Midwives are the traditional healthcare providers for mothers and infants, dating back to 1765.  Midwives are trained medical professionals with expertise and skills in supporting women through healthy pregnancies, optimal births, and postpartum recovery.  Midwives provide women with individualized care uniquely suited to their physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and cultural needs.  They may work in a variety of settings such as hospitals, medical offices, clinics, and birthing centers.  The vast majority of births attended by midwives are in the hospital setting, and because of this, midwives are becoming a common part of many hospital obstetrical teams.  Midwives and physicians often work collaboratively to help ensure the best outcome for patients and take a team approach to address each patient’s unique needs. 

Certified nurse midwives (CNM) are typically advanced practice nurses with at least a master’s degree in nursing from a midwifery education program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME). Their education includes hands-on clinical training by practicing CNMs. They also have passed the national certification exam of the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB).

No!  Midwifery care is not just limited to pregnancy.  Midwives also provide gynecologic services to women from adolescence to post-menopause.  These services include general well-woman exams, care for gynecologic problems, treatment of sexually transmitted infections, family planning services, and much more.  Midwives are also able to prescribe medications as well as order laboratory and diagnostic tests.

Midwives care primarily for healthy women, uncomplicated pregnancies, and perform low-risk deliveries.  When patients have more complicated pregnancies, they are typically cared for by an OBGYN physician.  Midwives and physicians often work collaboratively to help ensure the best outcome for patients and taking a team approach to address each patient’s unique needs. 

Not always! Having a chronic health condition or a high-risk pregnancy does not exclude someone from being able to seek care from a midwife. In this case, a team approach is typically may be used where a midwife and physician both provide care during a pregnancy. Midwives can help women access resources to support goals for childbirth, provide emotional support during pregnancy/delivery, and work alongside OBGYN physicians who are experts in managing more complex medical issues to ensure safe, healthy outcomes. 

Absolutely not! The beauty of midwifery care is that midwives are trained to help their patients safely navigate the labor and birth process while also tailoring that care to the needs and preferences of each individual patient. Midwives encourage their patients to be an active participant in their healthcare decisions by providing them with education and resources to make informed choices. Whether a woman wants to have natural birth with as little intervention as possible, or she wishes to utilize available medical resources, midwives work collaboratively with patients to meet their desires and preferences for their individual birth experiences. 

We are honored to have our own certified midwives at Alliance Obstetrics & Gynecology Group.  They work closely with both Dr. Worley and Dr. Silva to care for pregnant and non-pregnant patients.  A prior labor & delivery nurse, her experience covers all aspects of pregnancy and delivery care.   Their personalized approach will be everything you need to make your pregnancy perfect or have your gynecological needs met.