Maternity Care

Being pregnant and going through childbirth is a natural part of life. Women have been doing it since the beginning of mankind. In the 1900’s childbirth was seen as a normal part of the life cycle and the majority of births were attended at home by midwives and occasionally by physicians. With the age of medicine and technology in Western society the use of pain medication and anesthetics has surged among pregnant women. During the baby boom generation in the 1940-50’s hospital births became the norm with 80% of women giving birth while sedated or unconscious. The mother either gave birth naturally or was completely sedated and delivered her baby while unconscious. In the 1970’s epidural analgesia became a safer option for women to be alert and conscious during her delivery yet not feel most of the pain that is associated with labor.

Today, maternity care can be provided by obstetricians, family practice physicians and certified-nurse midwives. The decision on what kind of provider a woman chooses usually depends on her health and medical condition and personal beliefs. Certified-nurse midwives that work in a physician practice also deliver babies in a hospital setting. They provide prenatal care to women during normal pregnancies and work in collaboration with physicians if complications arise. Many women who choose a natural childbirth method (using no drugs) usually choose nurse midwives for their maternity care. However, that does not imply physicians cannot provide the same kind of support. In early pregnancy, a woman should interview several caregivers to decide which one will support their goals the best. The midwives at Topeka’s Lincoln Center, Rebecca Otte, CNM and Leslie Arnold, CNM provide maternity care for low-risk...

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...ike setting to accommodate their birthing experience.

Women remember each of their children’s birth experiences for the rest of their lives. In order to have a satisfied birth experience, a woman must have an open line of communication with their caregivers whether it is their doctor or nurse in the delivery room. Education also plays a key role to having a natural birth. Attending birthing classes and reading books will help a woman prepare and make the best possible decisions for her baby. Having a birth plan, whether its written or spoken, is a good way to make a woman’s wishes clear to her caregiver. Planning and preparing is important but a woman must always plan for the unexpected and be flexible if the birth doesn’t go exactly as planned. Pregnancies and births are different for everyone and the ultimate goal for caregivers is a healthy mother and baby.