Portrait of pregnant woman and obstetrician nurse

Giving birth is often one of the most significant and rewarding experiences in a woman’s life. Naturally,you want your pregnancy managed by a healthcare provider who is not only well-trained and experienced, but also understanding and acts in the best interest of you and your baby.

This is why many women choose to have a midwife in their birth plan. Midwives specialize in care during pregnancy, delivery, and the postpartum period. Certified nurse-midwives are advanced medical providers who take a more holistic approach to the birthing experience.

If you are pregnant and considering the healthcare services of a midwife, here is what you can expect.

The Role of a Midwife

As we all know, midwives provide support to women during labor. However, the services offered by a certified nurse-midwife (CNM) are far more comprehensive. They start with thorough prenatal checkups, labs, and ultrasounds – just as they would with an obstetrician. However, midwives tend to devote more of their time to assessing a patient’s overall health and educating them on what they can expect during their pregnancy and after birth.

With their extensive training, certified nurse-midwives are able to present women with various birthing options, using minimal interventions unless they are needed. During labor, they help women cope with such things as their breathing, movement, and positioning, so they can have the best birth experience possible within the bounds of safety.As a result, midwifery offers benefits that include lower cesarean delivery rates, fewer episiotomies (surgical cuts to aid in a difficult delivery), less use of forceps and vacuums, and an overall higher satisfaction with care.

Although most women – approximately 85 percent – deliver babies in a hospital setting, midwives can practice in a variety of settings. Certified nurse-midwives collaborate with physicians who are ready to step in if complications arise during a patient’s pregnancy or delivery.Plus, if yours is a high-risk pregnancy, a midwife can assess your condition and medical history to determine whether or not you should be referred to a physician colleague.

Certified midwives have the means to induce labor, but usually do not,unless there is a medical reason to do so. Instead, they honor most mothers’ wishes for a natural childbirth. Nevertheless, midwifery patients have access to the same pain relief options – including epidurals – as OB-GYN patients, if they choose.In addition, midwives are trained in helping women have vaginal births after C-sections (VBACs).

Lastly, midwives are trained to offer a full range of healthcare services for women throughout their lives. That includes gynecologic care, obstetrical services, and women’s preventive healthcare.

Midwifery Services Near You in Decatur, Stonecrest, and Stone Mountain, Georgia

If you are pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant, Dekalb Women’s Specialists can provide expert care for you and your baby with a comprehensive range of exceptional services provided by our team of highly skilled certified nurse-midwives. In addition to prenatal care, labor and delivery, and postpartum care, our CNMs offer a wide range of primary healthcare services for women from adolescence onward.

To learn more about what to expect from a midwife in your birth plan, call Dekalb Women’s Specialists today at (404) 508-2000 or request a consultation now. With three convenient locations near Atlanta, Georgia – in Decatur, Stonecrest, and Stone Mountain – we can serve all your OB-GYN and women’s healthcare needs.