Midwives & Doulas

We now offer information on homebirth midwives in Hermiston, Umatilla, and Milton Freewater, Oregon and surrounding areas!

Midwives
Midwife means “with woman.” Traditionally, women have attended and assisted other women during labor and birth. As modern medicine emerged, birth became a medical event that took place in the hospital with a doctor. Childbirth was viewed as pathological rather than a normal, natural process, and unnecessary medical techniques and interventions became common.

During the 1960s and 1970s homebirth and the midwifery movement came back to life and have been growing ever since. Midwives are becoming more and more involved with birthing families and are helping redefine birth as the normal, natural event that it is.

Midwives are skilled professionals who provide personalized, more natural care in a variety of settings, including birth centers, homes and hospitals. We are blessed in the Tricities area to have midwives that work in all three of these settings.

Because choosing a midwife is a very important decision we would love to assist you in the process by explaining the different types of midwives available in the TriCities area. If you would like contact information for midwives in the TriCities area please e-mail us or call us at (509) 205-7473. We would be happy to help you and answer any questions you may have.

CNM (Certified Nurse Midwife)
A CNM is a registered nurse with a master’s degree in midwifery. She usually works in a hospital and/or birth center. Some CNM’s also do homebirths.

CPM (Certified Professional Midwife)
A CPM has recieved specialized midwifery education and training in out of hospital birth and has been certified by the North American Registry of Midwives. Her focus is homebirth.

LM (Licenced Midwife)
A Licenced Midwife has recieved specialized midwifery education and training in out of hospital birth and is licenced through the state. Her focus is homebirth.

Lay Midwife
A Lay Midwife has aquired her skills through self study and an apprenticship with an experienced midwife. Her focus is homebirth.

Doulas

A doula is a woman experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to the birthing family before, during and after childbirth. Doulas are trained proffessionals who understand the needs of mothers and their families during this time. Research has proven that continuous support from a doula during labor provides physical and emotional benefits for moms and babies. A doula is not a Dr., nurse or midwife. She is not trained to make medical decisions. However, her training includes learning about the usual medical interventions so that she can explain them to parents and they can then make an informed choice regarding their care. Douas offer support in hospitals, birth centers and at home births. So, what does a doula actually do to help the mother?

* Meet with the family during the third trimester to get to know them and learn in detail what their expectaions and wishes are for their birth and what the mother has found helpful to encourage her to relax and cope in stressful situations

* Provide education and resources about pregnancy, childbirth and the newborn

* Help develop a birth plan

* Attend labor and birth as a support for moms and their families

* Offer breastfeeding support, education and resources for the postpartum period

Benefits of having a doula

Shortens the length of labor

Decreases the need for pain medication

Enhances bonding and breastfeeding

Reduces the need for cesarean section

TriCities Natural Birth can help you find a doula. If you would like more information on doulas in the TriCities area please e-mail us at info@tricitiesnaturalbirth.com or call us at (509) 205-7473.

Every woman deserves a doula…