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What is a Midwife? |
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Midwives are experts in normal pregnancy and birth as well as the preconception and gynecological needs of well women. Most midwives (including Abby and Stacey) have completed nursing education as well as graduate level education in midwifery. Midwives are certified by the American College of Nurse Midwives Certification Council, and are licensed to practice by the state.
Midwifery education and training focuses on the normal process of pregnancy, birth and well-woman gynecological care. Midwifery care focuses on maintaining health and supporting women to make informed decisions, with an emphasis on health education, disease prevention and counselling. Midwives work in collaboration with physicians who are available for consultation and/or to provide care should a complication arise. While we are trained to recognize and diagnose complications which may arise, in most cases we do not need to use these skills. Midwives are independent health care providers with the ability to prescribe medications in New York State.
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What is the Midwifery Model of Care? |
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The Midwifery Model of Care, to which we subscribe, is based on the fact that pregnancy and birth are normal life processes. The Midwifery Model of Care includes:
- Monitoring the physical, psychological, and social well-being of the mother throughout the childbearing cycle;
- Providing the mother with individualized education, counseling, and prenatal care, and continuous hands-on assistance during labor, delivery, and postpartum;
- Minimizing technological interventions;
- Identifying and referring women who require obstetrical attention.
Copyright © 1996-2004, Midwifery Task Force, Inc., All Rights Reserved.
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Will one of the midwives be with me throughout my labor and birth? |
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Abby or Stacey will be with you from the time of your initial evaluation in labor until your birth- this is different from the care that many women receive, where their providers arrive at the end of their labor or even just in time to catch the baby! |
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Is midwifery care safe? |
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Midwifery care has been proven to be as safe or safer than most routine care provided by physicians. Because midwives are trained to think of pregnancy and birth as a normal life process instead of an illness, midwives provide care which involves fewer interventions and often fewer complications. Multiple studies have shown that the midwifery model of care is an ideal one for providing prenatal and birth care. |
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What if there's an emergency or complication while I'm in labor or after the birth? |
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Despite popular beliefs to the contrary, true obstetric emergencies are extremely rare. While we expect that emergencies will not often occur, we are also experienced in handling them. Depending on the nature and seriousness of the complication or emergency, one of three things will happen:
- The midwives will manage the complication independently;
- The midwives will provide care in consultation with our collaborating physician (Dr. Ramin Ahmadi) while evaluating the need to transfer your care to a physician;
- Care will be provided immediately by one of the LICH obstetricians on duty at that time.
If your baby needs medical attention, LICH pediatricians are available immediately.
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Can my family be with me when I give birth? |
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We view families (in whatever way you define family) as integral to the birth process. We welcome all families: partnered, single, gay, straight, traditional and everything in between! Women feel safe and comforted by having their loved-ones around them in labor; babies deserve to be born into a community of people who love and support them. Your family (including other children) and friends are always welcome at your prenatal visits and at your birth. A supported and welcomed family means a supported woman. |
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How long do I stay at the hospital after my baby is born? |
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If both you and your baby are well after the birth and if you select a pediatrician who participates in the early discharge program, you may go home after a twelve hour stay. A longer stay may be necessary if there are complications or a pediatrician is not available to discharge your baby within twelve hours. |
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I don't live in Brooklyn. Is this a problem? |
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In almost all cases there is plenty of time for women in labor to travel a fairly significant distance to get to the hospital. We have selected LICH because we feel that it is a location which can provide a warm, peaceful, and loving birth environment. We think that is something worth traveling for! |
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What are your beliefs about episiotomies? |
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We believe that episiotomies are almost never necessary. Women's bodies were designed to give birth and perineums are able to stretch to allow babies to pass over them. When women are given enough time in the pushing stage of labor to allow their bodies to naturally open, there is less damage to the vagina and perineum. In cases where tears occur, they are almost always smaller than an episiotomy. Episiotomies are often used as a way to speed up a delivery or to make suturing easier for the practioner. Additionally, episiotomy scars are more likely to reopen during subsequent births; they are usually straight scars with weakened tissue that can act as a fault line. We perform episiotomies only in the case of fetal distress, when we feel that a baby's well-being requires it to be born more quickly than the natural stretching process allows. This is a rare occurrence; in our experience it is necessary approximately 1-2 times per every 100 births.
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What sort of pain relief will I be able to use in labor? |
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When women are able to move and change position in labor they are much better able to cope with the pain of contractions. We encourage frequent position changes and also utilize hydrotherapy (tub & shower), massage and acupressure to assist with pain in labor. The support of your loved ones is probably the best comfort of all and we help encourage partners and families to provide support in labor as well. We also strongly recommend the use of doulas, especially for first time moms, to aid with labor support. Doulas are professionally trained labor support providers experienced in giving encouragement, emotional support and concrete suggestions for comfort in labor.
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How soon after I miss my first period should I schedule my first prenatal appointment? |
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We recommend a first prenatal visit 8 -10 weeks after the first day of your last period. This enables us to refer you for prenatal screening and diagnostic tests, should you decide that you want them. If you wish to meet with us prior to scheduling your first visit, Stacey or Abby will meet with you and your family for an initial consultation at your earliest convenience. We see the consultation as an opportunity to become acquainted and to decide if your needs and desires for your pregnancy and birth match the type of care that we provide. |
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How often will I see you for prenatal visits? |
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Below is an approximate guide to when you'll typically see your midwives during prenatal care. This schedule may be modified as appropriate.
| 1st visit: |
8-10 weeks (prenatal lab work, prenatal testing decision-making) |
| 2nd visit: |
15-16 weeks (blood drawn for spina bifida screening test if desired) |
| 3rd visit: |
21-23 weeks |
| 4th visit: |
27-28 weeks (glucose challenge test and blood test for anemia) |
| 5th visit: |
32 weeks (check baby's position: head down or breech) |
| 6th visit: |
34 weeks |
| 7th visit: |
36 weeks |
After 36 weeks you will have weekly prenatal visits until you go into labor.
Please remember that birth is unpredictable and we may need to re-schedule an appointment with you because another client is in labor or needs to be seen for another emergency. Thank you in advance for your understanding.
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How can I schedule an appointment with you? |
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Use our online appointment scheduler by clicking here or by following the "Make an Appointment" link at the top of any page on our site. Alternatively, you can call our office at (646) 519-7209 and one of us will be happy to schedule your appointment over the phone. |
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I've been going to a different provider for my care, but now feel that I want a natural birth. Can I transfer to your practice? |
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We are always willing to take clients who want to transfer care. We require that you have a complete copy of your prenatal record at your initial consultation so that we may review your prenatal history. |
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