Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is a midwife and how should I choose one?
A: Choosing your midwife is a very individual decision based primarily on two considerations: the skill and experience of the midwife AND your comfort, trust in and ability to communicate with her.
Currently, the status of the profession of midwifery in Idaho is in a state of flux. Consideration is being given to the possibility of voluntary licensure for professional midwives. Several groups are seeking mandatory licensure for many differing reasons. The proposed Bill for Licensure will be reconsidered in the fall of 2007 or early 2008.
During this process there has been and continues to be much misconception and misinformation about the qualifications of existing midwives in the state. In the spirit of real midwifery, The Baby Place Midwives seek to give you access to all the available information so that you might make a truly informed choice.
At The Baby Place, we welcome and encourage ALL your questions-especially the hard ones. We are comfortable answering any questions that help you to make an informed choice about the very best fit for you and your family.
A: Experienced midwives are EXPERTS in NORMAL BIRTH and are the standard and preferred maternity care providers throughout much of the world,not coincidentally in countries where health outcomes for moms and babies are ranked the highest.
Midwives view pregnancy and birth as healthy, normal processes that call for supervision and care. In the midwives model of care, the childbearing woman has the central role. A midwife addresses the psychological and emotion health as well as the physical health of the mother and seeks to empower the woman by helping her master the challenges of pregnancy and birth. Midwives Model of Care™
The Midwives Model of Care™ is based on the fact that pregnancy and birth are normal life events. The Midwives 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, continuous hands-on assistance during labor and delivery, and postpartum support
• minimizing technological interventions and;
• identifying and referring women who require obstetrical attention
The application of this model has been proven to reduce to incidence of birth injury, trauma, and cesarean section. The Midwives Model of Care definition above is Copyright © 1996-2001, Midwifery Task Force, All Rights Reserved.
Q: What is a Certified Professional Midwife?
A: The standard of care for out of hospital birth midwives in the US is becoming a voluntary certification through the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM). This certification is the CPM or Certified Professional Midwife.
** "The CPM credential, is not degree-oriented or program-based. A college degree is not required, and the emphasis is on what you know rather than how you learned it. The rigorous credentialing process validates that you have all the knowledge, skills and experience necessary to practice as an entry level midwife, as determined by a comprehensive task analysis involving hundreds of midwives encompassing the full range of midwifery from Certified Nurse Midwives, to apprentice-trained rural midwives.
Lack of national certification or licensure does not necessarily mean that the midwife lacks the knowledge or skill to practice the Midwives Model of Care. At the same time, just because a person is a midwife does not guarantee that they provide the Midwives Model of Care. Therefore, if you are looking for a midwife, ask questions to find out if an available midwife (or other caregiver) is willing or able to meet your particular needs and provide the kind of care you value."
* * This definition of Midwives and Midwifery Care is from Citizens for Midwifery, the only national, consumer-based group promoting the Midwives Model of Care. Citizens for Midwifery has long been a formidable force in midwifery advocacy and is recognized by consumers and professional midwives alike as the “go-to” organization for the latest information on the status of midwifery in the United States.
http://cfmidwifery.org/find/
http://cfmidwifery.org/midwifery/faq.aspx
Please see the bios of the Baby Place Midwives for our experience, training, qualifications and certifications.
Q: What is a "Lay" Midwife?
A: "Direct-entry midwives" (formerly called "lay midwives") are especially prepared to attend births in out-of-hospital settings (free-standing birth centers and individual homes), and almost all practice in these settings exclusively."
--Citizens for Midwifery, http://cfmidwifery.org
The term "lay midwife" is now rarely used in most of the US where the experience and skills of "Direct-Entry" midwives are recognized and acknowledged. The most well-known direct entry midwife is international author, activist, innovator and speaker, Midwife, Ina May Gaskin. Ina May Gaskin is the author of Spiritual Midwifery and Ina May's Guide to Childbirth.
Ms. Gaskin is credited with introducing a maneuver to obstetricians to deal with the difficulty of shoulder dystocia. Now widely accepted, The "Gaskin Maneuver" is the only obstetric maneuver named after a midwife--a "lay" midwife.
