ROSCOMMON- The idea of a Midwife has been around in some form for thousands of years. The practice is traced back to the Paleolithic Era (40,000 B.C.) As one might imagine, pregnancy and birth during our early civilization was anything but safe and sterile. Rock carvings of that period have been found depicting a woman birthing a child. Comfort was not in that depiction.
Midwifery is the profession or practice of assisting women in childbirth. It is also defined as “skilled, knowledgeable, and compassionate care for childbearing women. This includes newborn infants, and families across the scale from pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, birth, post-partum, and the early weeks of life”, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
A local resident and nurse midwife, Betty Winford, worked as a nurse for twenty-two years in Florida. During that time, working with her nurse manager who was trained as both a nurse and midwife. Winford cited the other woman’s manner of calm, care, and patience as being an instrument in Winford’s decision to go to Texas to train in midwifery as well. One year after graduation from midwifery school, she opened and operated a birthing center in Texas and continued for sixteen years. She then retired and moved to Florida. She and her family came to Roscommon on vacation, and she stated, “here we are.”
In August, Betty Winford fulfilled a goal of opening a birth and wellness center in Roscommon. When asked “why” Roscommon, Winford stated it was “a feeling from the Holy Spirit that she should buy this building and build this space.” The former eye doctor’s office at 503 Lake Street in Roscommon had been vacant for several years and needed a considerable amount of work. Winford and her husband David Popovich worked for nearly two years to bring her goal to fruition.
When a woman chooses midwifery as a method for birthing her infant, she is choosing an all-inclusive process. The pregnancy and birth are “the way mom wants it.” Winford stated that there is no difference in fetal outcome over a hospital birth. Midwifery recognizes the importance of postpartum care for both mom and infant as well as prenatal.
Prenatal care visits are once per month until the thirty second and thirty fourth weeks, when it becomes weekly until the time of birth. Births are natural. No epidural is given by midwives. Those are only available in hospital situations. While no physician is onsite, Winford has a physician from Grayling who is willing to collaborate with her. Should a high-risk situation occur, patients would be transferred to a hospital.
Water births are offered at the facility. They are natural and produce less intense feelings for the mom and are less traumatic for the infant. The infant born of a water birth enters the world from a place of warmth into warmth, remaining attached to mom as they transition to their new surroundings. Comfort for mom and infant are essential. Winford and David are in the process of adding three bedrooms upstairs, for moms who may need additional recovery time prior to going home.
Winford is hoping to associate with the organization, Embrace Grace of Texas. Embrace Grace “has the curriculum, tools and team ready to help local churches lead support groups for single moms and dads.”
More states are recognizing the importance of midwifery. It has been gaining popularity and is now recognized in all 50 states. There are two types of midwives, Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) and Certified Professional Midwife (CPM). CPM is gaining more recognition in states, Michigan being one of them. Winford is a CNM.
Cost is another big factor in considering whether to go with a physician/hospital birth process or midwife. On average, a hospital birth may range from $10,000-$15,000, whereas at a birthing center the average is $3,500. Special Beginnings Birth and Wellness Center will help parents file for insurance however, many insurance carriers have cut back on what is allowed for childbirth.
Additionally, many hospitals, especially in northern Michigan, have closed their obstetrics units. A Detroit Free Press article of May 2019, stated that according to the Michigan health and Hospital Association, there were more than 220 Michigan hospitals in the 1980’s. There are now 133 with only 81 offering obstetrics units.
Winford is setting up a website as well as Facebook page, but for now, is counting on word of mouth. Approximately 100 people attended the Open House in August.
To make an appointment at Special Beginnings Birth and Wellness Center, or for more information, call 989-808-1622.
“The beginning is the most important part of your path” – Unknown
