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The Citizen, 1995-10-18, Page 10Loving hands Huron County midwife Susan Wilts, left, checks nine-day-old Kathryn VanBakel while mom Carolyn Wood looks on. Like a growing number attracted to the naturalness and control of the practice, Carolyn gave birth to Kathryn, who is her third child, at home, with help from Susan. For AnyoneWho's Ever Wondered What Mennonites Are Like,We Have A OneVord Answer ForYou. wanted. And needed. In the Mennonite church. You know us as the Mennonites, but do you really know us? This Sunday take a face-to-face look. BRUSSELS MENNONITE FELLOWSHIP 9:30 a.m. Sunday Worship Service 10:30 a.m. Christian Education (for all ages) Everyone Welcome If you've ever thought the Men- nonite church was some kind of closed fellowship, we'd like to set the record straight. We'd like you to know that you're Firewood Hard Maple or Ash SLABWOOD Limited Time Offer Craig Hardwoods Ltd. Auburn. Ont. - Call now - $130./17 cu. yd. Truck Load Delivered within 20 miles Mileage charge Beyond That Urge Quantity Discounts When You Haul!!! 519426-7220 PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18,1995. a natural alternative Midwifery By Bonnie Gropp Susan Wilts has always found birth fascinating. The Londesboro-area midwife and mother of seven recalls that even as a young child she was interested in how life began. "When the farm animals were ready to give birth, I was always there," she said. Susan saw her first human birth in 1970 while training as a nurse. Having worked in a nursing home prior to graduating, it wasn't until she became an obstetrics nurse that she "realized her passion." Her interest in midwifery really began with the birth of her seventh child. Though all were hospital births, she had a midwife for the last one. "It made such a difference. It was then I knew what I wanted to do. Having been a mother, and a nurse, I felt I had a lot of support that I could give to new mothers." The midwife needed help in her Brunner clinic, so when Susan went to her for her pre-natal checkups, she put her nurse's training to use taking blood pressures and generally assisting where she could. "She eventually took me on as an apprentice," said Susan, who saw her first home birth when she was seven months pregnant. "I soon discovered I had a lot to learn." Though Susan wanted a home birth for her last pregnacny her husband didn't quite agree. "He was afraid. My other pregnancies hadn't been easy and he didn't feel comfortable with me having the baby at home so we compromised." Susan home laboured then delivered her new daughter after just 18 minutes in the hospital. Two hours later she and the newest family member were back home. "It made such a difference. The children could wake the next morning and see the new baby. It didn't take me away from them or change the routine." After four years of apprenticing, Susan was accepted in the midwifery pre- registration program, an intense 18 months of study, through the Michener Institute of Health Sciences. This specific program was for practising midwives, who had training through apprenticeship or were licensed in other countries. "There are very few accepted and not very many made it through," she says. In addition to study at the Institute, the students were integrated into the community, working with obstetricians, at family planning clinics and neonatal intensive care units. "The intent is that others would come to accept the work we do, by working with us. There has been a lot of respect gained on both sides." Though midwifery had its skeptics, in December of 1992 the Minister of Health announced the government's committment to funding the service in Ontario. Since then, it's professionalism and flexibility have become an accepted alternative Susan says, "I feel my role is very unique because I can work in all settings, at home, in clinics, or hospitals. The Ministry told the others that they had to accept us, and they are finding that we can help to fit in, in so many areas of health care." The role of the midwife goes beyond birthing. They work with breast-feeding consultants, pediatricians and obstetricians. Visits with mothers begin even in pre-conception, Susan says. "The course of care is from early pregnancy until six weeks post-partem." Obviously, home birth and midwifery is not for everyone. Susan stresses that midwives only work with low-risk patients. "Midwives must follow a strict set of guidelines set by the College of Midwives. If I have a question I don't hesitate to confer with a physician." Also, high-risk screening is done with every potential client. "If someone becomes high risk halfway through we transfer them to a medical doctor, but continue with supportive care." Midwives also have what Susan calls a "unique" relationship with ambulances in the area. All home-births are pre- registered, then two days after delivery Susan notifies them and the file is closed. "Midwives are trained very well, so usually we pick up any problems early in the pregnancy or labour. We have extensive training in neo-natal resuscitation and would never transport a patient until they were stabilized." "The change and acceptance of midwifery has come through working together. Physicians who have worked with us, see that we can work together as a team. We provide doctors with accurate and detailed medical records. We provide a continuity of care for the woman, staying with her through the entire labour. Physicians see this bond. " This continuity is part of the attraction to midwifery for expectant mothers. Carolyn Wood of Clinton is a mother of three; Mark, 4 1/2 was born at home, while Christina, two and two-week old Kathryn were home births. Susan was present for all three. "Clients have grown to know me. There are so many things we have talked about. They rarely ask for medication, there are no epidurals, they are co-operative," says Susan. "Because they are at home in familiar surroundings they are relaxed. Very few even think of asking for any kind of pain relief." "Everything seems to move swiftly, (medication) is never really an option," says Carolyn. "You're in control of what's happening. I think that's why things have changed, because this is the type of birth women want." "Our goal is to give the couple the kind of birth they plan," says Susan. "The main goal is for a healthy mother and baby, so sometimes that plan may change. But the mother and father have been forewarned, they are well read, well-educated. Everything has been rehearsed so they understand what can happen and what it will mean." "I don't know anyone who has had home birth who has ever gone back to a hospital for the next one," says Susan. "There is nothing like it," agrees Carolyn. For a rural midwife, there are extra challenges. Presently as the only midwife in Huron County and as back-up for five others in the Kitchener-Waterloo area, Susan is working full-time. As two midwives must be present at each birth, Carol Casey of Blyth, who is in her second year of Ryerson 's midwifery program, fills the role of second attendant, as does Kelly Dobbin, of Guelph, a Texas midwife, who must complete a prior learning assessment before she can practise in Ontario. Rural midwifery has meant dog bites, walks up blocked lanes, and travelling to a delivery in Wingham by snowmobile through a storm for Susan. The Amish families have also presented some interesting situations for her as well. "I pump the water, then start the woodstove to heat it. I even remember once when the mother had to milk the cows, so I was in the barn with her." Though the extra hassles sometimes diminish Susan's enthusiasm for her profession, it is usually short-lived. "The joys far outweigh the challenges. There are things I don't like doing, but then I remember how much I really enjoyed being at the birth." Vww Hullett sets meeting dates The dates for public meetings regarding zoning amendments were set by Hullett council at the Oct. 3 meeting. For those interested in the rezon- ing of Conc. 14, Lot 24 and Conc. 12, North 1/2 of the south 1/2 of Lot 36, the sessions will be held on Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. With notification from the Min- istry of Transportation that a por- tion of the 1995 supplementary grant would not arrive until 1996, council transferred $23,000 from the road budget to capital reserves to be applied to the 1996 payment on the new snowplowing equip- ment. A bid of $6,100 from Brindley Auction, for the White Loader Tractor, was accepted by council. Road Superintendent James Johnston was instructed to seek quotes for a new mower, Model Vicom CM 167H, to be received by Nov. 7. at 4 p.m. Council agreed to have Jim Anderson install up to $1,200 (with GST) worth of trees and shrubs, according to the landscape plan. Hullett council will contribute $32 for the Clinton Legion and Blyth Legion Remembrance Day services on Nov. 11. The general and road accounts were approved for payment in the amounts of $405,403.48 and $41,832.82, respectively. A further general account, in the amount of $188.32, was approved for payment after Councillor -Bob Szusz declared a conflict of inter- est.