Ohioans for the Preservation of Traditional Midwifery
Welcome!
NOTICE: It has been brought to my attention that there are some mistakes and on the site. While we try hard to ensure that the site is well- done, due to our busy lives and thus lack of time to work on the site, we sometimes make errors.
We will be editing the site and correcting these errors over the next few days; please be patient as we do this and respect that fact that this site is a work in progress!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT!
An Explanation of the Traditional Midwife
A Traditional Midwife (TM) is, first and foremost, a midwife who practices autonomously and is capable of determining his/ her own scope of practice. This means that any State regulation through licensure that threatens a midwife's ability to practice in an autonomous way, threatens the practice of Traditional Midwifery.
Traditional Midwives believe in evidence- based care that has been time- teated and scientifically verified. They rely on ancient practices as well as modern ones. Often, Traditional Midwives are well- versed in herbs and homeopathy and believe that a typical birth should be allowed to progress in its own way and in its own time. While Traditional Midwives believe that birth is safe and natural, they are educated and competent enough to recognize when a pregnancy or birth is not typical and in need of medical care. Traditional Midwives do not deny the need or benefits of medical care when necessary and will not hesitate to refer clients to appropriate medical personnel.
Traditional Midwives monitor the physical and psychological well- being of their clients, as is outlined in the Midwifery Model of Care. Often, consultations with TMs can take over an hour and prenatal visits can take even longer. During pregnancy, the health and well- being of the pregnant women and her family are observed and suggestions or referrals are made, if necessary.
While TMs believe that pregnancy and birth belong to the pregnant and laboring woman, they also do not deny the importance of family involvement in the pregnancy, birth and postpartum practice. Often, husbands, siblings, aunts, uncles and grandparents are encouraged to support and celebrate the labor and pregnancy of their clients. Because the birth belongs fully to the laboring woman, there are no limitations on who she can have at her birth (so long as the laboring woman is comfortable with who is in attendance).
TMs believe that birth has, for too long, been taken away from women and stolen by the (male- dominated) medical community and needs to be reclaimed by women (should they choose this route). Birth is a beautiful, natural occurance and a cause for celebration, rather than a medical emergency. TMs do not treat pregnancy as an illness and cause for constant concern. Midwives do not "deliver" women from the condition of pregnancy, instead, they "catch" babies with gentle and loving hands. Midwives understand and respect the emotional aspects of pregnancy, labor and birth and, as such, treat individual women and births as individual entities rather than numbers or "cases".
While traditional midwives rely on medically- sound and evidence- based practices, they also do not deny their ancient history as midwives and believe that there is much to be learned from midwives who have come before them. TMs beleive that, to deny one's past is to deny the legitimacy of one's own existence. They hold on to and celebrate their past while providing support and education to midwives of the future.
Traditional Midwives believe in evidence- based care that has been time- teated and scientifically verified. They rely on ancient practices as well as modern ones. Often, Traditional Midwives are well- versed in herbs and homeopathy and believe that a typical birth should be allowed to progress in its own way and in its own time. While Traditional Midwives believe that birth is safe and natural, they are educated and competent enough to recognize when a pregnancy or birth is not typical and in need of medical care. Traditional Midwives do not deny the need or benefits of medical care when necessary and will not hesitate to refer clients to appropriate medical personnel.
Traditional Midwives monitor the physical and psychological well- being of their clients, as is outlined in the Midwifery Model of Care. Often, consultations with TMs can take over an hour and prenatal visits can take even longer. During pregnancy, the health and well- being of the pregnant women and her family are observed and suggestions or referrals are made, if necessary.
While TMs believe that pregnancy and birth belong to the pregnant and laboring woman, they also do not deny the importance of family involvement in the pregnancy, birth and postpartum practice. Often, husbands, siblings, aunts, uncles and grandparents are encouraged to support and celebrate the labor and pregnancy of their clients. Because the birth belongs fully to the laboring woman, there are no limitations on who she can have at her birth (so long as the laboring woman is comfortable with who is in attendance).
TMs believe that birth has, for too long, been taken away from women and stolen by the (male- dominated) medical community and needs to be reclaimed by women (should they choose this route). Birth is a beautiful, natural occurance and a cause for celebration, rather than a medical emergency. TMs do not treat pregnancy as an illness and cause for constant concern. Midwives do not "deliver" women from the condition of pregnancy, instead, they "catch" babies with gentle and loving hands. Midwives understand and respect the emotional aspects of pregnancy, labor and birth and, as such, treat individual women and births as individual entities rather than numbers or "cases".
While traditional midwives rely on medically- sound and evidence- based practices, they also do not deny their ancient history as midwives and believe that there is much to be learned from midwives who have come before them. TMs beleive that, to deny one's past is to deny the legitimacy of one's own existence. They hold on to and celebrate their past while providing support and education to midwives of the future.
