- What is a Certified Nurse-Midwife?
- Where do midwives practice?
- Who do midwives care for?
- Will my insurance pay for midwifery care?
- Will I be able to avoid interventions?
- What if I have a problem?
- Who can be with me at my birth?
- Will my baby be separated from me at any time?
- What options do I have for pain management?
- How can I learn more about the midwifery practice?
What is a Certified Nurse-Midwife/ Certified Midwife?
Certified Midwives and Certified Nurse-Midwives, are health professionals who have completed educational requirements specified by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME), including a graduate degree, and have obtained competencies for board certification in midwifery practice by the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB). Certified Nurse-Midwives have a background in nursing while Certified Midwives have a science background. In NYS, we are licensed and regulated by the State Education Department and the Board of Midwifery. We are called Licensed Midwives, LMs.
Midwifery as practiced by certified nurse-midwives (CNM) and certified midwives (CM) encompasses a full range of primary health care services for women from adolescence beyond menopause. These services include primary care, gynecologic and family planning services, preconception care, care during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period, care of the normal newborn during the first 28 days of life, and treatment of male partners for sexually transmitted infections.
Where do midwives practice?
Midwives practice in many settings, including home, birth center and hospital. At our practice we assist women to give birth in a hospital LDR where you labor, deliver and recover in the same room and then are transferred to your private postpartum room with your baby who will remain in your room throughout your stay.
Who do midwives care for?
Midwives provide primary health care to women of all ages, from puberty, through menopause and beyond.
Will my insurance pay for midwifery care?
Yes, most insurance companies reimburse midwives. In our practice we accept most insurances, Medicaid and Medicare and self pay.
Will I be able to avoid interventions?
In our practice we support your choices for labor and birth and provide low tech care with the options to wear your own clothing, labor and give birth in any position, labor in the shower, have light intake of food and drink fluids while there is normal labor progression. IVs and continuous monitoring are not routine in our practice can be avoided if desired, unless deemed medically necessary.
What if I have a problem?
Midwives usually take of women who are healthy, but are trained to recognize any change from normal. They work in collaboration with a physician should problems develop. In our practice we are part of the Dept of Ob/Gyn and have good working relationship with the physicians who are available for consultation 24 hours a day. We are able to manage women who develop some problems in collaboration with our physicians.
Who can be with me at my birth?
Women may have support persons of their choice. In addition if they choose they may have a Doula. Children two years older or more may attend the birth, but will need to have advance preparation and be supervised by a second adult support person.
Will my baby be separated from me at any time?
At Stony Brook, unless your baby has a medical problem requiring close observation your baby will be encouraged to stay with your throughout your stay.
What options do I have for pain management?
In our practice we encourage and support pregnancy and birth as a normal process and provide women with educational resources to gain knowledge about all the options available. We support every woman's informed choice for pain relief in labor, our only requirement is an informed decision. All methods of pain relief are available.
How can I learn more about the midwifery practice?
You can contact us any time by e-mail, telephone or at our address listed below. We invite you come to meet the midwives provided the first Thursday of each month 7pm to 8pm for a free orientation to our practice and tour of the labor & delivery rooms and postpartum units.