By Jack Minch, jminch@sentinelandenterprise.com
Posted: 12/11/2011 06:34:50 AM EST
Jennifer Matoney lives in Worcester but traveled to HealthAlliance Hospital in Leominster to give birth to her first baby Aug. 28 because she liked the midwife program.
"During my pregnancy, it was to have what I considered not only medical care but more of emotional-based care," Matoney said. "Just the way midwives treat you I found to be a lot better than other medical staff that I had been exposed to before."
Her daughter Cascade "Cassie" Reif Matoney was born weighing 6 pounds, 14 ounces after a 34-hour labor.
Matoney is certain an obstetrician would have wanted to perform a caesarean section earlier.
Professionals say midwives let nature take its course while doctors often favor medical procedures when children are born.
"Midwives tend to see pregnancy as a normal state of health rather than as a condition," said Amanda Molter, a midwife at Family Medical and Maternity Care in Leominster. "In general, we tend to intervene a lot less if things are going well and everybody is well and happy."
A doctor is always available if a woman in labor has complications, she said.
There are about five levels of midwifery services, including the certified nurse-midwife who is licensed as a nurse and midwife; a certified professional midwife who meets the standards set by the North American Registry of Midwives; and a lay midwife who is self-taught or learns through an apprenticeship.
HealthAlliance had five certified nurse-midwives working at Montachusett Women's Health but three of them resigned recently.
To read the rest of this article click here.