Midwifery

Once you become pregnant, there’s no shortage of decisions you’ll need to make: choosing the best name, deciding on which “essential” baby items you’ll need, and putting together your birth plan. Did you know you also have a choice in your medical provider?

Midwifery is one approach to women’s reproductive care that encompasses routine care as well as pre- and post-natal services. Our dedicated and experienced certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) at Women's Health Connecticut deliver exceptional care, compassion, and support.

Are you interested in exploring midwifery as an option for your healthcare needs? Request an appointment today.

A midwife is a trained healthcare professional specializing in supporting women through pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. Midwives provide personalized care, focusing on the mother's and baby's physical, emotional, and social well-being. They offer comprehensive prenatal care, assist during labor and delivery, and provide postnatal support. Midwives are skilled in identifying and managing potential complications and collaborate with other healthcare providers, such as ObGyns, when necessary. Their approach may promote natural childbirth and empowers women to have a positive and informed birthing experience.

We dive deeper into what a midwife does and how they support your health journey in Doc Talk: What is a Midwife?

Certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) are skilled healthcare professionals and registered nurses who have successfully completed an accredited graduate education program and passed a national certification exam. Many women seeking a "natural" birth experience or a more holistic approach to their reproductive care choose to see a midwife.

Midwives perform routine gynecologic exams for women of all ages, prescribe birth control, and provide full obstetric care, including labor, delivery, and postpartum services. Some of the services the skilled Women's Health Connecticut CNMs offer include:

• Routine gynecological care: Birth control and family planning, Pap tests and breast exams, screenings for STIs and other concerns related to your reproductive organs.
• Prenatal: Prenatal appointments, ultrasounds, and blood work, as well as monitoring pregnancy progression and development.
• Birth and postpartum: Attending labor, newborn care, education and counseling on nutrition, lactation, and more.
  
  

At Women's Health Connecticut, we believe that patient-centric healthcare starts with education and autonomy. This means we will always provide you with the information and tools to make the best decision for you. Deciding between a midwife and an ObGyn for your reproductive needs, particularly during pregnancy and childbirth, is an intensely personal decision.

It is important to note that both midwives and ObGyns can prescribe pain medications and work together on a care team when necessary. Below are a few things to consider when making your decision.

Choose a midwife if:

• You have a relatively low-risk pregnancy
• You want a more "hands-on" approach during your delivery and postpartum period
• You desire a medication-free delivery (many midwives do offer epidurals)

Choose an ObGyn if:

• You have to have a C-section; midwives cannot perform C-sections
• You have a high-risk pregnancy
  
  

We have a team of dedicated, experienced CNMs who assist in the delivery of hundreds of healthy babies every year. If you are interested in working with a midwife, schedule an appointment today.