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Essay / Maternity Care - 875
Being pregnant and giving birth are a natural part of life. Women have been doing it since the beginning of humanity. In the 1900s, childbirth was considered a normal part of the life cycle and the majority of births were attended at home by midwives and sometimes doctors. With the era of medicine and technology in Western society, the use of painkillers and anesthetics has increased among pregnant women. During the baby boom generation in the 1940s and 1950s, hospital births became the norm, with 80% of women giving birth sedated or unconscious. The mother either gave birth naturally or was completely sedated and gave birth while unconscious. In the 1970s, epidural analgesia became a safer option to allow women to be alert and conscious during childbirth without feeling most of the pain associated with labor. Today, maternity care can be provided by obstetricians, family physicians and certified nurse-midwives. . The decision about what type of provider a woman chooses usually depends on her health, condition, and personal beliefs. Certified nurse midwives who work in a doctor's office also deliver babies in a hospital setting. They provide prenatal care to women during normal pregnancies and work collaboratively with doctors if complications arise. Many women who choose a natural (medication-free) birth method typically choose nurse midwives for their maternity care. However, this does not mean that doctors cannot provide the same type of support. Early in pregnancy, a woman should interview several caregivers to decide which one will best support her goals. Topeka's Lincoln Center midwives Rebecca Otte, CNM and Leslie Arnold, CNM provide maternity care to low-risk individuals...... middle of paper ...... as a suitable setting for their birth experience. Women remember each of their children's birth experiences for the rest of their lives. In order to have a satisfying birth experience, a woman must have an open line of communication with her caregivers, whether it's her doctor or nurse in the delivery room. Education also plays a key role in having a natural childbirth. Attending childbirth classes and reading books will help a woman prepare and make the best possible decisions for her baby. Having a birth plan, whether written or oral, is a good way to make a woman's wishes clear to her caregiver. Planning and preparation are important, but a woman should always plan for the unexpected and be flexible if the birth doesn't go exactly as planned. Pregnancies and births are different for everyone and the ultimate goal of caregivers is to have a healthy mother and baby..