What is a Monitrice?
A Monitrice can provide a continuity of care that is lacking in our fragmented healthcare and social service systems. She can support the woman throughout pregnancy, during birth, postpartum and with family life. Traditionally, women learned how to be mothers and care for their children from their families and the women in their communities. Today, all too often, a mother finds herself isolated with no one to teach her these things in a traditional way. A mother may want to do things differently than her own parents. She turns to books, TV or the internet searching for her community of wise women. The Monitrice is a person in her own community that the mother can get to know during pregnancy and will feel comfortable turning to throughout the childbearing year. The Monitrice will know this mother, her family, her particular circumstances and can tailor her care to her individual needs. We believe that birth is an individual, personal and life-changing moment.
We assist parents in experiencing this process as memorable and positive. We meet with the mom/couple two or three times during pregnancy to discuss details for the delivery and to help develop a birth plan. We are available, as Childbirth Educators, we teach Childbirth classes in a classroom or private setting. During early labor, we meet with the mom/coach in the comfort of their home and go with them to the hospital for the remainder of the labor and delivery. We provide emotional, educational, and physical support by addressing each mother's needs. We will help guide the coach to care for the laboring mom, providing instruction in non-medical techniques for pain relief, such as: massage, aromatherapy, relaxation, visualization, breathing techniques and labor positions to enhance and facilitate the labor process.
We will help the mom in having a non-medicated birth, if she desires. If medication and/or an epidural is requested, We will support the mom in her choices, to have the birth experience that she wants. We remain throughout the delivery, and follow-up with assistance in breastfeeding, postpartum education, and if requested, we will help with a photographic record of the event.
We will meet with the new family within 1 –2 weeks postpartum, to assist as necessary, to discuss the birth experience, and to cover newborn care
