Long Island Midwives website is an educational outreach and directory for licensed midwives living and practicing on or near Long Island. Our purpose is to provide you, the consumer with information about finding a midwife for your complete woman care and childbirth needs. We've also included information which may be of interest to you; childbirth statistics from Long Island hospitals, a history of midwifery in the US as well as a directory of LI doulas and childbirth educators. We hope you find the information helpful. For additional information you can contact us either by email or phone. Those numbers are at the bottom of our home page.

The Essence of Midwifery

He who uttered the words "Routine Delivery"

Or hastily wrote "Normal Spontaneous Delivery" as one further procedure

in a busy day

Couldn't have really been with her.

He couldn't have been

Or he would have felt her muscles as they

worked

strained

pushed

that infant into the world.

He couldn't have been,

Or he would have truly felt her perspiration weep from her body as she

reached for strength deep within.

No, he couldn't have really been with her.

If he were, he would have appreciated her expression as it changed from

excitement, to concentration, to fear and peace.

He couldn't have held her.

Whispering

"You're almost there"

"You're doing se beautifully"

"You are so strong"

Routine delivery.

He couldn't have been there.

He couldn't have taken time

to pause in awe and wonder

as that little head came slowly, ever so slowly,

and the eyes opened and looked out with such trust and wisdom

Procedure - normal spontaneous delivery

He couldn't have been with her.

He couldn't have marveled as she reached down, drawing her daughter to

her breast

Laughing, shouting, crying -- all the emotions of birth.

No, he couldn't have been with her.

For she who has been with woman knows there is no routine birth, and that

delivery is not a procedure

Being with woman is opening up,

sharing,

loving,

caring,

Being with woman is truly being a midwife.

The Heart of Midwifery

The heart of Midwifery care for women and newborns lies more in the nature of that care than in its specific components.  Midwifery practice has a firm foundation in the critical thought process and is focused on the prevention of disease and the promotion of health, taking the best from the disciplines of midwifery, nursing, public health, and medicine to provide safe, holistic care.

Midwives are partners with women in the provision of health care, engaging in a dynamic re-evaluation of each woman's unique health needs.

Midwives would rather nurture a woman's progress with hands on care than diagnose her problems from afar

rather listen than lecture,

rather teach a health principle than treat an illness,

rather empower a woman to join in decision-making than decide for her,

rather urge her to speak for herself than to be her advocate,

rather support natural processes than employ technological interventions,

rather instill a woman with trust in her body than demonstrate the midwife's technical proficiency... although midwives will do all these things when necessary.

Midwifery is a profession born of a woman's vision, nurtured in an understanding of women's developmental phases, and committed to assuring women in all populations that it is their birthright to be part of this unique care.

Copyright @1997 American College of Nurse Midwives, Visionary Planning Summit 1993,

Primary author:  Nancy Fleming, CNM, Ph.D.