Why choose a certified nurse midwife over an OB/GYN?

For families who yearn for a nurturing and natural birth experience, certified nurse midwives provide a supportive environment and continual care throughout pregnancy, delivery and postpartum. Women in good health with normal pregnancies can choose the personalized services of a midwife. We don’t tell you what to do; we provide information and expert recommendations to help you make your own choices.

How safe are births attended by certified nurse midwives?

Multiple studies have shown that low-risk births attended by certified nurse midwives are just as safe as those attended by physicians.

That said, training for midwives varies greatly and some are better equipped to handle the unexpected. Direct entry and licensed midwives (LM) take courses or apprenticeships in midwifery, may or may not have a college degree, and, depending upon state law, manage deliveries at home or in free-standing (out-of-hospital) birth centers.

All of the midwives at Valley Medical Center’s Midwives Clinic are certified nurse midwives (CNM). They’ve earned bachelor’s degrees in both nursing and midwifery and work with hospitals and doctors for consultation and referral when complications arise.

For example, the certified nurse midwives at Valley Medical Center have ready access to obstetricians, neonatologists, a state-of-the-art, Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and specialists who can administer ultrasound, amniocenteses, and other technologies in high-risk situations. Our CNMs attend births at the hospital, in birthing suites with a whirlpool tub, TV, DVD, refrigerator and daybed for partners. We offer all the comforts of home, with the safety and support of a medical center.

What does a certified nurse midwife do?

During your first visit at Valley’s Midwives Clinic, your certified nurse midwife will gather medical history and spend generous time getting to know you. She’ll perform a physical exam, order laboratory screenings and, at your request, can make arrangements for any prenatal testing, such as ultrasound, amniocentesis and noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT).

Midwives place strong emphasis on education, counseling, support, and recognize that having a baby is a family affair. She’ll welcome your husband, partner or older children to your regular appointments, where she’ll monitor baby’s progress and help you understand what’s happening to your body during pregnancy, birth and beyond.

During labor and delivery, your midwife will provide support and pain management through massage, walking, use of a rocking chair or water immersion in a whirlpool bath. In a hospital birthing suite, certified nurse midwives can also arrange for IV pain medication or an epidural, if you desire.

If you have a high-risk pregnancy—e.g. diabetes, high blood pressure or multiples (e.g. twins or triplets)–she’ll need to refer you to an obstetrician or neonatologist who manages high-risk cases. Depending upon the circumstances, a certified nurse midwife may still be able to continue your care along with the doctor. And, should complications develop that warrant a cesarean delivery, she can be present in the operating suite.

Following delivery, your midwife will examine your baby and perform basic health checks, and will coach you on breastfeeding and care for your newborn. She will also continue to monitor your health and provide counseling and support during postpartum.

After my baby is born, won’t I need to establish with an OB for ongoing well-women care?

It’s true that not all midwives can provide well-woman care. Certified nurse midwives are trained in well-woman care—we provide Pap spears, annual exams and contraceptives to non-pregnant women. We can order tests, prescribe medications and perform IUD insertions.

Visit www.valleymed.org/midwives for more information and helpful links about midwives.

Aliscia “Rosie” Lindeke, ARNP, CNM, received a BS with honors in cellular, molecular and developmental biology in 2008 and a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree specializing in nurse-midwifery in 2013 from the University of Washington. She practices as a certified nurse midwife at the Midwives Clinic at Valley Medical Center.