowing how to be a great birth coach. This can happen with all expectant parents.
‘I’m not going back. My clients will be Pink Kit families AND they will teach themselves how to birth!’
Andrea V …
Skills-based Birth Plan
Birth Plans and an overabundance of information has NOT led to a decrease in medical birth. In New Zealand where 90% of expectant parents have their own continuity of care midwife, the cesarean rate has more than doubled to close to 30%. This just shows that midwifery alone is not the answer to the horrible childbirth trends. Look at the statistics.
Independent midwives must expect pregnant couples to write a 2nd Birth Plan. What would be in this second one? Simple … a Skills-based Birth Plan. Pregnant couples need to tell you how they are preparing their pregnant body to become a birthing body and what skills you’ll see them use during Their Birth!
As an independent midwife (CNM, Direct Entry midwife, Lay midwife) you can lead the way.
Childbirth skills need to become the new way to a ‘beautiful birth’ no matter where families give birth with or without an independent midwife.
Only a birthing woman can control her breathing. As an independent midwife, it’s too tiring to breathe with her for hours. Only a birthing woman can control her ability to relax. Pregnant women need to learn how to do that and have her birth skills to work through childbirth pain.
In reality … the best birth coach for the woman in labor will always be her husband, partner or other well-known person AND they need the birth coaching skills.
Expectant parents who use you as their independent midwife whether you’re a nurse-midwife, CNM, direct entry or lay midwife MUST help you! It’s not fair for them to rely on you to get them through their birth. You need to expect more of your clients.
Birthing Better skills were developed by moms and dads in the early 1970s in the US and used by many thousands globally in all types of birth. Birthing Better online birthing classes are housed in Common Knowledge Trust.