This post is sponsored by Olmsted Medical Center
Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM) help more than 300,000 women give birth each year in the United States. At Olmsted Medical Center, your visits with the CNM are unique and hands-on from the start of your pregnancy through birth. Midwives are experts in knowing the difference between normal changes that occur during pregnancy and symptoms that need extra attention.
Below we are answering your top Rochester Moms reader submitted questions about midwives and the services they provide!
What is the difference between midwives and Ob/Gyns?
There are different type of midwives. At Olmsted Medical Center (OMC) our midwives have credentialing as a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM). CNMs are registered nurses with a graduate degree in midwifery. We have five midwives at OMC who provide care at the Women’s Health Pavilion.
CNMs provide general women’s healthcare throughout a woman’s life. These services include general health check-ups and physical exams; pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care; and well-woman gynecologic care. CNMs are able to prescribe a full range of medications, and treatments, including pain control medications. CNMs work in many different settings, such as hospitals, health centers, private practices, birth centers, and homes. Most midwives in the U.S., like the midwives at OMC, attend births within a hospital.
Choosing a midwife offers women highly skilled personalized care which is based on research and evidence based medicine. A midwife does not rely on providing a specific set of childbirth procedures or practices. Instead, midwives tailor their care to meet the wants and needs of each woman and her baby. In this way, midwives maintain the best conditions possible for a safe and healthy outcome for all involved.
How will I be cared for differently during my prenatal appts?
When you decide to visit a midwife, you will receive a special level of care that is not always present in most healthcare settings. Midwives often spend extra time with you during your appointment, listening to your concerns and addressing (or treating) any problems. They may provide education, suggest resources, or refer you to additional healthcare providers, if needed. Your midwife will be your partner incare, not just your provider ofcare.
Does having a midwife mean I can’t have pain interventions?
No. Midwives partner with you through your pregnancy and birth and will help you make decisions about pain relief techniques. Whether you wish to use methods such as relaxation techniques, aroma therapy, hydrotherapy/water birth, nitrous oxide, pain medication, or an epidural, your midwife will work with you to help meet your desired approach to birth.
Midwives, including the ones at OMC, favor an approach to pregnancy, labor, and birth that is based on normal bodily processes rather than on the use of medical procedures: an approach that is strongly supported by current research. Our midwifery model of care does not support routinely using medical procedures if there is no clear reason for them or if the use is not supported by research. However, when a medical procedure is necessary, the midwife will work with you to ensure you have all the information you need to make an informed decision about your care as well as to be sure you are aware of any options or alternatives that may also be available.
To learn more about normal, healthy childbirth, visit https://ourmomentoftruth.com/labor-delivery/normal-healthy-childbirth/.
What happens if I need a C-section? Who will care for me?
C-sections are sometimes necessary for the best health outcomes for you and your baby.
When a C-section or a higher level of care is needed, the midwife will consult with an Obstetrician/Gynecologist (Ob/Gyn). Once a C-section is decided your care will transfer to this physician who will perform the C-section. Your midwife will work with other care providers including the nurses who have been with you, the anesthesia team, the surgical team, and possibly the pediatric team, once your baby arrives. The entire team consists of highly skilled and caring professionals who work closely together to make your birthing experience safe and meaningful to you and your support members. Throughout the process, your midwife will make every attempt to be by your side to comfort you and communicate your needs to the care team.
Research shows that midwifery care results in fewer C-section births for low-risk women. The national C-section rate in 2017 for first-time, low-risk women was 26%. The OMC BirthCenter’s primary C-section birth rate meets World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations that C-section birth rates should not be higher than 10% to 15%. At OMC our CNM C-section rate was 6% in 2017.
Who will deliver my baby?
Typically, the birth team will include a nurse to care for you and a nurse who will care for your infant. Most babies are born without any problems. In this case a nurse for the mother and a nurse for the baby will be in the room. The midwife will also be in the room as needed for support through labor and with the delivery.
Sometimes an unavoidable or unexpected problem occurs and interventions during pregnancy or childbirth may be needed. If this occurs, midwives have the education and expertise to manage the process, suggest ways to help with pain management (including medications), order laboratory testing or labor induction, or bring in other members of the healthcare team, if needed.
To schedule an appointment, or for more information about midwife services:
Call our Obstetrics/Gynecology department at 507.529.6605. If you would like to schedule a complimentary BirthCenter tour, call 507.529.6757.
