What does the midwife do?

You could call the midwife a specialist in the area of regular obstetrics. As long as a pregnancy goes well, the pregnant woman stays in the care of the midwife.
The most important task of the midwife during the pregancy is to detect possible problems or risks. There a couple of deviations during regular pregancies that are being monitored and treated where necessary by the midwife, like stomach problems and anaemia. If a problem rises during the pregancy that the midwife can't judge or treat, e.g. high bloodpressure, the pregnant woman will be directed to a gynaecologist.

The gynaecologist is the specialist when the course of a pregancy is more or less deviating from the norm. The gynaecologist has the appropriate tools and methods for those situations that might threaten the wellbeing of mother and/or child.
Sometimes a pregant woman will be directed back to the midwife by the gynaecologist after examination; in other cases it could be advisable to deliver in a hospital under the care of a gynaecologist.

After a regular pregancy, most women will also have a regular delivery. The midwife will independently supervise the delivering woman at home, or if she chooses so, a domiciliary in and out delivery (also known as a domino delivery) in the hospital. The most important task of the midwife during the delivery will again be the detection of risks for mother and child. Still, there is always a chance for problems.
The midwife has different options for the evaluation and treatment of those problems, like using a doptone to monitor the cardiac sounds of the child and medication for the mother to limit the amount of bloodloss during the delivery. If problems occur during the delivery that the midwife can't judge or treat sufficiently, the woman in labour will be directed to a gynaecologist.

When delivering at home this means that the woman in labour will go to the hospital with her own transportation. Or, when necessary, she will be brought to the hospital by means of an ambulance. In case of a domiciliary in and out delivery the delivering woman does not have to be transported, but you will have to wait for the gynaecologist to come from home or another part of the hospital.

After the delivery the postnatal period begins, in which both mother and child have to adjust to a new situation. A normal postnatal period will be spend at home. The "kraamverzorgster" (the nurse specificly trained to help in this situation to give "kraamzorg" / maternity help) will check mother and child every day for medical inspections and will care for both. The midwife will, in principle and depending on the situation, come by every other day. She has the responsibility for the policy which will be carried out.

The baby will have prove itself in that week, as it were. He or she must begin to urinate and defecate, drink well, regulate his/her temperature, not get any fever and not turn too yellow. The mother will be checked on the recovery from the delivery, the healing of stitches (if any) and the start of breastfeeding. If problems rise after the childbirth and in the postnatal period, it can yet be necessary that the mother been taken to the hospital for admission at the gynecological section or that the baby will be admitted to the incubator section of the hospital. After release from the hospital, the midwife will visit the mother and child at home to evaluate (or adjust, when needed) the situation.

The midwife will perform a final check on the young mother approximately six weeks after the delivery. The emphasis will be on the recovery of the woman after her pregnancy and delivery.

We hope the above gives you a clear image on the role we as midwife fulfill during your pregancy and childbirth. If any questions arise, we will gladly answers them during consultation hours.

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