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Midwives

Midwives are qualified health care providers who receive comprehensive training and must pass an examination to become certified. Certification is offered by the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) and the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM). One of the main reasons women decide to use a midwife is to experience childbirth as naturally as possible.

What is a Midwife

A midwife is a health care professional who provides an array of health care services for women including gynecological examinations, contraceptive counseling, prescriptions, and labor and delivery care. Providing expert care during labor and delivery, and after birth is a specialty that makes midwives unique. Kathy is a Certified Nurse-Midwife with over 25 years of experience.

Florida midwives, midwife services, prenatal care, labor and delivery

Midwife Services

The services will vary depending on the certification and licensing credentials obtained and the practice restrictions of each state. Because of the additional licensure in nursing, a nurse-midwife can offer the most comprehensive array of health care services to women.

These services include annual gynecological exams, family planning, and preconception care, prenatal care, labor and delivery support, newborn care, and menopausal management. Midwives generally provide reproductive education in fertility, nutrition, exercise, contraception, pregnancy health, breast feeding, and quality infant care.

Midwives often function as both a quality and economical option for birthing care.

Benefits of a Midwife

Midwives often offer payment plans and sliding fees and are willing to accept most insurance plans including Medicaid.

According to the American College of Nurse-Midwives, benefits of receiving midwifery care include:

  • Decreased risk of preterm birth
  • Decreased infant mortality rates
  • Reduced use of regional anesthesia
  • Decreased risk of needing a cesarean
  • Lower costs for both clients and insurers
  • Increased satisfaction with the quality of care 
  • Increased chances of having a positive start to breastfeeding
  • Decreased third and fourth-degree perineal tears
  • Reduced rates of labor induction and augmentation
  • Increased chances of a VBAC, or vaginal birth after cesarean
Florida midwives, midwife services, prenatal care, labor and delivery

  • Certified Professional Midwife (CPM): an individual who is trained in midwifery and meets standards of the North American Registry of Midwives. Multiple educational backgrounds are recognized to become a CPM
  • Direct-Entry Midwife (DEM): an independent individual trained in midwifery through various sources that may include apprenticeship, self-study, a midwifery school, or a college/university program.
  • Lay Midwife: an individual who is not certified or licensed as a midwife but has received informal training through self-study or apprenticeship.
  • Kathy is a Certified Nurse-Midwife through the American College of Nurse-Midwives.

Types of Midwives

The practice and credentials related to midwifery differ throughout the United States.

Below is a brief description of each type of midwife:

  • Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM): a midwife trained and licensed in nursing and midwifery. Nurse-midwives should have a BSN (Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing) from an accredited institution and then pursue an advanced degree (Master’s degree) in Midwifery. CNMs are certified by the American College of Nurse-Midwives.
  • Certified Midwife (CM): an individual trained and certified in midwifery. Certified midwives must have at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. They are also certified by the American College of Nurse-Midwives
Florida midwives, midwife services, prenatal care, labor and delivery


Hospital Birth & Delivery

Midwives believe in facilitating a natural childbirth as much as possible. Accordingly, it is common to receive care from a midwife in a private and comfortable birthing center or in your own home. Because of their professionalism and expertise, midwives are often part of a labor and delivery team associated with a local hospital.

Kathy exclusively does hospital deliveries to ensure the best possible care for mother and baby. However, all appointments before birth will take place in Kathy’s office.

Serving Palm Beach County
Delivering at Good Samaritan Medical Center,
St. Mary’s Medical Center and Bethesda Memorial Hospital.


High Risk Pregnancy & Complications

There are cases in which either the mother or the baby will require medical interventions that are outside the scope of services offered by a midwife.

Midwives routinely consult with obstetricians, perinatologists, and other healthcare professionals, and will refer women to appropriate medical professionals if complications arise.

If a woman has a high-risk pregnancy and/or if complications are anticipated, it is recommended to choose a hospital setting with more convenient access to obstetricians, perinatologists, and other professionals trained to address complications affecting either the mother or baby.

Kathy will work with each patient on a case by case basis to determine risk factors and monitor them.

Compiled using information from the following sources:

1. American College of Nurse-Midwives

https://www.midwife.org

2. Citizens for Midwifery. (n.d.). Frequently asked questions about midwives and midwifery.

3. Simkin, P., Whalley, J., & Keppler, A. (1991). Pregnancy, childbirth, and the newborn: The complete guide. Deephaven, MN: Meadowbrook Press.