While midwives specialize in pregnancy, labor and delivery, and postpartum care, most are also able to assist with birth control, period problems, annual exams and pap smears; screen for and treat sexually transmitted infections; and provide menopausal and other gynecologic care.
Midwifery care practitioners include:
- Certified nurse-midwives (CNMs): advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who have graduated from a nurse-midwifery education program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME) and have passed a national certification examination from the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB) to receive their professional designation. The majority of midwives in the United States are CNMs.
- Certified Midwives (CMs) are also educated in graduate-level midwifery programs accredited by the Accredited Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME) and pass a national certification exam administered by the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB).
- Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs): practitioners who enter the profession through various routes, including apprenticeship programs or educational programs accredited by the Midwifery Education Accreditation Council (MEAC).
Midwives can work in hospitals, private practices, hospitals, birth centers and homes.
Benefits of Choosing a Midwife
Typically, midwives are more supportive of natural approaches to pregnancy and birth, and a small number will oversee home births. Midwives also embrace feelings, emotions and values when developing a birth or care plan, which means that every patient can benefit from working with a midwife. Some patients prefer midwives because they feel they have greater control over their care.
Women with low-risk pregnancies who choose midwife-assisted birthing are less likely to receive an epidural, less likely to get an episiotomy, and less likely to need a cesarean section than mothers under standard maternity care.
Tailored Midwife/Pregnancy Solutions
Partnering with patients and their families to help them decide on the best course of treatment and empowering people to be an important part of their care team are important elements of midwifery care, according to the American College of Nurse-Midwives.
Advantia Health CNMs embrace and incorporate these elements into the care they provide for their patients, and take the time to understand what is important to them so they can offer solutions tailored to those needs and priorities.
Midwifery Care Throughout Pregnancy
Midwives provide care for pregnant women, new mothers and their healthy newborns during the first 28 days of life. Their prenatal care services include health counseling, pregnancy confirmation, routine monitoring throughout pregnancy (including ultrasounds and prenatal blood work) and birth plans.
CNMs are not just a provider of care at Advantia Health, but a partner in care whose support adapts to your individual health needs and concerns. In high-risk pregnancies and births, a midwife can help you access resources to support your childbirth goals, provide emotional support during challenging times, or work alongside specialists who are experts in your condition to ensure safe and healthy outcomes.
Preparing for Labor and Delivery with a Midwife
As part of your prenatal care, your midwife will work with you to develop a personalized birth plan that includes fetal growth tracking, preferred location for the delivery, pain management options for the delivery, the mother’s nutrition and other considerations and priorities of the mother and the partner. That process allows the midwife to provide education about each of these options and possible complications or risks that could cause them to divert from your plan.
It’s important to note that midwives care for women, no matter how they choose to give birth. CNMs can prescribe medications and order epidurals as appropriate and in line with the wishes and needs of their patients. If a complication arises, an OB-GYN can assist at any time.
Postpartum Support from Midwives
After your delivery, a CNM can perform the postnatal examinations and follow-ups for both the mother and their newborn baby, and provide education and support for breastfeeding, contraception and newborn care concerns. They can also provide referrals and recommendations to other providers for more specialized conditions or concerns.
Advantia Health CNMs are compassionate, experience and patient individuals who can not only manage the care a pregnant woman may need from conception to the post-partum period, but also support the comprehensive care needs a woman may have throughout her lifetime. Learn more about our CNMs and book an appointment today to benefit from their high-quality, collaborative care.
