What is a Midwife?
Since the beginning of human history, women have
helped other women in the transition to motherhood. Midwives are the primary
health care providers in most countries where birth is an integral part
of family life. Countries with the highest rate of midwifery care today
– emphasizing competent prenatal care, education, and empowerment
for the woman giving birth – also have the best outcomes for mothers
and babies. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared in 1990 that birth
was actually safer for mothers and babies when utilizing midwifer for pregnancy
and childbirth.
Midwifery is based on a strong belief in partnership
with childbearing women and respect for birth as a normal life event. Midwives
strive to empower parents with knowledge and support their right to create
the birth experience which is best for them.
Midwives respect intimacy, privacy, and family integrity,
and draw on their own patience and understanding to provide care during
pregnancy and birth.
Midwives Today
The modern midwife is a health professional who provides
holistic heath care to the childbearing woman and newborn. She respects
a wide range of women's need including personal and cultural values. Focusing
on the natural processes of pregnancy, labor, and birth, she combines traditional
skills and modern medical techiques to safeguard normal childbirth. The
midwife maintains associations with physicians and other health care providers
to ensure that mother and child have the best knowledge and technology available
Articles
Midwives
and Homebirth
Why
Have a Natural Childbirth?
The
Midwifery Page
Introduction
to Midwifery
Ancient
practice, modern benefits
Midwives are the most time-honored and common primary
caregivers for healthy women during their pregnancies and births in most
countries throughout the world
Websites
MidwifeInfo.com - About Midwives, FAQs, History of Midwifery, Books about Midwifery, &
Articles
BirthingtheFuture.com
The
American College of Nurse-Midwives
Midwifery
Today - Pregnancy, Birth, Homebirth and Midwife Information
Midwives
Alliance of North America - An organization of midwives and midwifery
advocates for natural pregnancy and childbirth
Wholistic
Midwifery
Texans
for Midwifery
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