Midwife-led Care
How to Start Midwife-Led Care
Every mom gives birth under the care of an Independent Midwife practice based at our clinic. Your chosen midwife will manage your labour and birth, supported by our clinic’s staff midwives. This establishes a unique, supportive relationship, offering continuous care throughout your pregnancy, birth, and the postnatal period.
*Please note that the Independent Midwives fees are separate from the Genesis Clinic’s facility fees.
What you Can Expect Under The Care of a Midwife
✽ Continuous Labour Support
✽ Lower Rates of Induced Labour
✽ Lower Rates of Episiotomies
✽ Lower Rates of Caesarean
✽ Lower Rates of Perineal Tears
✽ Back-Up in Case of a Caesarean
✽ Postnatal Support
✽ Empowering Informed Choices
✽ Antenatal Education + Support
✽ Supports VBAC
✽ Higher Breastfeeding Success
✽ Doula support is encouraged.
✽ Respect for Cultural Beliefs
✽ Family-Centred Approach
Midwifery Model of Care
The Midwifery Model of Care:
The Midwifery Model of Care isn’t just a set of practices; it’s a profound philosophy that redefines the experience of pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood. At its heart, it’s about trusting a woman’s innate physiological capacity for birth and placing her unique journey, desires, and well-being at the very centre of her care.
- Woman-Centred and Individualised: This model recognises that every woman, every pregnancy, and every birth is unique. Care is deeply personal, tailored to her specific needs, preferences, and circumstances. It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach; it’s about listening intently to the woman and respecting her choices.
- Focus on Normal Physiological Process: Midwives view pregnancy and birth as healthy, natural life events, not medical conditions. Their role is to support and facilitate this natural process, intervening only when medically necessary. This often means encouraging active labour, upright birthing positions, and allowing the woman’s body’s wisdom to lead the way.
- Empowerment and Informed Choice: A cornerstone of midwifery care is empowering women through education and support. Midwives provide comprehensive, evidence-based information, discuss all available options, and encourage women to make informed decisions that align with their values. It’s about the woman being an active participant in her care, not just a recipient.
- Continuous, Compassionate Support: The relationship with the midwife is central. It’s built on trust and continuity. From the initial antenatal visits through labour, birth, and the crucial postnatal period, the midwife is a consistent presence, offering emotional, physical, and informational support. This steady presence fosters security and reduces anxiety.
- Holistic Well-being: Midwives consider not just the physical aspects but also the woman’s emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being. This integrated approach acknowledges that birth is a profound life event affecting every part of her and her family. They discuss nutrition, emotional health, relationship changes, and preparation for parenthood.
- Skilled Vigilance and Safety: While promoting natural birth, midwives are highly skilled healthcare professionals, rigorously trained to recognise and manage potential complications. They constantly monitor the health of both mother and baby, identifying deviations from normal and acting swiftly. This includes seamless integration with medical colleagues for consultation or collaboration when a higher level of medical intervention becomes necessary. It’s a balanced approach: trusting the natural process while always prioritising safety.
In essence, the Midwifery Model of Care cultivates a nurturing partnership, fostering an environment where a woman feels respected, safe, and powerful. It’s about supporting a fulfilling and positive birth experience that honours her body, her baby, and her journey into motherhood.
Evidence-Based Research:
We focus on your natural birthing ability with consistent, gentle care, an evidence-based approach that supports positive outcomes. This includes:
- Birth as a Natural Process: It views pregnancy and birth as natural life events for most individuals, not inherently medical conditions. The focus is on supporting this natural process.
- Individualised Care: Care is tailored to the specific needs, values, and preferences of the pregnant woman and her family. This involves open communication and shared decision-making.
- Continuity of Care: You’ll see the same midwife or a small team throughout your pregnancy, labour, birth, and postnatal period. This fosters a trusting and familiar relationship.
- Hands-On, Low-Intervention Approach: Midwives expertly support labour and birth with minimal medical interventions, emphasising comfort techniques, emotional support, and allowing the body to work naturally. Interventions are applied responsibly and when medically necessary.
- Empowerment: The model aims to empower pregnant individuals to be active participants in their care, making informed choices and trusting their bodies.
- Holistic Perspective: Midwives consider the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being of the pregnant woman and her family.
- Preventative Care and Education: Emphasis is placed on education, nutrition, and lifestyle choices to promote a healthy pregnancy and birth.
The enduring value of midwifery care resonates across the globe and throughout history.
*Accredited websites providing information on the benefits of midwifery-led care and health outcomes for pregnant women:
Medical Back-Up:
Should a Caesarean birth become necessary, our comprehensive support systems are readily available. In the event of a required Caesarean Section, your OBGYN and medical team will be immediately accessible. Ensuring the safety of both you and your baby is our top priority, which is why we have all necessary medical backup in place. We also encourage mothers to utilise their support networks throughout pregnancy, labour, delivery, and the postnatal period, reflecting our family-centred approach where the baby remains with the mother unless specialised medical care is required.
Holistic Pain Management:
Comprehensive Pain Relief Support: Midwives offer support for both medical and non-medical pain relief options.
Effective Non-Medical Strategies: Midwives utilise evidence-based non-pharmacological methods such as encouragement, massage, relaxation techniques, water immersion, position changes, and potentially homeopathic remedies, often enhanced by the support of a Doula.
Minimising Intervention Risks: This approach aims to reduce the risks associated with many standard medical pain relief interventions and hospital protocols for both mother and baby.
Comprehensive and Ongoing Support:
Attentive and Sensitive Care: Midwives provide attentive, sensitive, and emotionally attuned care throughout the labour process.
Postnatal Well-being: Midwives focus on ensuring successful breastfeeding, mother-infant bonding, and a smooth transition to motherhood.
Long-Term Relationship: Midwifery care often extends beyond the immediate postnatal period, establishing a potentially lifelong relationship focused on women’s health and well-being.
Click here to learn more about our dedicated team of highly skilled midwives.
"We have a secret in our culture, and it's not that birth is painful. It's that women are strong."