[Aislstarfish]

Hello everyone

I am currently in nursing school, and I am very interested in becoming a midwife someday... I really want to be involved in natural, physiological births.. I think the stages of labor are fascinating as well as the body's ability to do such an incredible thing. I understand that C-Sections are often very necessary and I am thankful that we have the technology to do such things (my mother had too small of a pelvis, and neither she nor I would exist if not for the c-section, haha).

However, I have done some reading and it seems that hospitals aren't really the place to see births without the intervention of water-breaking, pitocin, cervical dialators, epidurals, c-sections, etc...

Anyway, i guess my question.. is anyone here a CNM or L&D nurse that has an opinion on this?? Is becoming a CNM worth it?? Are there home births or birth centers involved or are they mostly in hospitals??

Sorry about the legnth! Thank you in advance for any info

[studentmom2007]

I kind of have some of the same questions that you have! I am pre-nursing and I hope to do L&D and maybe one day CNM. I had both my kids unmedicated (no epi, no stadol or demorol). They were born in a hospital under the care of an OB, and I was able to avoid pitocin, artificial water-breaks, etc. I discussed a reasonable birth plan with my doctor and we worked together to give me the kind of "natural" experience I wanted.

In a hospital, I was probably 2% of the population! The OB/GYN practice I went to did have midwives on staff, and I wish I would have chosen one, although I didn't know I wanted to go unmedicated until I was pregnant with my first. I liked my OB and he was supportive so I stayed with him for my 2nd baby.

I can't answer your question of whether or not it is worth it, but you might be surprised at how "natural" childbirth might start to make a "comeback". I live in Oregon, so we hippie tree-hugger types are probably the highest percentage of unmedicated births! I know of a number of birth centers in the area, even a water-birth center!

I think moms may start to educate themselves on the rising rates of c-sections and may start to look at birthing alternatives. When I was pregnant with my first, I originally thought why WOULDN'T I get an epidural? Then I had a friend to share her experience of an unmedicated birth and I started researching and I felt that was the right choice for me and I don't regret it at all!

I think as long as there are alternatives out there and the moms have access to the information, then it would be worth it. I used the Bradley method and I hope to become certified to teach and could hopefully use that to "advertise" in various clinics to make sure the moms are educated about their choices.

I think birthing is a natural process, but we don't know naturally what to do in our culture. I felt very prepared once I educated myself on all that happened and was able to prepare myself mentally and physically for the challenge.

[mommy2boysaz]

Originally Posted by Aislstarfish

Hello everyone

I am currently in nursing school, and I am very interested in becoming a midwife someday... I really want to be involved in natural, physiological births.. I think the stages of labor are fascinating as well as the body's ability to do such an incredible thing. I understand that C-Sections are often very necessary and I am thankful that we have the technology to do such things (my mother had too small of a pelvis, and neither she nor I would exist if not for the c-section, haha).

However, I have done some reading and it seems that hospitals aren't really the place to see births without the intervention of water-breaking, pitocin, cervical dialators, epidurals, c-sections, etc...

Anyway, i guess my question.. is anyone here a CNM or L&D nurse that has an opinion on this?? Is becoming a CNM worth it?? Are there home births or birth centers involved or are they mostly in hospitals??

Sorry about the legnth! Thank you in advance for any info

As a new CNM student, I obviously do think it is worth it! We need more women like you to join our ranks!
You are correct. Many, many women do not know that birth can be a natural, beautiful thing, without all the medical interventions that are so prevalent today. Education is critical.
There are opportunities for CNMs in hospitals, birth centers, and in home births. In order to change the current trend of elective inductions, unnecessary epidurals, and elective Cesareans, we NEED to move more CNMs into the hospitals. It is possible to have a lovely, quiet, peaceful birth in the hospital, with the right midwife.
Right now the government is making it very difficult for midwives to get into the homes of women to do deliveries (legally and with insurance paying), so for now, I think moving the midwives into the hospitals is the best way to turn things around.

Keep reading and researching and if you still think you want to become a midwife, do it!!
Good luck!

[studentmom2007]

Originally Posted by mommy2boysaz

As a new CNM student, I obviously do think it is worth it! We need more women like you to join our ranks!
You are correct. Many, many women do not know that birth can be a natural, beautiful thing, without all the medical interventions that are so prevalent today. Education is critical.
There are opportunities for CNMs in hospitals, birth centers, and in home births. In order to change the current trend of elective inductions, unnecessary epidurals, and elective Cesareans, we NEED to move more CNMs into the hospitals. It is possible to have a lovely, quiet, peaceful birth in the hospital, with the right midwife.
Right now the government is making it very difficult for midwives to get into the homes of women to do deliveries (legally and with insurance paying), so for now, I think moving the midwives into the hospitals is the best way to turn things around.

Keep reading and researching and if you still think you want to become a midwife, do it!!
Good luck!

Your comment about being able to have low intervention births in hospitals and getting more CNMs into hospitals is a GREAT point!! it gives me hope! I decided to go into nursing after my own experience. Recently, I was able to attend a friend's labor and she received an epi pretty early on. I began to wonder if I would enjoy L&D nursing in that kind of setting, knowing that 98% of my patients would sleep through labor. Not saying that's a bad or wrong thing, but my passion lies with helping the low intervention births.

Thanks for your insight!