08/19/2026
“But what if there’s an emergency?” — A common myth about midwives
One of the biggest myths we hear about midwifery is that midwives can only handle “normal” births—and if something goes wrong, we don’t know what to do.
The truth is quite different. 🌿
Midwives are trained to recognize emergencies, respond quickly, stabilize both parent and baby, and know when additional help or hospital-level care is needed. Emergency management—including resuscitation, stabilization, consultation, and referral—is part of professional midwifery competencies.
So what does that actually look like?
🩸 Postpartum hemorrhage
Heavy bleeding after birth is one of the emergencies midwives are specifically prepared to recognize and treat.
Depending on the situation, emergency management can include uterine massage, assessing the cause of bleeding, establishing IV access and fluids, and administering medications that help the uterus contract.
And we don't simply “wait and see.” We continuously assess blood loss and the birthing person's condition while initiating emergency response and arranging transfer when necessary.
đź‘¶Â A baby who needs help breathing
Sometimes a baby is born who doesn't immediately breathe or transition as expected.
Midwives trained in neonatal resuscitationÂ
Midwives are also trained to recognize and respond to situations such as:
• shoulder dystocia
• cord prolapse
• maternal hypertension
• retained placenta
• repairing tears
• abnormal fetal heart rate patterns
Being prepared for an emergency doesn't mean we expect something bad to happen.
A good midwife says, “If something unexpected happens, I know how to recognize it, I know what I can do, I know what resources I have, and I know when to call for more help.”
At Linden Tree Midwifery, we believe in honoring the physiology of birth while being thoroughly prepared for the moments when birth stops being physiologic.
Normal birth deserves respect.
Emergency situations deserve preparation.
And families deserve a provider who understands both. 🤍🌿