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| - When we last checked in on our hero Mamie P., she was 33 weeks pregnant and feeling frustrated with the obstetrics experience. We arrived at Allyson's office thinking that a midwife's role was mostly to pull the little guy out and be on her way. That first day is certainly critical and Allyson was the consummate professional whose expertise and support made this the most amazing day of our lives. However, we've learned that a midwife's care is invaluable long before baby arrives and well after. I will, dear reader, try to share some of what we learned, particularly from the birth partner's perspective.
First we scheduled an initial interview where we spent over an hour asking questions, sharing our concerns and simply learning more about home birth. Allyson is herself a walking reference library of the most recent research on perinatal care. She can quote from memory the latest best practice standards, many of which have already been in use by midwives for decades. She keeps detailed notes on the health of mommy and baby and you'll be able to take these notes with you as you transition to pediatric care. If you are on the fence about a midwife, I'd strongly recommend taking the time to meet with Allyson or any midwife for that matter.
The first of our bi-weekly visits started with exploring mum's health and our goals for the birth. Allyson and her apprentice Romina (Romina is also fantastic) reviewed momma's nutrition and encouraged our good eating habits while not making us feel guilty about some of our.... deviations. We had our records from the OB transferred over to her office and she reviewed these with us as well.
At each visit Allyson tested momma's blood pressure, provided urine test strips, and conducted other tests appropriate to the stage of pregnancy. She monitored the baby's heart rate with a fetal doppler and checked on the position of the baby by feeling momma's abdomen. The rest of the hour or so at each visit, Allyson asked or answered questions and encouraged the work we were doing to keep the little guy healthy and prepare for his arrival.
Expecting parents have a bunch of decisions to make as the big day approaches. Should we get a vitamin K shot? What steps do we take if the mother tests positive for Strep B? Should we circumcise? Do we need a doula? A birth tub? What to do with the placenta? etc. Every visit with Allyson is a chance to work through these decisions with no pressure to follow cultural norms or do something simply because everyone else is doing it. Allyson respects your decisions as a parent and helps support you with research, experience, and her library of resources. She also has an amazing list of contacts for secondary services like birth tub providers and doulas. Any referral we've had from Allyson has been simply outstanding.
Fast forward to the arrival day. Allyson and Romina show up and quietly unpack an arsenal of supplies. They join our doula Tiffany and me in supporting mom with words of encouragement, applying counter pressure, back rubs etc. In between contractions they setup of gear, and dig up extra supplies like towels and hair pins. They monitor the baby's heart with the doppler while mom is in the tub, on the floor, and in bed.I'll leave the rest of the details out because its the best part of the entire pregnancy and you'll enjoy the experience for yourself.
Following the birth, Allyson and Romina made three more visits to our home to check on baby and mom. They helped with nursing, recovery for mom, monitoring baby's health and everything in between. This is a luxury which is hard to appreciate until you've had your first child. The day after the birth you are exhausted and mom has a lot of healing to do. The thought of driving to a pediatrician for checkups and waiting in a room full of sick kids seems overwhelming. Having these amazing experts in your home is a true comfort and pleasure.
The birth experience is intense for the mother and the birth partner. Yes there is pain but a supportive birth team and experienced midwife can help maximize your baby-momma's natural pain coping mechanisms and create a wonderful birth story for your family. We're grateful to Allyson for her care, support and knowledge and of course we'd recommend her to all our friends and family!
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