TY  - CHAP
M1  - Book, Section
TI  - Are Midwives the Solution?
A1  - Aristizabal, Michelle
PY  - 2018
T2  - Natural Labor and Birth: An Evidence-Based Guide to the Natural Birth Plan
AB  - When  my  midwife  entered  the  room  during  our  first  visit,  she  was  not  at  all  what  I  had  been  expecting.  I  think  I  imagined  a  friendly  granny  or  a  long  haired  hippy  in  a  skirt  down  to  her  ankles.  Instead,  Lisa  entered  the  room  with  her  short,  spiky  red  hair,  wearing  thick  purple  glasses  and  blue  jeans.  She  warmly  greeted  me,  immediately  setting  me  at  ease,  and  spent  the  better  part  of  the  next  hour  reviewing  my  health  history,  discussing  my  usual  diet  and  exercise  and  making  suggestions  for  improvement,  and  exploring  how  I  was  planning  to  deliver  this  baby,  my  second  child,  and  integrate  him  into  our  family.  We  talked  about  what  had  gone  right  in  my  last  pregnancy  and  delivery  and  what  I  hoped  would  be  different  this  time  around.  I  was  struck  by  how  different  this  type  of  care  felt  from  that  I  received  previously  with  my  obstetrician.  In  my  initial  visit  with  my  OB,  we  had  reviewed  my  bloodwork,  discussed  testing  options,  and  I  left  with  a  list  of  do’s  and  don’ts  and  when  to  call.  My  midwife  did  those  things  too,  but  they  were  not  the  focus.  I  felt  like  the  focus  was  much  more  on  me  as  a  person  this  time  around.  The  visits  that  followed,  while  less  time  consuming,  were  still  more  personal  and  by  the  time  my  labor  started,  I  felt  like  Lisa  really  understood  me.  She  was  calm  and  reassuring  during  the  labor,  which  this  time  I  had  decided  to  do  without  any  medication.  She  really  let  me  know  that  I  could  do  it  and  I  had  a  smooth,  easy  all  natural  delivery.  I  don’t  know  if  it  was  that  way  because  it  was  my  second  time  or  because  of  Lisa,  but  I  would  choose  a  midwife  again  if  I  had  a  third  child.  The  entire  experience  was  better  all  around.—L.  A.,  new  mother  
SN  - 
PB  - McGraw-Hill Education
CY  - New York, NY
Y2  - 2024/04/20
UR  - obgyn.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1155166577
ER  -