As labor doulas, we have the amazing honor to work alongside some fabulous midwives. These women work tirelessly to create a positive birth experience for their patients. This week was National Midwifery week, so we reached out to Sara Shaffer, the newest team member at Bay Area Midwifery Center, to ask her some questions about midwifery.
What are the main differences between a doctor and a midwife?
Midwives are licensed professionals, credentialed to care for low-risk, healthy pregnant women throughout pregnancy, labor, birth, and the postpartum period. They can also co-manage pregnancy with a doctor if the patient has some issues that are still within the midwife’s scope of practice. Midwives are independent and autonomous providers. They do not have to have a doctor ‘oversee’ what they do. Midwives have not been to medical school. They obtain their degree from a nationally accredited program and then have to pass a national certification exam, which allows them the privilege to care for low-risk, healthy women.
Obstetricians have completed medical school and an OBGYN residency and also provide care during pregnancy, labor, birth, and the postpartum period. They can provide care to high-risk patients and perform assisted vaginal deliveries with a vacuum or forceps, and cesarean sections when indicated.
What would you say to someone considering using a midwife for either well-woman or prenatal care?
If you are healthy, and low-risk, you should consider using a midwife for your well-woman or prenatal care. If you are unsure whether something in your past medical or obstetrical history makes you ‘high-risk’, ask a midwife first before assuming that you cannot be cared for by one. The word ‘midwife’ means “with woman”. Because we are not routinely managing high-risk issues, we tend to have more time to spend with a woman, discussing what to expect in normal pregnancy, and preparing women for labor and birth. We see pregnancy as a ‘normal journey’, and our goal is to help guide women through it.
Why did you decide to become a midwife?
I had been a Labor and Delivery nurse for 7 years prior to becoming a Certified Nurse Midwife. I was passionate about caring for laboring and postpartum women, but I really wanted the opportunity to get to know the women better, by providing ‘full scope’ care, beginning with the initial prenatal visit and following a woman all they way through to her six week postpartum visit. Attending a birth is a true blessing. Every birth is a miracle, and I am so lucky to do what I do. I love my job!
The first time I had the privilege of working with Sara, I so impressed with the care that she offered our client. She was gentle and encouraging, and was an outstanding advocate for her patient. I think she will be a wonderful asset to the Bay Area group.