In Praise Of The Baby Catchers

Newcastle Herald

Tuesday May 6, 2003

IN the beginning, there were midwives. The book of Genesis in the Bible describes the birthing experience of Rachel - ``And as she was having great difficulty in childbirth, the midwife said to her, `Don't be afraid, for you have another son'."

Across the world and throughout time, mothers have turned to their midwife for support and comfort during the trials and joys of childbirth.

The Amish people call the practice of midwifery ``catching babies" but as Rosalee Shaw Clinical Midwife Consultant at John Hunter Hospital describes, a midwife is more than just a baby catcher.

``Midwifery is a partnership with the mother," Ms Shaw said.

``Midwives are professionally trained to provide support and advice to women during pregnancy, labour and for the first few days after the birth."

It all sounds very clinical. But, in reality it is more about relationships and guidance.

``Our area of expertise is the birthing process, but we also provide advice on family planning, nutrition, gynaecology, infant care and lactation. Sometimes new mothers are just looking for a friend, someone to talk to, or just hold their hand so we do that too," she said.

Ms Shaw says the concept of a woman supporting a woman during birth is very natural.

The word midwife is derived from the Anglo-Saxon phrase meaning ``with woman" or the French translation ``sage-femme" meaning ``wise woman".

However, it is important to note that modern midwifery is not exclusively female. There are a handful of male midwives in NSW, and currently one trainee male midwife in the Hunter.

Whether male or female, all agree the midwife provides a fundamental role in supporting a woman through the child-bearing cycle, not just the ``day of confinement".

Kate Braye, who has been a midwife for more than 20 years, advocates a holistic care approach.

``It's not just about `delivering' a baby. It's about caring for the whole woman both physically and emotionally. It's about supporting her and her family before, during and after the birth," she said.

``It is incredibly humbling to be there at such an intimate time in their lives. To be present at the beginning of a new life is such a great gift.

``And seeing the average Newcastle bloke with such raw emotion on his face is just priceless."

In 500 BCE, Dao De Jing said ``You are a midwife: you are assisting at someone else's birth. Do good without show of fuss... If you must take the lead, lead so that the mother is helped, yet still free and in charge. ``When the baby is born, the mother will rightly say: We did it ourselves!"

Ms Braye agrees. ``Our aim is for the mother to feel that giving birth is something that she has done, not something that was done to her. She should feel that her birthing experience is not a medical condition, but a natural process."

All of this they do so selflessly, day in and day out. After spending hours with a highly demanding and emotional expectant mother, they go home to bath, feed and nurture their own children, then turn around and do it all again the next day.

Each year, thousands of families across the Hunter experience the benefits of midwifery support during their childbirth experiences. So this week, take some time to think back to the birth of your children, remember the kind words and the supportive touch.

These very special health professionals, who date back to Biblical times, and they are more than just ``baby catchers".

NOTE: Information in this article sourced from Hunter Health, Australian College of Midwives Incorporated, and "Eve's Wisdom" by Deborah Jackson (Duncan Baid Publishers, 1999).

Angel of mercy

``I'm leaning over the bed. My contractions are getting stronger and I am now convinced that I will not survive the whole process. I never imagined it would be quite so awful. My head is pounding, and it feels like my hips are separating and my spine is slowly being severed. The pain seems unbearable. My husband clumsily rubs my back and mumbles something that resembles encouragement.

``There are only so many times you need to hear `you can do it' in a four-hour period. My mother strokes my hair and tells me that I'm very brave. But I don't feel brave, I feel out-of-control. I love them both, but they are very little help. Then it happens. Through the gassed-induced haze a vision of beauty appears. It is my midwife, and she very softly takes control, gently suggesting my husband has a rest, asking my mother to get me a drink of water. She takes over massaging my back... her fingers hit exactly the right spots, her words of reassurance are just what I need to hear and somehow I know it'll all be ok."

- Anonymous new mum.