While some would argue otherwise, midwifery is truly the “oldest profession”. Midwives have been around since the beginning of time and today they help bring life to the world.
I have been a midwife since 1999 and over the years, meeting new people and telling them about my profession, I often find myself dispelling three basic myths/questions.
Myth/Question #1–Do people still use midwives? I thought midwives were a thing of the past.
Yes, midwives are a “thing of the past”, having attended 100% of babies just over a century ago. Throughout the 20th century, the use of midwifery declined; however, midwives have always been an important part of the birthing community in this country.
And yes, midwifery is alive today and people across the country STILL use midwives. While the number of births attended by midwives dropped significantly in the 20th century, we are seeing a resurgence in the use of midwives today. Currently, between eight and ten percent of babies across the country are born with the assistance of a midwife.
Myth/Question #2–Oh yes, a midwife. That’s the person you use if you want to have your baby at home, right?
Yes and no! Midwives care for women at home, in free-standing birthing centers AND in hospitals. If you’re planning a home birth, you’ll definitely want to hire a midwife. While there are some doctors who still do home births, they are very rare, in small communities, and virtually impossible to find.
Today 99% of all births occur in hospitals. And about 8% of them are midwife-assisted births. So while you should definitely find a midwife if you’re considering a home birth, you can also have a birth in a birthing center or a hospital birth with a midwife.
Myth/Question #3–I would use a midwife but want pain medicine or an epidural when I am in labor.
While midwives advocate for the normalization of childbirth, they also advocate for choices, options, and informed decision-making. With that in mind, midwives who care for women in the hospital definitely care for women who request anesthesia or pain relief during labor.
If you’re planning a hospital birth without medication, you may find one of your biggest supports in the form of a midwife. However, if you want intravenous medications or an epidural for pain relief during labor, this does not preclude the use of a midwife.
While there are many other myths floating around in mainstream society about midwives, these are the three I hear the most. As you search for a prenatal provider and midwife, I recommend that you research the benefits of hiring a midwife. While a title doesn’t indicate the perfect provider, you may be able to find a perfect midwife for your needs.
