Most babies in the United States are born with the help of an obstetrician, a medical doctor trained in pregnancy and childbirth. Obstetric care during pregnancy, labor, and delivery is widely considered the norm. However, women have more choices now than ever before when it comes to their care.
Midwifery is a model of prenatal and postpartum care that emphasizes education, support, and personalized medical care. Nurse-midwives are licensed medical professionals, and midwifery is growing in popularity, but there are still a lot of misconceptions about midwives and what they do.
At OB-GYN Associates of Marietta, our nurse-midwives work alongside our obstetrics team to provide top-tier care for pregnant and postpartum women. If you’re curious about how midwifery works, here are a few things you might not know.
Many people assume that midwives are untrained, they can’t provide real medical care, or their profession is unregulated. These beliefs couldn’t be further from the truth.
The midwives on staff at OB-GYN Associates of Marietta are all certified nurse-midwives (CNMs), licensed in the state of Georgia.
That means they’re registered nurses (RNs) who have graduated from a master’s or higher-level midwifery program accredited by the American College of Nurse-Midwives. After graduating, our CNMs passed the national Certified Nurse-Midwife Examination and met state licensing requirements to practice midwifery in Georgia.
Another common misconception about midwives is that they only provide care for home births or other non-traditional births. While it’s true that midwives support women in many birth settings, most CNM deliveries occur in hospitals, and CNMs work alongside other health care providers.
Our CNMs are here to give you a personalized and positive birth experience. That means we attend births at homes, birth centers, and hospitals. We work closely with you and other members of your health care team to manage both your health and your baby’s.
Upon learning about the midwife model of care, many people wonder if it’s as safe as choosing an obstetrician. The truth is that the level of care midwifery offers can equal or exceed that of traditional maternity care.
Midwife care is very safe for women with low-risk pregnancies. Our CNMs provide comprehensive prenatal care and testing, education to prepare for labor and delivery, and advanced postpartum care for new mothers.
Plus, research shows that midwife care is linked to a lower risk of cesarean section (C-section), decreased need for interventions during labor, and higher levels of patient satisfaction.
It’s normal for obstetricians to see women once or twice after they give birth, and people may assume that it’s the same for midwives. However, midwives generally offer more support for postpartum women.
As you care for your new baby, our CNMs care for you. From breastfeeding assistance to post-birth checkups, we provide the education and support you need as you adjust to life postpartum. We can refer you to a physician at any time if you show symptoms of common conditions like postpartum depression or anxiety.
Are you curious about seeing a midwife for your pregnancy? Book a consultation at OB-GYN Associates of Marietta to learn more. Contact our offices in Marietta or Woodstock, Georgia, today.