** "The term "Lay Midwife" has been used to designate an uncertified or unlicensed midwife who was educated through informal routes such as self-study or apprenticeship rather than through a formal program. This term does not necessarily mean a low level of education, just that the midwife either chose not to become certified or licensed, or there was no certification available for her type of education (as was the fact before the Certified Professional Midwife credential was available). Other similar terms to describe uncertified or unlicensed midwives are traditional midwife, traditional birth attendant, granny midwife and independent midwife."
* * This definition of "Lay Midwife" is from the website of the Midwives Alliance of North America (MANA). http://www.mana.org/index.html
Q:What is a freestanding birth center and why would I choose a birthing center over a hospital?
A:We have found that the following factors most often determine a woman’s decision to choose a birth center birth:
Safety, Comfort and Freedom A "freestanding" birth center is a birth center that is not affiliated with any hospital and is usually owned and operated by midwives. A birth center is a wonderful choice for women who do not want to give birth in a hospital, but also do not want to give birth at home.
The Baby Place Birth Center offers women and their families a beautiful and comfortable “home-like” setting where safe maternity care is provided to low-risk women. You are free to move about the birth center and its property while laboring and to be accompanied by family and friends or have as private a birth as you request, attended only by your midwives and your doula.
Unlike hospitals, where infectious disease is also treated, birth centers are specialty health care facilities and The Baby Place Birth Center is a safe and welcoming environment. In the hospital, the emphasis may be put on what could go wrong and birth is often treated like “dis-ease”.
At the Baby Place Birth Center, labor and birth are considered a normal event as healthy and unique as the individual woman and family. Rigid protocols are not imposed. Rather, the laboring woman and her baby are observed and monitored, supported and encouraged. As long as the mother and baby remain healthy, strict time-frames for the progress of labor are not required. Routine and medically unnecessary interventions are recognized and documented to lead to more interventions.
At the Baby Place, we focus on what most often goes right with labor and avoid unnecessary intervention. Our philosophy of care supports the birthing families' choices and desires in how they labor and give birth. Within this model of care, birth is celebrated as a major life transition rather than a medical event.
Cost & Environmental Impact Birth center birth is a very real way of lessening your impact on our precious natural resources. The waste generated by hospitals is tremendous. Because birth centers are specialty health centers they create far less waste, and because they employ far less intervention, they generate less energy.
The Baby Place Midwives & Birth Center is committed to recycling and stewardship of the earth. In addition, midwives' care costs less than doctors', with no additional hospital and nursery charges. Most families can save thousands of dollars. While many insurance companies cover the cost of our care, paying for care out-of-pocket can often be less expensive than the cost of insurance premiums, deductible requirements, and co-payments.
At the Baby Place Midwives & Birth Center, all self-pay clients will have a fee review during the tour and consult or at their initial visit. Each individual will be given special consideration and care, and will not be refused care based upon inability to pay. Before care from the Baby Place Midwives is considered a fee-based service, it is, in truth and ideal, a ministry.
Emotional and Spiritual Value Midwives see birth as a beautiful, natural process that brings great joy to a family. We, at the Baby Place, believe that birth is a sacred event that must be honored as such. The experience of labor and birth on a woman is profound and has the ability to empower families beyond our estimation. We truly believe that peace on earth begins at birth and we welcome and honor each woman’s experience and expression of faith. At the Baby Place Midwives & Birth Center birth belongs to the families we serve.
“ If we are to heal the planet, we must begin by healing birthing.” Agnes Sallet Von Tannenberg
Q: Is this a safe way to have my baby?
A:Safety of mother and baby is the first and foremost concern at the Baby Place. Combining over 20 years of practical experience together with our commitment to stay current with our training and certifications and informed of the latest research and resources, contributes to our ability to provide safe, and satisfying care. Our consistently excellent outcomes for mother and baby have resulted in gratifying birth experiences for our families. We seek to empower you as parents to make informed decisions about what is most appropriate for you and your family. We expect and encourage questions and support you in becoming educated. Our role is to provide you with accurate and up-to-date information with regard to tests, procedures and treatments and all the options available to you so that you can make a truly informed choice.
