Pregnant? Don’t panic! Learn about your options.
It has been pointed out to me that it isn’t always obvious what your choices are when preparing to give birth on Nantucket. You do have choices and knowing what they are can make it easier to decide how,where, and with whom you would like to give birth.
The first stop for a majority of women on island is the local hospital. Currently there are three primary care physicians practicing that you can choose deliver with if you want to give birth at the hospital. There are no birthing centers on island.
What’s a doula?
You do have the option to hire and work with a doula. A doula offers professional care but without the medical roles or responsibilities of a doctor. The word doula comes from the ancient Greek meaning “a woman who serves” and is now used to refer to a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth. This means that your doula works for you. As a certified doula I am trained to offered professional support. I work with you prenatally, while you are in labor, and also in the early days and weeks postpartum. We work together so that you may communicate with your doctor to enact your plans for birth. I support you in the choices you make for your birth. In the 5 years I have been a certified doula I have learned that one size does not fit all. Some women want and work for a natural birth, some women want to try a natural birth and feel good about using pain medication, some women are faced with an unplanned cesarian section and want to be able to bring their mindfulness and sense of sacred birth to a surgical birth, and some women are seeking and preparing for a VBAC. All of these paths to becoming a mother are special and are easier to do with support. After birth, a mother continues to have emotional and physical needs that are in addition to the needs of her baby. Breastfeeding is natural and so is birth however it doesn’t necessarily mean either one is easy. Studies have shown that when doulas attend birth, labors are shorter with fewer complications, babies are healthier and they breastfeed more easily. I chose to become a certified doula with DONA.org to offer women the support they desire to birth in a way that feels right to you.
What’s a midwife?
“Midwives are the traditional care providers for mothers and infants. Midwives are trained professionals with expertise and skills in supporting women to maintain healthy pregnancies and have optimal births and recoveries during the postpartum period. Midwives provide women with individualized care uniquely suited to their physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and cultural needs. Midwifery is a woman-centered empowering model of maternity care that is utilized in all of the countries of the world with the best maternal and infant outcomes such as The Netherlands, United Kingdom and Canada.” from MANA.org
There are many different types of midwives. On Nantucket we are lucky to have a Certified Professional Midwife Sybille Andersen. As a Certified Professional Midwife Sybille works with families who want to give birth at home. Please feel free to visit her website and contact her to learn more about her training, experiences, and services. Midwives can offer comprehensive prenatal care, well woman visits, primary care for birth and postpartum care for the mother and newborn.
I have taken the step to begin my training as a midwife. I work with Sybille as her assistant and apprentice. I have wanted to become a midwife since the home births of my daughter and son because those experiences are the highlights of my life. I want to offer women the opportunity to give birth at home and enjoy the comfort, safety, and unparalleled experience of a nurturing home birth.
What makes you feel the most comfortable and supported?
When in doubt, about anything during your pregnancy, it’s always best to ask questions. Take the time to ask questions and make sure you receive the care that makes you feel comfortable, heard, and educated. Interview different care providers and learn from them what they can offer you. Don’t just take your friend’s word for it. Find out what it is that you need to give birth in a way that you feel supported.
It goes without saying but please feel free to contact me. I am always happy to help assist you in any way that allows you to enjoy being pregnant, preparing for birth, giving birth mindfully, and caring for your growing family.
