WHY CHOOSE MIDWIFERY CARE?
At SHMS, we emphasize care that has been proven to be beneficial: woman-centered prenatal visits, individualized education and options, informed choice and one-to-one support during labor. As needed, we consult with other health care professionals: obstetricians, pediatricians, lactation specialists and a variety of complementary practitioners.
In countries with the best childbirth outcomes, all women have access to maternity care, midwives are the lead caregivers, and the cost of care is much lower. Evidence supports the benefits of a model of care that focuses on wellness rather than illness. Pregnancy and birth are essentially healthy experiences for the majority of childbearing women. However, most women in the U.S. now experience numerous interventions during labor and birth that have been shown to be neither beneficial nor benign. Experts agree that although we use more interventions and spend more money than any other country, outcomes for our mothers and babies are not better.
Birth at home or in a birth center is a safe and economical choice for normal childbirth. There is no evidence that hospitals provide the safest place for healthy women to give birth, and may increase the likelihood of unnecessary interventions. However, birth outside the hospital is not for everyone. You must choose the setting for birth in which you will feel the most comfortable. We encourage you to give this choice careful consideration.