What Is a Midwife and How Do They Work?

Christine de la Fuente
Oct 21
4 min read

Los Angeles home birth midwife during a prenatal check-up, supporting mother and baby with compassionate, holistic midwifery care.

A midwife is a trained healthcare provider who walks beside you through one of life’s most sacred transitions—pregnancy, birth, and the tender postpartum days that follow. A midwife is a steady hand, a calm presence, and someone who honors your strength, your story, and your choices.

At DuChateau Midwifery, care is grounded in trust, education, and deep respect for the birthing process. My role is to support you not just medically, but emotionally and intuitively, offering guidance that’s rooted in both knowledge and heart.

🤍 What Is a Midwife & What Do They Do?

Midwives care for the whole person. That means that while we look at test results and vitals—we also take a step back and listen to how you’re really feeling. Midwifery is about tending to your body, your mind, and your spirit, and holding space for both the medical and emotional parts of your journey.

Here’s what midwifery care looks like at DuChateau Midwifery:

During Pregnancy: Each prenatal visit is designed to be calm, spacious, and centered around you. We’ll check your baby’s heartbeat and growth, review lab work when needed, and talk through nutrition, movement, and holistic ways to stay balanced. But most importantly, there’s time—time to ask questions, share your birth vision, or simply talk about how you’re feeling. Unlike rushed office visits, you’ll have my full attention, so you can feel informed and supported every step of the way.
During Labor and Birth: When the moment arrives, I meet you at home—your sanctuary, at your own pace. I bring along the necessary equipment, years of experience, and the knowledge to keep you and your baby safe. But I also bring something less tangible: a steady, reassuring presence. My role is to help guide you through each wave of labor with calm encouragement, medical skill, and deep respect for your process. You’re free to move, to rest, to follow your body’s rhythm, while I am there to ensure that things are unfolding safely.
Postpartum: Birth is just the beginning. After your baby arrives, I return for in-home visits to make sure you’re healing well physically and emotionally. We’ll check on your recovery, your baby’s health, and your breastfeeding journey, but I’ll also be there to listen—to hear your story, answer your questions, and reassure you in this new season of life. Those first weeks are sacred and can be overwhelming, and you deserve support that meets you where you are.

This whole-person approach means you’re never just a patient—you’re a unique individual with needs, emotions, dreams, and wisdom of your own. My role as your midwife is to honor that, to walk alongside you, and to remind you that you already carry within you everything you need to navigate this journey.

Midwife Bekah DuChateau checking on a pregnant woman lying comfortably on the couch during a prenatal home visit.

🌼 How Is a Midwife Different From a Doctor?

Both obstetricians (OBs) and midwives have important roles in maternity care, but they typically approach pregnancy and birth from different perspectives. Obstetricians are highly trained in managing high-risk pregnancies, complications, and surgical procedures such as cesarean sections. Their focus is on diagnosing and treating medical issues that may arise.

Midwives, on the other hand, are trained specialists in supporting healthy, low-risk pregnancies and natural births. We focus on the normal, physiologic process of birth and provide care that is often more relational, holistic, and centered on your individual needs. Families who choose midwives are often looking for more time, more connection, and more say in how their care unfolds.

The midwifery model of care centers on:

Choice and consent. You remain in the driver’s seat of your care. Every decision is explained, every option is discussed, and your voice is always honored. Nothing is done to you—everything is done with you.
Trust in the natural process. Midwives trust the body’s innate ability to birth. Interventions are available when truly needed, but they are never routine. This allows labor and birth to unfold gently and naturally, with less unnecessary disruption.
Personalized, one-on-one care. Unlike many medical offices where appointments may feel rushed, midwifery care is relational. We take the time to build trust, answer your questions, and walk with you through the emotional, physical, and spiritual aspects of your pregnancy. You are never just a chart number—you’re a whole person.

And importantly, midwifery doesn’t mean choosing between safety and intimacy. If at any point your pregnancy requires care that is beyond my scope, I’ll make a smooth referral to trusted providers, ensuring that your transition is handled with clarity, kindness, and compassion. In this way, midwifery works hand-in-hand with the hospital system, while still protecting your sacred experience.

🌙 What It’s Like to Birth at Home

Choosing a homebirth is about returning to something ancient and intuitive—bringing life into the world in a space where you feel most safe, supported, and free. At home, you set the rhythm. Soft lighting, your favorite music, and the comfort of familiar surroundings create an atmosphere where you can fully relax. There are no hospital routines to interrupt you—no bright lights, monitors, or strangers walking in and out. Instead, you move how you want, eat when you’re hungry, soak in the tub if it feels right, and invite only the people you love to witness this sacred time. Birth becomes not a medical event, but a deeply personal and meaningful experience rooted in your own home.

As your midwife, I bring both the practical and the personal. I arrive with medical tools, years of experience, and the training to ensure you and your baby are safe. But I also bring calm, reassurance, and deep respect for the process. My role is to watch over the flow of labor while protecting your ability to trust your body’s wisdom. If anything unexpected arises, I am prepared to respond with skill and clarity, including smooth transfer to medical care if needed. You bring your courage, instinct, and voice; I bring my steady presence and belief in you. Together, we create a birth that is safe, intimate, and entirely your own.