Certified Professional Midwives are qualified to manage a variety of medical complications, and part of their training includes knowing when to transport safely to the hospital should it become necessary. Safety is a very important issue with us. At CCBC, we are concerned with both your safety and the safety of your baby. We will never take unnecessary risks just to have a baby at the center. As much as we would love to deliver your baby, it is even more important to have a healthy baby and mother.
Our transport rate is still very low, even though we are conservative and transport sooner than later. If there are early warning signs that the birth might need medical assistance, we seriously consider transporting. We will consider your input and wishes in this decision as long as it is not a true emergency. True 911 emergencies are extremely rare but even if they do happen, we are equipped to keep both mother and baby safe and stable during any true emergency transport.
At CCBC we are equipped to stop hemorrhaging if needed. We have emergency medication for hemorrhage. This requires standing orders from a physician and we have standing orders.
We also have available at all times oxygen and resuscitation equipment. Every member of our birth team is trained and certified in infant and adult CPR as well as neonatal resuscitation. This is one of the advantages of choosing CCBC.
We are often asked about cord around the neck. Midwives can unwrap umbilical cords from around necks and torsos. And in the great majority of cases, this in not considered an emergency. Rarely does a cord create an emergency situation but when it does, midwives know how to respond appropriately. On rare occasions a cord might prevent a baby from being born vaginally. But even if that were to happen, there are early indicators and we are able to safely transport to a hospital for a surgical delivery.
We monitor the baby’s heart beat regularly and are able to assess the position of the baby as well as the contractions. The main difference between how monitoring is done at the birth center and in the hospital is that what we do requires us to be physically present. But this also give you freedom to move around as much as you want. You will never be required to stay in a bed, strapped to a machine just so a nurse can watch you (and other patients) from her work station down the hall. The attention you get from us is personal and one-on-one. So you will always be free to move around and labor as you like. You can even be in the water because our Doppler is water-proof.
Our culture has instilled in us a fear of the natural experience of birth and a fear of our bodies. In countries where women are supported in their desire and ability for a natural birth (Northern Europe leads this charge), babies and mothers have the lowest mortality rates. When it comes to safely, natural birth is safe birth, and midwives are the experts in natural birth.