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What Every Expectant Mother Should Know On the options available to expectant Mothers and the benefits of midwifery. By Tara Shelby, ND, LM -- Fall 2009, Vol 5, Issue 17 -- Download the PDF 
One of the downsides of
America's innovative and technologically
advanced health care
system is the potential for excessive
or unnecessary procedures.
Nowhere is this more apparent than
in child birth. As a culture we expect
to have our babies in the hospital.
Since we are taught to expect pain
and suffering, why not go numb?
Women are often willing 'to try' for a
natural birth as long as they know
there are pain medications to back
them up. In conventional circles a
'natural birth' is considered to be
vaginal only, even when pain medications
are administered. In my
experience of over 150 births, I have
never known of a woman who
attempted a 'natural birth' in a hospital
that has successfully done so
without pain medications or other
interventions.
As an expectant mother or healthcare provider advising patients, you should know there are options. There are choices. Most significantly, you are not sick. You are pregnant. Illness and pregnancy are two very different realities. Over the years I have heard countless times "we just didn't know back then that it was bad for us, or we just didn't know these options existed!" In the modern information age such statements reflect a lack of investigation and research. Investigate the subjective and statistical outcomes of happiness, empowerment, mortality, morbidity, wellness and cost effectiveness - you will discover that midwives improve all of these measures! As a naturopathic physician I adhere to a group of principles, including "Docere" or doctor as teacher. It is my duty as a physician to educate our patients so they can make informed decisions that fit their life. Regrettably, I find that when it comes to childbirth, my colleagues in holistic health too easily fail to educate, and instead look upon pregnancy as a medical procedure that needs to be taken care of. Education takes time and time costs money. But I believe that women and expectant parents are hungry for more information about child birth, not only through the lens of a disease model, but most especially through the lens of a holistic model of care that views the birth process as natural. By fulfilling our commitment as clinicians to educate our patients about their many choices and options we collectively act as a healing force in a suffering healthcare system. Imagine yourself living in Europe, Asia, Central or South America, even the Antarctic. In any of these settings you would have available to you the culturally acceptable option to deliver your baby into the sacred arms of a midwife, the real experts in normal birth with centuries and centuries of wisdom, tradition and skill. You would understand that birthing your child is not a medical procedure, that you are not ill and that you are capable. The birthing process would reflect back your strength, power and the intrinsic wisdom in your body. Why not trust your amazing body to push this spirit into your welcoming arms? With a team of skilled midwives and doulas supporting you through your individual birth experience, you have the wisdom of centuries, the knowledge of modern technology and the unremitting faith that birth is a natural and normal experience. The beauty of midwifery care today is that if by chance anything occurred outside the realm of normal, you can easily transport to a hospital for medical interventions. But why begin your journey on the edge of this slippery slope? What you should know is that no matter how much you love your obstetrician as a person and feel validated by them affirming your wishes for your birth, they are operating under the rules and regulations of a hospital and their malpractice insurance. You are most likely not a “high risk” pregnancy, which is the OB's specialty. Countries throughout the world turn to midwives. In the United States, where very few women experience a natural child birth, we have the 2nd highest infant mortality rate in the developed world. It's an illusion that you and your baby are "safer" in the hospital. Your doctor should tell you this. You CAN deliver safely at home or in a birth center outside of a hospital. Do your homework and most importantly, believe in yourself and your baby! For more information on the birthing process and the many options available to expectant Mothers, check out the documentary "The Business of Being Born" by Ricki Lake. About the Writer 
Tara Johnie Shelby is a Naturopathic Physician and
Licensed Midwife who specializes in primary care
for women and children. She practices at One Sky
Wellness, an integrative clinic in the Ravenna
neighborhood of Seattle, WA.
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