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How Midwives Support You Through Pregnancy

October 18, 2016

Up until the early 20th century, midwives attended the majority of births in the United States. However, from 1935 to 1975 the number of births in the United States attended by midwives declined to a staggering low 1%.1 A number of factors led to this decline. Advances in modern medicine led more women to choose to give birth in a hospital where a physician could administer anesthesia. Despite evidence that midwives had better birth outcomes than physicians, public education campaigns of the time encouraged women to embrace the new “modern medicine” model.

Since 1975, the use of midwives has been increasing. With new accreditations, training programs and certifications, midwives are able to support women and babies throughout the pregnancy process in more ways than ever before.

Prenatal Care2

Women typically know they are pregnant between four and six weeks after conception. During this early time in a woman’s pregnancy and during each prenatal care visit, a midwife will check the mother’s blood pressure and weight, measure the growth of the baby, listen to the baby’s heartbeat and order and review needed tests. In addition to reviewing physical attributes, a midwife provides the expecting mother with information and resources on diet, exercise, stress management and prenatal vitamins. Midwives are also able to provide support with the physical and emotional changes that occur with pregnancy. Throughout the pregnancy and as delivery approaches, the midwife helps the expecting mother develop her birth plan.

Pain Management During Labor2

During labor, women experience many types of pain in a wide range of intensity. Midwives are experts in helping women decide how to cope with childbirth pain. Midwives tap into a number of pain management options include: movement, massage, water immersion, relaxation techniques, epidurals, narcotics or other medications.

Post Birth and Recovery2

Four to six weeks after delivery, a mother will have a postpartum checkup with her midwife. At that appointment, the midwife will examine the size, shape and location of the woman’s uterus as well as other aspects of the reproductive system. Blood pressure, weight, breasts and vaginal discharge will also be evaluated. If the mother had a cesarean birth, her stitches and abdominal wall will be evaluated. In addition to a physical examination, the midwife will discuss parenting, relationship issues, social support, sex, birth control, exercise, diet, breastfeeding and emotional concerns.

Breastfeeding

As a mother begins breastfeeding, her midwife will serve as a source of information and support. Midwives are able to answer questions and provide guidance on how to breastfeed. They can connect mothers to professional lactation consultants if difficulties arise. In the event of breastfeeding related difficulties, such as infections or sore nipples, midwives can provide solutions to ease and avoid discomfort.

Prenatal Vitamins to Support Mom & Baby

Prenate® is committed to providing nutritional support for mothers and babies. With products designed with the patient in mind, Prenate® offers a line of prescription prenatal vitamins for the stages and special needs of each pregnancy. Talk to your doctor to see if Prenate® vitamins may be right for you to help fill nutritional gaps.

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Connect with Prenate®

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

WARNING: Accidental overdose of iron-containing products is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children under 6. Keep this product out of reach of children. In case of accidental overdose, call a doctor or poison control center immediately.

WARNING: Ingestion of more than 3 grams of omega-3 fatty acids (such as DHA) per day has been shown to have potential antithrombotic effects, including an increased bleeding time and International Normalized Ratio (INR). Administration of omega-3 fatty acids should be avoided in patients taking anticoagulants and in those known to have an inherited or acquired predisposition to bleeding.

This site and its contents are an information resource only, and are neither intended to nor should be used in replacement of your doctor or other prescribing professional’s medical guidance, recommendations or advice. Neither this site nor its information should be used or relied upon for any diagnostic, medical, treatment, nutritional or other purpose. All aspects of pregnancy, including whether pregnancy is right for you, and the nourishment and care of your child, should be made with your doctor and other appropriate medical professional, and in consideration of your and your child’s particular medical history. Avion Pharmaceuticals, LLC (“Avion”) makes no representation, warranty or other undertaking that this site or its information are appropriate for you or your child’s specific needs or issues, and further expressly disclaims all damages, losses, injuries or liability whatsoever incurred or alleged to have been incurred in consequence of your reliance on the information on this site. Avion does not endorse any test, procedure, treatment, remedy, therapy, cure, nutritional regimen, method or other activity or undertaking that you and/or your doctor or other medical professional may elect or recommend. By visiting this site you agree to these terms and conditions and acknowledge that you have read and understand the same. These terms and conditions, together with any information on this site, may be amended, restated or otherwise changed from time to time and at any time by Avion within the sole, absolute and uncontrolled exercise of its discretion. You acknowledge and agree that Avion has no duty or obligation to keep you informed of any amendments to, restatements of or other changes to these terms and conditions or this site, and that you are solely and exclusively responsible for apprising yourself of the same.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

WARNING: Accidental overdose of iron-containing products is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children under 6. Keep this product out of reach of children. In case of accidental overdose, call a doctor or poison control center immediately.

WARNING: Ingestion of more than 3 grams of omega-3 fatty acids (such as DHA) per day has been shown to have potential antithrombotic effects, including an increased bleeding time and International Normalized Ratio (INR). Administration of omega-3 fatty acids should be avoided in patients taking anticoagulants and in those known to have an inherited or acquired predisposition to bleeding.

This site and its contents are an information resource only, and are neither intended to nor should be used in replacement of your doctor or other prescribing professional’s medical guidance, recommendations or advice. Neither this site nor its information should be used or relied upon for any diagnostic, medical, treatment, nutritional or other purpose. All aspects of pregnancy, including whether pregnancy is right for you, and the nourishment and care of your child, should be made with your doctor and other appropriate medical professional, and in consideration of your and your child’s particular medical history. Avion Pharmaceuticals, LLC (“Avion”) makes no representation, warranty or other undertaking that this site or its information are appropriate for you or your child’s specific needs or issues, and further expressly disclaims all damages, losses, injuries or liability whatsoever incurred or alleged to have been incurred in consequence of your reliance on the information on this site. Avion does not endorse any test, procedure, treatment, remedy, therapy, cure, nutritional regimen, method or other activity or undertaking that you and/or your doctor or other medical professional may elect or recommend. By visiting this site you agree to these terms and conditions and acknowledge that you have read and understand the same. These terms and conditions, together with any information on this site, may be amended, restated or otherwise changed from time to time and at any time by Avion within the sole, absolute and uncontrolled exercise of its discretion. You acknowledge and agree that Avion has no duty or obligation to keep you informed of any amendments to, restatements of or other changes to these terms and conditions or this site, and that you are solely and exclusively responsible for apprising yourself of the same.

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