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- Protecting Your Pregnancy
by Maawa HaSati
When I found out I was pregnant, many thoughts raced through my mind. My mind was full of everything I wanted to do during my pregnancy and everything I needed to do in preparation for this baby. However, the most important decisions at that time was choosing a place of birth and finding a birth attendant. Who was going to catch my baby? Where would I feel most comfortable with and whom would I feel most comfortable working with?
Choosing a place of birth and birth attendant come as a second and third decision respectively for most of us, with choosing to have a baby as your first decision. For many, it takes time to decide where you want to have your baby and who will be there on your journey of pregnancy and childbirth. Studies have shown that these two important decisions affect the outcomes of childbirth.
Today, there are many options out there for women. From hospital births to waterbirths and from obstetricians to midwives, it really depends on your feeling of comfort and safety that determines your choice. But letÕs not forget that these choices do take time. There is no rush, unless your circumstances do not permit. I know for myself that my birth choices took more time and effort than I anticipated.
After taking many womenÕs biology and physiology classes in college, I knew what I wanted for myself healthcare wise as a female. I knew what kind of relationship I wanted with my practitioner and what kind of environment I wanted my babies to be born into. I knew I wanted a relationship that was friendly, honest, relaxing, humane, knowledgeable, and open with my practitioner. After all, this was the person that would advise, help, and take care of me, my husband, and my baby for at least 10 months. ThatÕs a huge chunk of our lives. I certainly didnÕt want to feel like a statistic or a patient with an illness (because pregnancy is not an illness but a natural life event) for that length of time.
I also knew that whatever environment I would choose to have my baby it would be a place where I can feel most comfortable in. This included who would be there, where it would be at, and what the birth plan would be. I decided that I wanted a midwife and a homebirth.
In researching my options for choosing a practitioner in midwifery, I found out that many midwives in the Chicago area do not do homebirths but do practice in hospitals. My options were very limited. Waterbirths were even out of the question with midwives practicing in hospitals. I was surprised and shocked at how the state of Illinois in general did not openly support "traditional" midwifery but was more unbiased towards "hospital" midwifery.
The further I got into researching midwifery in the state of Illinois, I found many articles detailing news about midwives who have been served Cease and Desist orders and revocations of their nursing licenses. This was very sad but true. But I was determined to find a midwife who would do homebirths and waterbirths. It took some time and effort searching the internet, calling community groups and hospitals, and going to several appointments and interviews with midwives and gynecologists/obstetricians to find the right midwife for me.
Now, IÕm seeing two midwives who have their own clinic in Chicago as well as who practice in a hospital near the area. IÕm glad I didnÕt give up on my search or I wouldnÕt have found these two wonderful women who understand what I want and understand my needs as a woman who is pregnant. They have given me exceptional care through my first pregnancy thus far. And I have been very grateful for all their help and support.
Choosing a place of birth and birth attendant are very important decisions to make. As a woman presented with this situation, you should note that trust, ease, comfortability, and feeling of safety are needed in experiencing the most of this natural and powerful female experience. There are many options out there. But if there is an option that you particularly favor and it is not available in your area, donÕt give up. It may take some time and a little more effort, but itÕll be worth it at the end. Go with what your heart tells you to do and go with your gut feeling when making these birth choices. This is your experience, own it. Pregnancy and childbirth are not anything foreign and not an illness but a natural phenomenon.
