10 questions for a midwife about childbirth
Midwife Rita Hüning explains how she takes care of women during the birth and what other important tasks they have to do around the birth.
Why is a childbirth preparation course useful?
Information, body perception, relaxation are the contents of childbirth preparation courses. Together with the trust and the confidence to be able to master a birth, they are a prerequisite for birth. They also enable contact with other parents.
How do you recognize real contractions?
Labor pains are characterized by an increase in pain intensity, last about one to one and a half minutes, and the intervals become shorter. The mothers often have increased bowel movements, possibly diarrhea; light spotting may occur. Women are becoming increasingly taciturn because they are busy giving birth.
The contractions are starting
When will you be called?
Parents get in touch if they no longer feel that they are in good hands at home. We usually meet at the hospital.
A young mother gives birth to her first child
How do you help her during childbirth?
With an undisturbed birth and a mobile mother, I support her in her needs. Many women feel the direction of labor more clearly when they are in an upright position. In such a position – eg on a birthing stool – you can push your child out very effectively.
What is your job right after the birth?
The most important task is to disturb this phase as little as possible and to give parents and child space and time to perceive and greet each other. Otherwise, the placenta is born, the mother is examined for birth injuries, the child is first attached if the mother wants to breastfeed, and then later the U1, weighing and measuring the child.
A mother would like to have a home birth
What does she have to consider? Are the costs of a home birth covered by health insurance?
Parents planning a home birth need to find a midwife early on. The pregnancy must be uncomplicated and a detailed maternal medical history is taken. Home births are paid for by health insurance companies.
The pregnant woman has decided on a clinic
Can she bring her own midwife to the birth?
Not every clinic has accompanying midwives. And most midwives accompany you to one or at most two clinics, so the choice of clinic means a certain selection of midwives.
Should the mother attend a postnatal course?
Postnatal recovery is very important because pregnancy and childbirth put a lot of strain on the body. Especially the pelvic floor and abdominal and back muscles should be strengthened again with specially instructed exercises and pelvic floor and back-friendly behavior should be learned and trained.
Care in the first few weeks after birth
They also look after the mothers in the first few weeks after the birth. What is the aftercare by the midwife like?
Especially with the first child, parents are often very unsure about how to deal with the newborn. It is our job to encourage parents to support them with breastfeeding, diaper changing and dressing. But the changes in the mothers must also be assessed: is the uterus shrinking, are there baby blues days, does the breast hurt? “Childhood issues” are raised very early on: Can I spoil my newborn?
What fascinates you about your job?
In my work, I accompany parents in a very exciting phase of life, which is one of the most intense times of upheaval in our lives. Being present when a child is born, the first encounter between parents and their newborn, is always a very emotional and touching experience.