Delivering Options: Three questions for a nurse-midwifeWith a distinct perspective on the natural bi

Delivering Options: Three questions for a nurse-midwifeWith a distinct perspective on the natural birthing process and specialized training, nurse-midwives can add one-on-one attention to prenatal, labor and postpartum care. We asked Pam Ward, certified nurse-midwife with UC San Diego Health, three questions about what nurse-midwives do and how they differ from other members of a labor and delivery team.Question: First, what is a nurse-midwife and how does one fit in with a labor and delivery team? Answer: A certified nurse-midwife (CNM) is a licensed practitioner practicing autonomously but also in coordination with health care professionals and other individuals. Midwives specialize in the care of low-to-moderate risk women and are primary care providers for women, with a special emphasis on pregnancy, childbirth, and gynecologic and reproductive health. Midwives practice within hospitals as well as out-of-hospital birthing sites. At  UC San Diego Health, this means a midwife will likely be the one who will care for you, from your initial assessment at the hospital through your entire labor course and birth, as well as discharging you from the hospital. We are part of a  larger team that includes nurses, obstetricians, gynecologists, maternal fetal medicine physicians, residents and our supportive volunteer “Hearts and Hands” doulas. Question: How does a midwife differ from the other obstetrical team members on the delivery unit? Answer: First, let’s talk about how similar midwives and OB/GYNs are. You want a trusted, reliable partner who can help you navigate your pregnancy with care and compassion. Both provide pain management options, including hydrotherapy, nitrous oxide, IV sedation and epidurals. At UC San Diego Health, we care for every kind of birth in a beautiful family-friendly setting. Our midwives and OB/GYNs are extremely passionate about what they do and we both want to make sure you and your baby are happy, healthy and have a safe pregnancy experience. We will work with you to honor your pregnancy goals and birth plan, while also offering our expertise and information on all of your care options as your pregnancy progresses.For complex medical conditions and high-risk pregnancies, an OB/GYN and maternal fetal medicine team would be the choice for care, and they provide surgical options if needed. Whether a pregnancy is deemed high risk or not is often determined during your first prenatal visit. Our midwives provide health care at a high level of independent practice within a collaborative model and can exclusively care for you if you are low-risk or can co-manage with our physician-colleagues in moderate-risk situations.Question: What are the advantages of having a midwife as part of your birthing experience?Answer: Pregnancy and birth are a normal, natural process. The journey through your pregnancy and birth experience should be joyful and we try to bring that to each experience. We not only care for a pregnant woman’s physical needs, but also address their emotional, spiritual and social needs. Midwives are inclusive and strive to empower women to be at the highest level of health in all of these areas. We provide continual guidance and education for the woman and her family during pregnancy in hopes that they will be better prepared for their birth experience, and thus empower and prepare them to flourish in their parenting and beyond. -- source link

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