As a midwife, here's what questions I get asked.
Okay mamas, so as a midwife I see a lot of women.
I see pregnant women, birthing women, breastfeeding women and postpartum women. Woman trying to conceive, women who need to grieve, some who are having their first baby and some who are having their last.
I feel super honoured that I get to witness and strength and power of women every day and that I can be apart of some of the most incredible journeys and some of the worst. I am honoured to be a midwife, to be a mother, to be a woman.
From me to you, here are my most commonly asked questions, as a midwife, I hear in my practice.
1. When will I go into labour?
This is by far my number one!
Okay, so even if you have a 'booked induction' there is NO way we can tell when your body will labour. I have even seen women who have commenced their induction and still not progressed into established labour. This is not uncommon. This might sound 'crazy' but I believe only your divine body and baby knows when it is time. Labour (and pre-labour) know no time. I know the frustration is real (I have been there), but even a booked induction does not 'mean' you will labour that day. Our bodies are unique and will soften, ripen and surge when it is ready.
2. Will I poo in labour?
Short answer, yes most likely. Do midwives care? We actually don't give a s***.
3. Can I decline x, y, z?
YES! In fact, please do. Unless.... YOU are informed, have educated yourself and give informed consent. As midwives we try to balance the world of women and their feelings of support and empowerment during their perinatal period and offer as much evidence-based information to mothers as we can. I think you would be surprised what you might find if you do a little research (or ask your midwife!).
4. Does my vagina look different to everyone else?
Well mama, your vulva or what is commonly mistaken to as a 'vagina' (is the outside or external part of your reproductive anatomy. And yes, it does! All of them look different! Our labias and pubis all look different just as our eyes, ears, legs and hair does. And honestly, I am yet to see a vulva that makes me think "...what the..?".
I could go on and on.... but if I wrote it all here, who would come back for midwife questions edition 2.0?