Are you considering delivery by midwife for the birth of your child? If not, it may be something you want to consider. Many hospitals now have midwives deliver during normal pregnancies and deliveries, but will have a doctor around in case they are needed. These midwives are actually nurse-midwives.

Midwifery has changed quite a bit since it originated. The word midwife comes from Old English meaning “with woman”. Midwives started to become licensed around the 1500’s in Europe where midwifery is a common practice. When the practice was first picked up by the United States in the early 20th century, midwives were ignorant to the scientific advances for fighting infection. During this time, women were far more likely to die in the care of a midwife than under a doctor’s care. Much has improved since then. (more…)