Welcome! I’m Heather, a licensed midwife serving families in San Antonio, TX. If you are reading this, then chances are you might be welcoming a new member into your family very soon. There’s probably a lot of new and confusing terms you have heard while on this journey, so let me help shed some light on a term you have probably heard before, the midwifery model of care.
The midwifery model of care stands apart from other models by focusing on the pregnant woman, making her wellbeing, experience, and comfort the central focus of prenatal care. This model sees each soon-to-be mother as a unique person, with their own expectations, beliefs, knowledge, and worries about their pregnancy. The midwife’s duty is to assist with more than just the birth itself, but also to provide support and comfort throughout this journey.
Focus Of The Midwifery Model
In order to provide the most comfortable and safe experience for the mother and child, this model focuses on a few core principles.
- Monitoring the physical, psychological, and social well-being of the mother throughout the pregnancy.
- Providing the mother with counseling, education, and emotional support from prenatal support to postpartum care.
- Reducing interventions for a more natural birthing experience
- Most importantly, ensuring the health and safety of both mother and child.
The midwifery model was first formed by the Midwives Alliance of North America (MANA) in 1996. While we say this model was “formed” it’s more appropriate to think of this as a set of guidelines, rather than any hard set rules.
A Personalized Birthing Experience
Each birth is unique, and every mother’s wants and needs vary from person to person. Having said that, there are some desires which tend to be universal, the desire to be heard, to be supported during a difficult time, and the desire to not feel alone. These feelings are normal, and everyone has felt this way at some point. Every family has a story and our goal is to flip the narrative on this chapter. Turning your pregnancy from a time of worry and concern into a comforting and nurturing experience.
This model goes beyond standard obstetrics, which seeks to just deliver the baby. Instead this model is a more time and relationship-intensive process in which the midwife will be there to attend the birth and lend her knowledge and experience the entire time. The midwife provides their own physical and emotional support throughout this entire journey, not just at the critical moments. We will be with you every step of the way during this precious time.
Connect with me to embark on this truly one-of-a-kind journey as we bring your child into the world together.
To your beautiful new beginning,
Heather Hilton Johnson
Certified Midwife
