Brumble, 37, chose the UW midwives for both her deliveries because she likes the profession’s approach to birth as a natural process — not a medical disaster waiting to happen. She didn’t want to be hustled through a system that can feel impersonal, or have her baby delivered by an obstetrician she might never have met. But she also liked being in a fully-staffed hospital — just in case.
“One of the things I appreciated about Mary Lou is that she was 100% present for me … the whole time,” Brumble, a law firm supervisor, said a few weeks after her son’s birth. “If I needed anything, she was there. If I had a question, she answered it. I think if I’d asked for an iced latte, she would have had it in my hand before I finished the sentence.”
Midwifery care is holistic, focusing on each woman as person. Labor is allowed to unfold on its own time frame, with no pressure to speed things up. The goal is to give the woman a rewarding experience while never compromising safety.
While Brumble labored in her hospital room, Kopas kept a close watch. Earlier, the pregnant woman paced the room and leaned against her husband as her contractions intensified. Now, as she enters the final stage, she hefts herself onto her hands and knees and begins to push.
We’re getting so close now,” Kopas says. “Just listen to your body.” The midwife presses on Brumble’s back to relieve pressure. Brumble’s water breaks with a gush. She howls and pushes, then does it again and again. In less than 10 minutes, her newborn son slides into Kopas’ hands, crying like he’s always known how. The midwife immediately passes him to his mother, who gazes into his eyes and welcomes him into the world.
