In remembering the births of my 2 sons, the commonality in my memories are the endless interventions I received, and how little control I had over such a natural rite of passage 
in a woman’s life. This time, I am determined to do things my way, on my turf. Yes, that means I want to give birth at home. As radical of an idea as this may seem to some, the rates of complications and unnecessary interventions are so much lower in home births than in hospital births. This is partly due to the fact that obstetricians are paid by birth, not by salary, partly due to the fact that obstetricians are trained as surgeons, meaning they are trained to “find something wrong” and then “fix” it.
in a woman’s life. This time, I am determined to do things my way, on my turf. Yes, that means I want to give birth at home. As radical of an idea as this may seem to some, the rates of complications and unnecessary interventions are so much lower in home births than in hospital births. This is partly due to the fact that obstetricians are paid by birth, not by salary, partly due to the fact that obstetricians are trained as surgeons, meaning they are trained to “find something wrong” and then “fix” it.Yeahhhh… Well, I’m a healthy 28-year old woman. When I had Jay I was a healthy 18-year-old teen that was terrified and only needed the proper support of people telling me that I could do this, that my body was made for this. When I had Kevin I was a healthy 21-year-old woman that still needed that same support and guidance. Now, I know better.The Medical Model of BirthA strict medical model of care focuses on preventing, diagnosing, and treating the complications that can occur during pregnancy, labor, and birth. Making use of medical expertise is essential for women who have particular conditions or illnesses, and the drugs and interventions used to manage such complications are invaluable and even lifesaving at times. However, interventions can also interfere with the normal rhythms of birth and actually create problems. Training in the medical model does not typically focus on developing skills to support the natural progression of an uncomplicated birth. In addition, under the medical model, care generally follows a certain routine. This standardization reduces individualized care, but it can protect women from poor medical care and increase safety and healthy outcomes overall. Providers who work in medical settings (including nurse-midwives) are often constrained by hospital protocols (such as policies forbidding vaginal births after cesarean sections), insurance requirements, and liability concerns. The medical model of birth is prevalent in the United States today.
I believe that most women’s bodies are well capable of healthy births with minimal interventions. While I’m fully aware that there can be risk involved in pregnancy and childbirth, I also recognize there is risk in crossing the street or walking across the Wal-Mart parking lot. This doesn’t mean that I wear a helmet and protective pads to cross the street. With mindful awareness, you look both ways and cross. That being said, I believe in midwifery.
The Midwifery Model of BirthWomen of all ages need to surround themselves with positive people that uplift their spirits. People that motivate and challenge us to be the best versions of ourselves that we can be. These people can be health care providers, family, friends, children, mentors, clergy- anyone who makes you bring out the best in yourself. The negativity, the criticism that we as women- as mothers, daughters, wives, and friends encounter is detrimental to our self-development and self-esteem. Barring any predisposing health conditions, we women CAN do this. Pregnancy and birth are normal processes in our lives, not major medical events. Homebirths are also 1/4 the cost of an uncomplicated hospital birth. Birthing centers are also low-interventional options for those who are uncomfortable with the idea of being at home. As for me: I want to labor in the comfort of my home, with the freedom to move around as I please, and not have to worry about leaving my kids somewhere or what visiting hours are. I want to be without all the extra poking and prodding that the hospital settings grant. I don’t want anyone from lab to visit me. The birth certificate person can find someone else to bug. By the way, thanks Mr. Hospital Photographer, but I can take my kid to Wal-Mart and get a much better deal. I don’t want to be strapped to a monitor that never stays in place anyway. I don’t want an IV. You can keep your Pitocin, too. I will just let my body do what it was designed to do, in its own time.
http://www.ourbodiesourselves.org/book/excerpt.asp?id=74
Midwifery focuses on the normalcy of pregnancy, and its potential for health. Birth is viewed as a natural process that has profound meaning to many people and should be treated as normal until there is evidence of a problem. The possibility of complications is not allowed to preempt all other values associated with the woman’s experience of bearing and giving birth to a child. Midwives are experts in protecting, supporting, and enhancing the normal physiology of labor, delivery, and breast-feeding.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding my thoughts and beliefs, the next tab, "Informational Links," has several links to informative web sites. Happy browsing! =)
