If you’re expecting you may find yourself researching the topic of using a midwife. If you’re unfamiliar, a midwife is a trained health professional who helps healthy women during labor, delivery, and after the birth of their babies. Midwives may deliver babies at birthing centers or at home, but most can also deliver babies at a hospital.¹

New mom Bronwyn, who is also a Certified Nurse Midwife and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner of Preconceive got candid with us about how her experience and knowledge as a midwife made an impact during the birth of her first child.

What did you feel was the most surprising and unexpected part of childbirth considering your experience?

The actual birthing position was startling to me! (I gave birth sitting in a birthing tub). And, the feeling of pushing–I just wanted it to be over!

Also, in the first 1-2 days I had so much adrenaline, I didn’t think I’d be so wired. My first nap of 2-3 hours was a full 24 hours after the birth, it is crazy how you quickly you forget the pain.

How did you feel as a new mother?

The early periods of motherhood were isolating, it was really good to get out of the house. There were periods when I didn’t leave for days and didn’t realize until I actually left the house.

At 8 weeks postpartum I began to work out, I’d bring my baby to the gym with me, it was really about leaving the house rather than getting back in shape.

During labor what tips did you use yourself that you would give clients as a midwife?

During the birth my spouse put counter-pressure on my back on the back of my hips, it helps to open up the birth canal while in labor.

I personally think I was “over prepared” because of my background. But what’s reassuring is that even if you aren’t a midwife, you too can be prepared. We have all the tools you might need and can teach them to you to have in your back pocket before birth. I felt very prepared for lactation too, but am thankful to of had a very smooth experience, I know that is not the case for all mothers. Learning about birth and breastfeeding beforehand can be very beneficial in encouraging you through it all.

What are some post-birth tips you can give to new moms?

I rested for 7 days after the birth, my midwives recommended it to reduce bleeding, if this is something you can swing, it was nice to rest in that sense.

Sitz baths with Epson salts and postpartum herbs 2x per day were helpful for the stitches. No one talks about it, but about 10 days to 2 days in the stitches are very itchy and I began to get sore I then started adding 1 cup of white vinegar to the bath.

Munchkin readers can save $30 on their first consultation with Preconceive when you use code MUNCHKIN30

About Bronwyn

Bringing a new life into this world is an exciting process with so many unknowns. Bronwyn, a Certified Nurse Midwife and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, is here to make sure that you get every single question answered about what to expect and what options you have. She has her Masters of Nursing from Yale University and currently works at the Jacobi Medical Center in New York, seeing women for prenatal care and labor & delivery. She thinks that women have the right to know all of their options in order to make informed decisions about their health, and she is on a mission to help you get all of the facts before you go into labor (making a decision when you’re already in pain is not ideal!). She will break down the good, the bad, and the really ugly of the childbirth process to give you the ammo you need to get through childbirth on your terms.

¹https://www.webmd.com/baby/what-is-a-midwife-twins

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