Midwifery

I have become extremely passionate about birth over the past few months.

Today we went for Josiah's two week visit with our midwife, Ann Crowell. It was awesome. You would have thought, by the way Ann loved on our little man, that Josiah was the first baby she had ever seen. She held him, cuddled him, and walked him around the office, showing him off to everyone.

She was the same way at his birth. When he was born, she went on and on about how precious and perfect he was. I was amazed that a woman who delivers babies for a living could be so enthusiastic about my baby. I wondered if she acted that way about every baby...or if ours was just exceptionally precious. (And although I would like to think it is the latter, my assumption is that she is this way towards all of the babies she delivers).

I have been so thankful every day since Josiah's birth that we made the decision (even though it was late in the game) to switch to midwifery care. I felt so much control over the entire birth. Every decision that was made was my decision. I was given options. I was given as much time as I needed to birth my baby. And yet, I was extremely confident in the ability of the midwives to care for me and Josiah in the case of complications.

From the beginning, Russell and I were given control over the care of our son. We were expected to diaper and dress our boy from the beginning. We gave him his first bath. Russell weighed him at the birth. Russell also caught Josiah as he was being born and cut his cord (after it had stopped pulsing). Never once did I feel out of control. Never once did I feel that I was just another woman delivering a baby. Never once did I feel pressure to make progress more quickly or make my body do something it wasn't doing naturally. Never once did I feel like Josiah's birth was a medical procedure. Never once did I feel afraid for Josiah's safety, or that of my own.

Josiah had a gentle birth. He was immediately placed into my arms and was not taken from me. When the few medical things had to be done, I was sitting right next to him, watching every step. Even when his breathing was a little raspy, Ann had me hold him while she suctioned his nose and mouth. It was very apparent from the beginning that I was his mother and I was in charge of him. Sure, they did the medical things that needed to be done. But he was mine and there was no question about that.

Today at our appointment I mentioned something about the "baby blues" and how I haven't felt them at all. I am so in love with this little person. Even when he is screaming his lungs out, I am in love. Head over heels.

Ann told me that she would estimate that 99% of her mothers never experience any form of postpartum depression. She said that the ones that do are generally women who try to do too much, too soon after the birth. She believes that the reason her mothers are so happy is that they are in control of the birth process and are never separated from their baby. I believe she is right.

I am so, so thankful for the midwives that assisted in my son's birth and the birth center at which he was born (gentlebeginningsbc.com). I am also thankful for the kind doctor who was "on call" during Josiah's birth, just in case we needed him.

I am becoming so passionate about midwives because of our experience.