As midwives have for centuries, we provide care for women with normal pregnancies and births. Much like physicians, we assess new clients completing thorough histories and exams, but we also evaluate each woman and her pregnancy individually, considering the specific and unique needs and desires of each family. We make recommendations for care based on a woman’s particular situation and priorities and, together with you, the primary healthcare providers for your family, decide a course of action for care. Working together with local physicians, and other health-care providers, we seek to help you assemble a team of health care providers to ensure that you are receiving the best care available to you in the Treasure Valley.
In the uncommon situation that complications arise in pregnancy, we may refer you to these other care providers. In the rare instance of complication during labor or birth, we will transport to the appropriate hospital (chosen for safety and best outcome) and refer you to the specialty care of obstetricians.
We will remain with you for support and advocacy.
Studies have consistently shown that planned homebirths (and birth center births), attended by experienced midwives, have excellent outcomes, for both mothers and babies. When compared to equal numbers of hospital births, homebirths (and birth center births) result in fewer birth injuries, fewer infections and fewer maternal and neonatal deaths.
Q: How do I know if I can deliver at the Baby Place Birth Center
A: Birth Centers are designed to serve the healthy, low-risk mother. At the Baby Place, we screen all potential candidates for safety on the first visit. Some risk factors do not prohibit you from giving birth at the center, and some risk factors must be closely monitored by our staff and/or by our consulting physicians. If you are healthy and without any chronic medical conditions such as heart disease or diabetes, you probably are eligible for a birth center delivery. After being carefully screened on your first visit you will be continuously evaluated throughout your pregnancy to promote a safe and satisfying birth experience.
Q: Am I allowed to labor and give birth in the water?
A: At the Baby Place Birth Center, each of our private birth suites has its own large birthing tubs. Often referred to as “the midwives’ epidural, there are many benefits to laboring in water: - Reduces sensory stimulus, thus producing less stress-related hormones - Increases production of pain inhibitors, i.e., endorphins - Decreases blood pressure - Increases ability of the mother to focus - Reduces the sensations of pain – an analgesic effect - Increases skin elasticity, reducing the amount of perineal tearing - Makes it easy for mom or dad (with midwife assistance) to "catch" their own baby because of the buoyancy of water - Gentler birth for baby Unless circumstances require another position, you may give birth in whatever position or place feels best to you.
Q: What makes the Baby Place Midwives & Birth Center special?
A: Just ask our families. Since opening the Baby Place Birth Center in Meridian in October of 2002, we have served more than 450 families with outstanding outcomes. We are proud to say most people learn about us from their friends, families and colleagues. We are grateful for the continued and consistent direct word-of-mouth referral from our families – the best compliment we could get.
With two full birth suites (each with birthing tub and private bath), a family room and large, eat-in kitchen, and two additional rooms, we are the Treasure Valley’s largest freestanding birth center. We comfortably accomodate families and women at various stages of their labor including the option of walking the acre of property with views of the mountains.
Located approximately 2 miles from St. Lukes’s Hospital in Meridian, access to the Baby Place Birth Center is easy from I-84 and Eagle Road making travel from Boise or Nampa or beyond quite easy.
Q: What are the Baby Place Birth Center Statistics?
A: Baby Place Midwives & Birth Center Birth Statistics 2003 – September 2007
Out of 446 births, a total of 18 were transports to hospital; 13 resulted in medically necessary cesarean sections
Results: 4% overall transfer rate with a 3% cesarean section rate.
Q: Will my insurance cover this?
A: Many insurance companies cover the cost of our care. During the initial consult, we will help you check with your provider and individual policy. All self pay clients will have a fee review during the tour and consult or at their initial visit. Each individual will be given special consideration and care, and will not be refused care based upon inability to pay. Payment schedules will be considered.
Before care from the Baby Place Midwives is considered a fee-based service, it is, in truth and ideal, a ministry.
Q: Do you take out of town clients?
A: Families travel from as far away the bordering states to come to the Baby Place. We have access to housing for those families when necessary.
Q: What are your office hours?
A: Our office is staffed Monday through Wednesday from 10:00 AM until 6:00 PM.
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