| What is a midwife? |
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WHAT DO MIDWIVES DO? CNMs help over 300,000 women give birth each year in the United States. Most of these births are in hospitals. CNMs also care for women who decide to have their baby in freestanding birth centers and/or at home. CNMs provide health care to women all through life, including: prenatal care, birth, care after birth, care for the new baby, annual exams, birth control planning, menopause, and health counseling. SHOULD I SEE A MIDWIFE IF I AM NOT PREGNANT? Many women go to their CNM for annual check ups, family planning, and to get care for common infections that happen to women. For example, your midwife can answer questions about all the methods of birth control, help you decide what is best and safest for you, and prescribe it for you. WHY WOULD I CHOOSE A MIDWIFE FOR CARE DURING MY PREGNANCY? CNMs believe you need time and special attention so you can be healthy and able to take care of your baby. Midwives specialize in providing support, regular health care, and in helping you get any additional care needed. Midwives are experts in knowing the difference between normal changes that occur during pregnancy and symptoms that require extra attention. WHAT IF I HAVE A "HIGH RISK" PREGNANCY OR COMPLICATION DURING LABOR? Your CNM will prescribe medicine and order treatment for any common illness that you might get during pregnancy. Midwives work with doctors who specialize in illness during pregnancy. If you have a medical problem during pregnancy or complication during labor, your midwife will work with a doctor to make sure you get the best and safest care for you and your baby. Your midwife will also work with other health care providers: nurses, social workers, nutritionists, doulas, childbirth educators, physical therapists, and other specialists to help you get the care you need. WHAT IF I WANT PAIN MEDICATION DURING LABOR? If you think you want pain medicine during labor, your midwife will give you information about the medicines available so you can decide what is right for you. Midwife means “with woman.” If you decide you want pain medicine during labor, your midwife can prescribe it for you. Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health www.jmwh.org 385 © 2006 by the American College of Nurse-Midwives 15269523/06/$32.00 doi: 10.1016/j.jmwh.2006.06.006 Issued by Elsevier Inc. With women, for a lifetime™ AMERICAN COLLEGE OF NURSE-MIDWIVES For more information, visit http://mymidwife.org/ |