National Midwifery Week

It is National Midwifery Week and Touro's Certified Nurse Midwife, Tisha Seghers is here to talk about what a Certified Nurse Midwife is and roles they play in birthing and women's health.

What is a Certified Nurse-Midwife?

A Certified Nurse-Midwife, (CNM) is a professional health care provider with a degree as an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). CNMs are experts in both nursing and midwifery.

In addition, nurse-midwives must pass a national certification examination and meet strict requirements set by state health agencies and may not practice Midwifery in that state without a license.

The American College of Nurse-Midwives state their philosophy of care as " We, the midwives of the American College of Nurse-Midwives, affirm the power and strength of women and the importance of their health in the well-being of families, communities and nations. We believe in the basic human rights of all persons, recognizing that women often incur an undue burden of risk when these rights are violated."

What services do Certified Nurse-Midwife provide?

Nurse-Midwives provide:

• comprehensive gynecology for adolescents and adults
• family planning and contraception
• preconception counseling
• peri/postmenopausal care
• prenatal, birth and postpartum care
• cervical cancer screenings

They also provide routine gynecological care, which includes family planning services, yearly health maintenance examinations, care of the woman during menopause and the treatment of minor gynecologic disorders such as vaginitis. Midwives can also write prescriptions.

Midwives are probably best known for how they help women during labor and birth, but they apply their philosophy of care in all settings and with women across their lifespan.

How is a midwife different from a doula?

Midwives and doulas seem similar since they’re both people — who aren’t OBs — who help women through labor. And they are both most commonly chosen by moms-to-be who go drug-free during their delivery. But their roles in the childbirth process are actually quite different.

A midwife is a health care provider and a doula a childbirth coach. You might choose to have a midwife instead of an OB for prenatal care and to deliver your baby. Midwives will also work with doula if a couple chooses to include on their birth team.

A doula, on the other hand, doesn’t replace your healthcare practitioner but rather can add extra services. A doula is professionally trained and experienced in giving social support to birthing families during pregnancy, labor, and birth and at home during the first few days or weeks after birth.

How is a midwife different from an OB?

Both midwives and obstetricians are trained to deliver babies, but they have different approaches when it comes to birth.

Midwives usually work with low risk pregnancies. Special emphasis is placed on the emotional well-being of the mother during pregnancy and midwives are less likely to use medical interventions.

Obstetricians are doctors. In addition to vaginal delivery, they can also perform C-sections and special procedures, as needed. Midwives consult with obstetricians when high-risk situations arise. Unlike obstetricians, midwives can not perform surgical procedures, or assist with extreme high-risk births.

Did you know?

Touro Infirmary has three Certified Nurse- Midwives on staff! These three Midwives are the only group in New Orleans area that are available 24/7.

Is a nurse-midwife right for me?

Nurse-midwifery provides complementary care to more traditional medical options and an alternative to the routine OB experience. The cost of this type of birth is similar to a traditional birth, and it is covered by most insurance plans. We also have self-pay options for those without health insurance.

At Touro, our focus is on giving you the tools and education you need to help your body do what comes naturally. If you seek an empowering and uniquely personal childbirth experience, nurse-midwifery may be for you.

Midwives provide a personal touch, spending additional time with patients both during prenatal care and labor and delivery.

For additional information or questions, please call 504-897-7880 or visit www.touro.com/midwife