You Have Matched with a Midwife!

Your overall health and preferences in prenatal care and childbirth match you with a midwife.

Your responses indicate that you seek individualized, specialized care. Midwives are recognized for their ability to partner with and listen to a woman and to help her understand her choices for care. The American College of Nurse-Midwives has members who are certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) and certified midwives (CMs). Ninety-seven percent of these midwives attend births in hospitals, and some will deliver at birth centers or homes.

Midwives are watchful guardians during pregnancy and birth and practice judicious use of medical interventions only when necessary. In fact, research shows low-risk women who use midwives are more likely than women who use physicians to have a safe and healthy birth for themselves and their babies; in addition, women using midwives are less likely to undergo an induction of labor, cesarean, or episiotomy. CNMs and CMs do vary in the types of patients they will accept, due to health status. Still, don’t make any assumptions that you are too “high risk.” Call your local midwives to discuss your options.

CNMs and CMs provide access to a host of pain relief options, including epidural, massage, relaxation, and laboring in a tub. Midwives help women understand their choices in health care and empower them to make informed decisions.

Midwives know that each woman has unique health care needs and requires individual attention. Prenatal appointments with midwives tend to be longer than those with physicians, and midwives also tend to spend more time by a woman’s side in labor – supporting her and watching for any health concerns.

For more information about midwives or how to find certified nurse-midwives and certified midwives in your area, please visit www.mymidwife.org.