I had my first child, a daughter named Paisley, at the Carolina Community Maternity Center (CCMC) in Fort Mill under the wonderful care of midwife, Pamala Wilson, on May 19, 2013. I started my maternity care at another clinic in Charlotte, NC but transferred to CCMC at the end of March around 31 weeks pregnant after a terrible experience with one of the doctors at the clinic. My initial encounter with him seemed positive and he encouraged us to do more reading to prepare for labor. After weeks of research and reading everything I could about the pros and cons of different types of labor, I tried to have a conversation with him about my wishes and concerns for childbirth. I told him that I wanted a natural birth with no IV, drugs, episiotomy or unnecessary interventions. He laughed at me. He informed me that no one ever went through with a natural birth and as far as interventions were concerned, he knew what he was doing and was going to do whatever he wanted regardless of my wishes. He abruptly cut my husband and I off while we were still asking questions and left the exam room.
I could not fathom trusting him to take care of me and my unborn child when he could not listen to my wishes and concerns. I could not come to terms with the idea that one of nine doctors whom I may or may not have met along with a team of nurses whom I certainly had not met would be seeing me in an incredibly vulnerable and private moment in my life. I could not get comfortable with people coming in and out of my room as they pleased, doing what they deemed necessary to my body without my complete consent. Being laughed at and told the doctor would do whatever he, the self-proclaimed expert who had never physically carried or birthed a baby himself, felt the need to do to my body sent me into complete panic mode. I felt helpless and terrified to give birth.
After that encounter, I contacted CCMC and was lucky to be able to meet with Pamala and have an in-depth conversation about the pros and cons, as well as the risks of having a baby at CCMC. We discussed what she was legally allowed to do and not allowed to do. We created a plan in the event of an emergency and fully understood that there would not be a physician onsite, but that we would be transported to a hospital if necessary. She respectfully listened to each and every one of our concerns and easily answered our questions, demonstrating her incredible knowledge of pregnancy and childbirth. Pamala took the time to get to know me as a person and to understand my fears. She addressed my fears and made it clear that she would do what was medically necessary but as respectfully as possible. Rather than spending most of our time in an exam room waiting for a doctor to make a brief appearance, we spent our full hour appointment time going over how I was doing physically and mentally and talking about the upcoming birthing process and what to expect. Pamala had me keep a food log so that she could see what I was eating and make certain that I was nutritionally ready for birth. We also went to a physician to ensure that I was a low risk patient and could safely birth at the center.
On the day I went into labor, Pamala was in constant contact with my husband prior to our arrival at CCMC. She examined me upon my arrival and spent the next 7-8 hours monitoring both the baby and I. Pamala and Lisa Johnson helped me find different positions to assist with the birthing process. They also kept me properly hydrated and fed so that I would be able to continue birthing naturally. With their help, my beautiful baby was born at 10:52 pm. It was an incredible and personal experience shared with my husband and just the midwives. Women need to have the ability to birth in a safe and loving environment with people who truly care about their overall wellbeing. CCMC and its midwives provided that environment to me. I would not have wanted to have a baby anywhere else or with anyone else.
Over the next several weeks, Pamala went above and beyond what we could have expected from her. Paisley had issues sucking and could not breastfeed initially but within hours, Pamala ensured we had the help we needed getting her to eat. She helped us find a therapist and lactation consultant for Paisley and arranged for a rental pump to bring in my milk supply. She kept in touch with us constantly to see how we were doing; making sure Paisley was getting enough sustenance to thrive. We visited CCMC several times in the first few weeks, getting help and encouragement from several of the midwives there. They provided incredible support to us. It was hard to say goodbye at our final visit, knowing we would not see them as frequently after they had made such an impact on our lives. I love their openness and knowing that I can still stop by to say hi because they know who we are and want to know how Paisley is doing.
Pamala Wilson and the Carolina Community Maternity Center midwives provided excellent care for myself and my newborn this past spring. Their love and skill gave me the opportunity to have the birth experience I wanted and helped my daughter thrive. They respected my wishes while ensuring no harm came to either of us. Childbirth inherently has risks, whether it happens in a hospital, birth center, or at home. The Carolina Community Maternity Center gives those of us unwilling to give birth in a hospital a safe place to receive maternity care and bring our children into this world. I feel blessed to have found the midwives, particularly Pamala Wilson, and hope to have more babies there in the future.
Комментарии