This is the single most impactful feature of the midwifery model, and where New Traditions League City Midwifery truly excels.
Continuous Labor Support means the birthing person has the constant, one-on-one presence of a trained, caring professional (the midwife or an assistant) from the point active labor is established until after the baby is born.
This is a profound difference from the typical hospital model, where staff may be attending to several people at once and only check in intermittently.
New Traditions Midwifery & CLS: At New Traditions Midwifery, a midwife or a skilled assistant is dedicated to remaining with you throughout your active labor. Their sole focus is on your physical and emotional well-being, providing an unbroken, reassuring presence.
What Continuous Labor Support Looks Like
Continuous support is a multifaceted approach that combines physical, informational, and emotional care:
1. The Physical Presence and Comfort
- Constant Monitoring: The midwife continuously monitors the well-being of the baby (often through intermittent Doppler monitoring) and the birthing person’s vital signs and progress, all while respecting the natural flow of labor.
- Hands-On Comfort: The midwife or assistant provides constant comfort measures, including:
- Massage and Counter Pressure for back pain.
- Suggesting Position Changes and helping the birthing person move.
- Managing the Environment (adjusting temperature, lighting, music, etc.).
- Ensuring Hydration and Nourishment.
2. Emotional Support and Reassurance
- Building Confidence: The midwife’s unwavering presence, calm demeanor, and honest praise help reduce anxiety and build the birthing person’s confidence.
- Normalizing the Process: They offer gentle reassurance, reminding the birthing person and partner that what they are experiencing is normal and productive, which helps to lower stress hormones.
3. Informational Support and Advocacy
- Explaining Progress: The midwife explains what is happening with the body and the baby’s descent, helping the birthing person feel knowledgeable and in control.
- Facilitating Decisions: They ensure the birthing person’s voice and preferences are heard and respected, acting as a calming presence to help process information during an intense time.
The Proven Benefits of Continuous Support
Research on Continuous Labor Support has consistently demonstrated highly positive outcomes for the birthing person and the baby:
- Reduced Interventions: Birthing people who receive CLS are less likely to have a Cesarean section and less likely to have a negative birth experience.
- Lower Pain Medication Use: CLS is linked to lower rates of requests for pain medications and epidurals.
- Shorter Labor: Continuous support is associated with shorter labor durations.
- Higher Satisfaction: Women consistently report higher satisfaction with their overall birth experience when they receive continuous support.
By offering a constant, calm presence, the midwife facilitates a positive birth environment, reduces stress, and enhances the body’s natural ability to progress labor safely and efficiently.
