Midwifery

What is a midwife?

Typically, midwives help healthy women deliver their babies when both the mother and baby need minimal medical intervention and haven’t had major complications during pregnancy. Certified nurse-midwives (CNMs), like those at Advanced Women’s Health Specialists, are registered nurses with accredited midwifery education. Each passed a national exam to obtain their certification. 

CNMs have graduate-level education and specialize in women’s reproductive health and childbirth. They can perform annual exams, counsel patients, and write prescriptions. They attend the birth of your baby and provide family planning services, prenatal care, and parent education. 

Midwives offer a holistic approach to women’s health care, focusing on health and wellness, prevention, and minimal medical intervention during prenatal care, childbirth, and beyond. 

When would I choose midwifery services?

If you and your baby are having a healthy, uneventful pregnancy and wish to have the most natural delivery and birthing experience, then midwifery services are a good choice. Your CNM helps you manage your labor pains and each stage of labor as well as delivery of your baby. Your midwife monitors both yours and your baby’s vital signs and progress during labor and delivery to ensure your safety.

Sometimes, a midwife works in collaboration with an OB/GYN during C-section deliveries. Many women choose midwifery services for a personal delivery at home or in a birthing center instead of a hospital environment. 

Can I only see a midwife during pregnancy?

Your midwife at Advanced Women’s Health Specialists can diagnose conditions, conduct physical exams, and order and interpret lab and diagnostic tests. Although CNMs tend to focus on healthy pregnancies, they receive the education to detect signs and symptoms should problems arise. 

CNMs provide a full range of women’s health care services to women of all ages — from adolescence through menopause and afterward — even when you’re not pregnant. They can even provide health care for your newborn in the first 28 days of their life. Midwifery services can help you with breastfeeding issues, as well. 

If you’re interested in learning more about the midwifery services at Advanced Women’s Health Specialists, call the office nearest you or request an appointment through the convenient online booking system.