Aida Kaman Stephens
January 13, 2005, 06:44 PM
Midwives do nothing better
Often when I am asked what do I do as an Independent Midwife that is different to normal practice, I answer that I am happy to do nothing. Doing nothing is a valid option in the way I practice, provided there are no compelling clinical reasons to do something other than that. It can be an uncomfortable place to be in at times. To just sit there, on my hands, barely speaking for fear of breaking the trance that the labouring woman is in and at the same time trying to project to the partner, through my body language, assurance that everything is fine. Your baby is well. Leave her be. This is all normal.
Often the temptation to engage the woman in some verbal interaction becomes overwhelming. You want to know where she is at, what she is feeling so you can pre-empt what your next course of action should be. It’s the brain trying to exercise some degree of control on the present situation. When I get this way, I remind myself again that doing nothing is a valid option. It isn’t rocket science, there isn’t a formula to it. This woman is birthing her baby - a small miracle unfolding before you.
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