GRAVETTE — Joy Coonfield’s driveway is long, and women coming down the gravel lane for their regular prenatal visits are sometimes stopped by grazing cows. Even with the rough patches, over a hundred expecting mothers have made the journey until their labor pains started, and Joy cameBy Leslie Olson [email protected]to their homes.
Joy Coonfield’s home birth company is called Birth with Joy Midwifery Services. Families working with Coonfield, whois licensed by both the State of Arkansas and a national midwife certification board, explain partnering with a midwife is rewarded with the care and guidance to give birth safely and confidently.
“Some people think that midwives are just witches,” Coonfield said.
To reassure expecting parents, Coonfield takes a full hour for each of her prenatal visits. In her free consultation, she answersquestions and helps parents decide if home birth is right for them. Coonfield points out that men are usually the most skeptical, but they are also often the most surprised that they can have an active role in home birth.
Joy also explains her credentials. Coonfield completed a seven-year apprenticeship under a certified, practicing midwife before deciding to complete herstudy and take the 300-question, eight-hour national accreditation test. In addition to her initial training, Coonfield must complete annual continuing education courses and renew her license every two years.
Despite her experience and the rigors of her training, the wonder of birth has not worn off for Joy. “I’ve seen over 150 births,” the midwife explained. “It’s a miracle every time.”
Coonfield’s inspiration to become a midwife came from observation of birth and her personal experiencebecoming a mother. Both of Coonfield’s daughters were delivered cesarean-section in a hospital.
“I didn’t dwell in the disappointment of not giving birth naturally, but I had to heal from a different kind of pain - a surgical pain - before I could really start mothering.”
Families state a variety of reasons for choosing to give birth at home. The U.S. Center for Disease Control reported the number of home births attended by a trained professional has been growing rapidly over the past few years, though home birth rates are still far lower than the high of 44 percent in 1940.
Studies of midwife-attended home births are still challenged, but a 2010 study by the CDC demonstrated that babies born at home fare as well as hospital-born babies, and low-risk mothers are likely to benefit significantly from home birth experiences.
Coonfield reports that very few of her home births have any complications requiring any medical interventions. Two state mandated independent assessments at different points in pregnancy help screen for signs of the kind of rare, high-risk births tending to need more medical support than is available in a home birth. In addition, the midwife carries supplies to handle minor complications, keeps a sharp eye out for signs of trouble during labor and requires each of her clients to have a medical backup plan.
“I’m not a midwife who doesn’t call help. Above all we want a safe baby.”
Coonfield pulls out a book of birth photographs she has taken for her clients. Far from the fury often depicted on television, the crisp birth images in the midwife’s book are of loving families working together, strong mothers in labor and restful newborns.
“What midwives do isabout trusting God. We trust a mother’s body to do what it’s supposed to do. Pregnancy and birth isn’t a sickness or a disease. It’s a perfectly natural and beautiful thing.”
Families interested in learning more about home birth and midwifery options within 50 miles of Gravette can call Coonfield at 787-5065 and explore her website at www.birthwithjoymidwifery.com.
News, Pages 2 on 05/04/2011