We've learned that although opponents to licensing midwives claim to be gravely concerned about health and safety for mothers and babies, it's not our mothers and babies that concern them. They're content to let home-birth families fend for themselves without access to trained midwives or continuity of care when medical assistance is warranted. At first I thought this a bit over the top. But it's also true that some midwives can practice in Virginia, where they serve a growing number of women, mostly in hospitals. Midwives offer women choices about how they will be cared for during pregnancy and about where they will give birth.
Midwives see each woman and each pregnancy as unique, and their care is highly personalized.
When I do an intake on a new client I spend around three hours with her getting to know her medical, reproductive, and social history well. I spend at least 45 minutes to an hour with clients at each appointment thereafter. This kind of holistic care enriches the entire pregnancy and birth experience for a family. It also makes for safer care. The more I know about a client the more opportunity I have to detect any signs or symptoms that may lead to problems.