health kit: midwives

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HEALTH KIT

DELIVERING COMFORT A NEW MIDWIFERY PRACTICE AT COMMUNITY NORTH FOCUSES ON A NATURAL, WOMAN-CENTERED APPROACH

By Dawn Olsen

After shadowing a midwife in northern Indiana’s Amish community, Jill Kocher knew what she wanted to do – become a midwife herself. The opportunity to witness natural childbirths and interact, not just with a mother, but with an entire family, taught her how to approach childbirth holistically. “I was looking at it from a complete perspective,” Kocher said. “Emotionally, spiritually, everything.” Today, Kocher has a master’s degree in midwifery from the University of Indianapolis and 10 years of experience. She’s also one of four certified nurse midwives at Community Hospital North, the highestdelivering facility in the state. (In 2019, there were 5,000 deliveries!) Because of the high number of births, and because of the need to offer mothers more birthing options, Community North opened a new midwifery practice in November. When asked about the practice, C’Aira Hermesch, manager of operations for maternal fetal medicine, midwifery care, and multi-specialty care, described midwifery as “the healthcare of the future”.

Currently, about one-third of babies in the United States are born via C-section. Hence the increased interest in midwives.

INTEREST IN MIDWIFERY IS GROWING. While OB/GYNs still provide care for a majority of women, the number of expectant mothers who opt for midwives is growing. That’s partially due to rising Caesarean rates; currently, about one-third of babies in the United States are born via C-section. The high rate of surgery, combined with other interventions, has led to an increased interest in midwives, who have cemented their reputation for offering a natural, woman-centered approach to birth. “When I take care of a woman, I want her to feel safe in the space that she enters into,” Kocher said. “I want her to feel comfortable chatting and telling me what she needs during that pregnancy and birth. I want [the mothers] to feel relaxed and that I will be there to meet their needs.” For Kocher, that means meeting with expectant mothers to discuss self-care during pregnancy, treatment options (both natural and prescription), how they would like to give birth and how they would like the room to feel during the birthing process. In other words, Kocher and her fellow midwives provide personalized care for women who want to experience childbirth as naturally as possible.

MIDWIVES CAN PROVIDE THE SAME CARE AS OB/GYNS. “Midwives are health care professionals … who develop a trusting relationship with their clients,” Hermesch said. “Midwifery care is uniquely nurturing, hands-on care before, during and after birth.” She added that midwives can provide the same services as OB/GYNs, including annual gynecological exams, STI screening, family planning, labor and delivery care, preconception care, prenatal care, menopausal management and breastfeeding advice. The certified nurse midwives at Community North can also prescribe and/or administer medicine. “The biggest difference between midwives and traditional care,” Kocher said, “is that we like to present options and help facilitate conversations. That way, moms and families can make the best choice for their family in a nonjudgmental environment.

Jill Kocher (left), a midwife at Community Hospital North, poses with Bailey and Clay Orander. The Oranders’ daughter, Millie Kate, was the first baby born at the hospital’s new midwifery practice.

MEET THE MOMS WHO OPTED FOR COMMUNITY HOSPITAL NORTH. The midwives’ ability to listen – truly listen – to mothers’ needs is what sold Fishers couple Bailey and Clay Orander. They were among the first parents to use the midwifery program at Community North. Their daughter, Millie Kate, was born December 13, 2019, and was the facility’s first baby birthed by a midwife. Violet and Grant Short, who live in Indianapolis, were also one of the first couples to have a child at the new practice. Their son, Emery, was born January 1, making him the third baby born at the practice, and Community North’s first baby of 2020. “I was excited to have Jill in the delivery room!” Violet said. “I definitely felt that this delivery was much smoother, simpler and far quicker than my last.” Violet described the maternity ward as comfortable and beautiful, and said the environment was conducive to a peaceful birth. “Having a tub available for labor was another huge plus,” she added. Violet Short (left) and her husband, Grant, welcomed Emery to the world on January 1. Emery was the third baby born at the new midwifery practice, and Community North’s first baby of 2020.

MIDWIVES ADVOCATE FOR MOTHERS. Because every mother is different, the birthing rooms at Community North have hydropathy (a tub), showers and squat bars, birthing stools, birthing balls and aromatherapy. In addition to providing various labor options, the midwives also ask, “What does this room need? What does it not need?” By focusing on the overall atmosphere, the midwives are able to create a comfortable environment where mothers feel safe and can focus on labor. For Kocher, it’s all about support. “I greatly enjoy being able to encourage women during one of the most transformative times of their lives.” Kocher’s approach to childbirth is what drew Violet to the idea of working with her. “To me, having a midwife is about having a friend that’s completely on my side, ready to hear my needs,” she said. “Women’s bodies are more than capable and should be treated as such.”

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A MIDWIFE AND A DOULA? Doulas and midwives offer different services, even though they both support the childbirth experience. Midwives have medical training and focus on delivering a healthy baby. Doulas offer mental, physical and emotional support to the mother. Doulas also stay at a mother’s bedside as a “coach”. (Midwives, however, may have other patients to check on.) Interested in working with a doula? Check out the doula program at Community Health, where you can hire one for $350. It’s not uncommon for a midwife and a doula to work together! WHAT TYPES OF SERVICES DOES A MIDWIFE PROVIDE? Midwives can provide the same services as OB/GYNs, including annual gynecological exams, STI screening, family planning, labor and delivery care, preconception care, prenatal care, menopausal management and breastfeeding advice. They also provide reproductive education in fertility, nutrition, exercise, contraception, pregnancy health, breastfeeding and quality infant care.

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