We all have different values and approaches when it comes to our healthcare. This stems from different experiences and ways we have dealt with our health previously. Today, many women who are going through birth want to work with a midwife. This can offer them peace of mind during the delivery process. So, can surrogates use a midwife for their labor and delivery?
We answer your questions about what a midwife is, how they are used and whether surrogates can use a midwife during the surrogacy process. Contact us directly for more questions.
What is a Midwife?
A midwife is a trained healthcare professional specializing in providing holistic care and support to pregnant individuals before, during and after childbirth. Unlike an OB, midwives focus on promoting natural and low-intervention childbirth experiences, emphasizing the physical and emotional well-being of the mother.
Midwives offer personalized guidance, education and emotional support, aiming to empower individuals to make informed decisions about their birthing preferences. They also commonly work as an advocate for the mother, which can be valuable for surrogates who want to use a midwife.
The role of a midwife is to ensure a safe and positive birthing experience, often working in collaboration with other healthcare providers. Sometimes a hospital will have midwives as part of their care team so you can build the team you want.
Midwives monitor the progress of pregnancy, provide prenatal education, assist in labor and delivery and offer postpartum care. Their approach is rooted in the belief that childbirth is a normal physiological process, and midwives strive to create a nurturing environment that respects the autonomy and choices of the birthing individual, fostering a sense of empowerment and confidence during this transformative journey.
Surrogates Using Midwives vs Doulas
Surrogates may have different ideas of what they want for the birth process. Depending on your needs, surrogates can use a midwife or a doula for the birthing process if they are communicating this part of the birth plan with the parents. Midwives and doulas are distinct yet complementary roles in the realm of childbirth.
Midwives are trained healthcare professionals who provide comprehensive medical care to pregnant individuals, overseeing the entire childbirth process and addressing medical needs.
In contrast, doulas offer emotional, informational and physical support during labor but don't have medical training. Doulas focus on comfort measures, advocacy and facilitating positive birth experiences.
While midwives manage the medical aspects of childbirth, doulas contribute to emotional well-being, offering continuous support and helping individuals navigate their birth preferences, creating a collaborative approach that enhances the overall birthing experience.
Begin Your Surrogacy Journey Today
If using a midwife for your surrogate birth experience is important to you, we can find you a family who understands this stance.
You can even work with the parents to help you find a midwife who can understand the dynamics of a surrogate pregnancy and how emotions of the delivery. This can benefit everyone involved, creating an even more special bonding experience.
Your surrogacy specialist will help you establish this information in your surrogate profile to help you connect with the right intended parents.
Ready to get started on your surrogate journey? Our surrogacy specialists are here to help. Contact us today.