A certified nurse midwife provides not only maternity care, but also
general health care throughout a woman’s lifespan. These services can
include:
- care for pregnancy, labor and birth
- general health care services
- annual gynecologic exams
- family planning needs
- treatment of sexually transmitted infections
- care during teenage years
- menopause care
What does a midwife do?
During pregnancy, midwives provide personalized prenatal and newborn
care through a comprehensive, family-centered approach that is tailored
to meet the needs of each woman and her baby. Typically, women with an
expected healthy pregnancy will choose a midwife.
Midwives work in many different settings, including hospitals,
medical offices and clinics. Approximately 95 percent of certified nurse
midwife-attended births occur in hospitals.
Midwives work closely with obstetricians and other members of the
health care team to provide specialized care should complications arise
during pregnancy, labor or delivery. Midwives maintain the best
conditions possible for a safe and healthy outcome for all involved.
Certified nurse midwives can assist with both natural delivery and
traditional childbirth, including medically managed pain relief.
Many insurance providers, including private insurance, Medicare,
Medicaid, managed care programs, and military and federal employee
health plans cover midwife services. Contact your insurance provider to
learn details of your coverage.
Education and training
All Beaumont certified nurse midwives are registered nurses with
graduate education in midwifery from a program accredited by the
Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education. They have also passed
the national certification exam of the American Midwifery Certification
Board.