The midwife is most important in planning a birth

Childbirth is a unique, most intimate and yet natural event in a woman's life. Since the dawn of time, it has taken place assisted by other women, midwives and now midwives (including men). Why doesn't this change?

Natalia Jaskólska: The support of other, once experienced, now also medically well-educated women, helps to get through it safely. What one feels then, not only physically, but also emotionally, is often difficult, surprising and challenging. Valuable at such a time is support and understanding.

Today The parturient herself can decide many things about childbirth?

A prepared woman, who is aware of how childbirth takes place and what it entails, can decide on a great many issues. Starting with the choice of the place of delivery and the possibility of dedicated midwife care (not in all facilities), the choice of a loved one accompanying the birth, the choice of methods of pain relief, positions in the first and second periods of labor, and the decision of who will cut the umbilical cord.

But still in planning a birth the midwife is the most important. When is it a good idea to start working with her?

Today, fewer and fewer women are having children, and at later and later ages. As a result, they lack "first-hand" knowledge from their grandmother or mother, information on how it all works. Admittedly, there are many forums on the Internet where women exchange experiences, but these are often places where you can acquire a panicky fear of childbirth, instead of finding reliable knowledge. Fortunately, birthing schools are common - the first classes are usually in the second trimester of pregnancy. There are many birthing schools where attendance is free, and there are also commercial birthing schools where courses are charged. You can take advantage of individual or group education with a community midwife - the first meeting can take place at 21 weeks of pregnancy. You can find commercial services for individual preparation for childbirth in the patient's home conducted by midwives. A patient who has acquired knowledge about the course of pregnancy, labor and postpartum will have less anxiety about these processes. She will understand some of the situations that arise, which will allow her to decide more consciously about herself, labor and the baby. She will know what choices she has, what she can do for herself and what to ask the staff to do for her.

And what if the birth happens suddenly, outside the place of residence. How does a midwife deal with such an unfamiliar patient?

Fortunately, we are taught how to deal with emergencies.

Who counts more in the delivery room - the doctor or the midwife?

We have other competencies. Midwives are the guardians of physiology. We are the ones who are supposed to take care of the woman/pregnant/birth woman/obstetrician, educate her and guide her through the whole process. She becomes a patient only when some problems creep in, deviations from physiology, and that is the doctors' lot. This shows the importance of cooperation between us.

How many births do you have to accept in order to have a so-called sure hand. It is not only about the medical procedure, but above all about supporting the woman, understanding her at a unique but difficult moment.

A lot depends on where we are in our personal development, whether we have the attentiveness and willingness to learn, whether we have developed the right qualities, whether we can maintain detachment and factual judgment, whether we have the humility to learn from our mistakes. The more mature a personality that is open to the other, the faster it will reach proficiency.

How to deal with the different reactions of the parturients, their pain and nervousness and even fear?

The first step is to remain calm and observe the emotions and pain of the parturient. The next is to use various techniques to support, motivate and give encouragement and strength as needed, and to use non-pharmacological methods of pain relief.

The ideal midwife? Please list five qualities?

Wise, patient, caring, humble, neat.

You are the mother of two sons. Did your knowledge of childbirth help you stay calm during your own. Did you give birth children, according to learned techniques, or did the emotions of a woman in labor prevail at such a moment emotions of a woman in labor, struggling with pain and uncertainty about the finale?

Knowledge certainly gave me a sense of peace, I was aware of what was ahead of me. However, when the contractions become very frequent and painful, the knowledge remains in the background - you are a woman who feels the pain and tries to cope with it, survive it, find the most comfortable position and feel safe. It's helpful to know that it's worth the effort to persevere and use the guidance of the midwife who guides the delivery.

At this point, for yourself, did you use of the arguments you use with your female patients?

I was "on planet birth", alone with myself and only saying to myself "I can do it". From outside I was getting messages from a friend who was taking care of me.

Did you give birth In the workplace? Did that provide more comfort or was it embarrassing?

I gave birth at my workplace twice. Each time I managed to get under the care of a colleague from my shift. Being in a familiar place, with familiar people gives you a sense of security. The first labor gave me a hard time, it took a long time, the anesthesia, besides diminishing the pain, didn't help at all, I almost ended up having to use a vacuum. The second labor was easier, because I had a better understanding of my physiology, more knowledge of how to deal with the difficulties I faced the first and, as it turned out, also the second time. The midwife who took care of me also already had more experience and knowledge. It was better, however still not easy at all.

Do personal experiences of childbirth change attitudes toward the childbearing charges. Do they affect the level of empathy, understanding of pain allow you to better empathize with the emotions of the parturient.

Definitely. Once you are a mother yourself, your perspective on many things changes. If we have humility and detachment, we can easily use this experience to just have more empathy and understanding for our charges.

Pregnancy is not a disease. And childbirth is a purely medical procedure, yes or no? Or is it something more?

Oh no. Childbirth is a gateway, a moment of transition, of change. A positive birth is a source of power for a woman. It gives confidence that if I gave birth, then few things will be so demanding in life anymore. This is wonderful, because becoming a mother we need such self-confidence to provide good care for our children and not stop despite difficulties.

Is labor pain necessary for anything? Today, childbirth can take place under anesthesia, how many parturients want to use this option?

The pain in labor fuels this hormonal avalanche that triggers contractions. I have a feeling that almost every woman who gives birth for the first time wants to use anesthesia.

For you, is this work a profession or a mission? Surely there is no routine in this work? What is most appealing about it?

I see every day how much good what we do can bring into the lives of women and their families. It gives me the strength not to stop. I enjoy doing it and it gives me satisfaction. However, I wouldn't say that this work is my mission.