Midwifery

We want you to feel comfortable about your care from day one, and we encourage your family to participate during every step of your pregnancy, too. At your first appointment, your midwife will go over your medical history and perform a complete physical examination.

As your pregnancy progresses, your midwife will talk with you about your preferences and plans to ensure an experience that’s right for you.

Our midwife services include:

• Continuous assistance during labor and delivery
• Dedicated postpartum support
• Group education and support
• Individualized education, counseling and prenatal care
• Minimizing technological interventions
• Monitoring your physical, psychological and social well-being throughout pregnancy and childbirth
• Referring women who require obstetrical attention

Midwifery is a time-honored profession that plays a crucial role in maternal and newborn care. However, it is often surrounded by myths and misconceptions. Let's set the record straight by addressing some common misunderstandings about midwifery.

Myth: Nurse-midwives lack formal education.

Fact: The majority of nurse-midwives pursue a bachelor's degree followed by a master's degree in nurse-midwifery, with some even attaining doctoral degrees.

Myth: Nurse-midwives only provide care in the home.

Fact: Nurse-midwives work in diverse settings such as hospitals, medical offices, freestanding birth centers, clinics and homes, ensuring access to a broad spectrum of services. Many women opt for midwifery care in hospital settings, benefiting from their expertise in promoting natural childbirth while having access to medical interventions if needed.

Myth: I must choose between a nurse-midwife or an OB-GYN.

Fact: You can have both! Midwifery and obstetrics are not mutually exclusive. Forming a care team with both your nurse-midwife and an OB-GYN allows them to collaborate, ensuring that all your needs are met with a well-rounded care plan.

Myth: During labor, a nurse-midwife won't provide access to medications or epidurals.

Fact: Nurse-midwives are experts in natural, physiologic birth but can also provide medications and epidurals when needed during labor.

Myth: Nurse-midwives only care for women during pregnancy and birth.

Fact: Nurse-midwives have expert knowledge and skill in caring for women throughout pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period. But they do much more. Nurse-midwives can offer health services to women through all stages of life – from the teenage years until menopause. They provide general health check-ups, screenings, vaccinations, well-woman gynecologic care and family planning counseling.

Myth: Nurse-midwives don't use medical technology.

Fact: While nurse-midwives emphasize holistic and natural approaches to childbirth, they also have access to and can use medical technology when necessary. This includes fetal monitoring, ultrasounds and pain management options, providing a balanced approach to care.

Myth: Nurse-midwives and doulas are the same thing.

Fact: Doulas are non-medical professionals trained to offer physical and emotional support during labor, delivery and after childbirth. Nurse-midwives also provide this support, but they additionally monitor the health of both mother and baby during labor, share information about progress, offer labor-related advice, discuss medical choices when necessary and oversee the delivery of the baby.

Myth: Nurse-midwives don’t accept insurance.

Fact: Midwifery services can be covered by insurance but may vary depending on your insurance plan. It is a good idea to contact your insurance provider directly to inquire about the details of your coverage.

Dispelling these common misconceptions about midwifery is essential for understanding the valuable contributions nurse-midwives make to safe and personalized childbirth experiences.