birth junkie wrote:
wrote:

I'd guess that a bigger difference (allowing the typical midwife to
spend more time with the laboring woman) is simply the size and scope
of the practice. Midwives have fewer patients (and since they usually
only handle childbirth they DON'T also have patients with gyn-related
concerns), and are able to plan their schedule so that they won't have
more than a few women due any single week. I'm sure that when OB's are
hanging out in the hospital anyway, they aren't just sitting in the
doctor's lounge watching Oprah while waiting for Mrs. Jones to crown.
They are tending to the other 5 women who are in labor at the same
time, being called down to the ER to check on OB/GYN-related cases,
doing emergency c-sections, and much more.

Naomi

All the more reason to hire a midwife OBs can have their
emergencies and women can get better one-on-one care. Everyone's happy.

Though (just being practical here) until there are more midwives
available, everyone CAN'T hire a midwife. If a midwife finds herself
with 20 patients all due in the same week, she won't be able to sit
with them for hours on end either! (Another post commented about
doctors taking on lots of patients so they can make lots of money.
Unfortunately, that really isn't the case. Doctors take on lots of
patients because lots of women need doctors. I'm sure most OB/GYNs
would be thrilled to have smaller patient loads.)

So here's hoping that the number of midwives WILL increase, so everyone
WILL be happy!

Naomi