When I was pregnant with my first child, my midwife did what any good caregiver would: She kept a watchful eye on my health and my baby's well-being; gave me sound advice for dealing with aches, pains, and anxiety; and helped my husband and me prepare for the birth. And when my due date passed and the doctors she was in practice with recommended inducing labor, Sue gently reminded them (and me) that I wasn't actually "late" until my pregnancy reached 42 weeks. As long as my baby and I were both doing well, she said, there was little reason to give nature a nudge. Sure enough, labor kicked in a day under that 42-week wire, and after the active, natural childbirth I'd hoped for, she placed my squalling son in my arms and cheered, "You did it!"

Only about 7 percent of American babies are born with the help of midwives (about 75 percent of European babies are), but these caregivers' down-to-earth, mom-centered approach brings insights to any expectant woman.

Leah Hennen, former senior editor of Babytalk and an editor at Babycenter.com, is a mother of two.

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