What is a Monitrice?

How can a monitrice help me during my pregnancy & childbirth?
During the third semester of pregnancy, a monitrice educates you and your partner about preparing for labor and delivery...exercises to help stretch and strengthen your key muscles...what should be on hand for a more comfortable labor...possible early signs of labor. You call your monitrice when you think labor is probably beginning. Then the monitrice:

• Visits your house for a maternal and fetal assessment...checks maternal vital signs...checks fetal heart rate with a fetalscope or ultrasonic doppler...after a general assessment of you and your baby, often performs a vaginal exam for fetal position, presentation, station, effacement, dilation and possible membrane rupture.
• Observes the progress of labor.
• Notifies the primary care provider.
• Discusses the need for the monitrice's presence with you and your partner. If the monitrice determines that early labor will probably continue for many hours, you might prefer to get as much rest as you can by yourselves, in which case the monitrice leaves and checks on things periodically. Or you might want the monitrice present at all times.
• Remains present during the more active phases of labor and through delivery.
• Recommends measures which can help alleviate pain in specific situations.
• Periodically throughout labor makes further fetal and maternal assessments.

Thus, you can determine when it's time to leave for the hospital, notifying the care provider at that time. You're much less likely to leave prematurely, either to be sent back home or to extend your hospital stay and thereby increase the probability of medical intervention.

The monitrice probably knows many routes to your hospital, so in difficult traffic or weather, she can help direct you and your partner there more efficiently. She usually follows in case there's a problem.

A monitrice with extensive hospital experience can help accelerate tedious, confusing admission procedures. The monitrice remains in the labor and delivery room through the early postpartum period.

Thus, monitrice support provides important continuity of care which starts at your home. Most expectant mothers, not just those with a special need, would be better off laboring longer at home.

How to select a monitrice?
You don't want just anyone who can hold your hand. Best to insist on a professional with a nursing degree and specific expertise in labor and delivery. Ask for references. Since birthing is an intimate experience, you should feel personally comfortable with the individual you select.