WHAT IS A MIDWIFE?

The certified nurse midwife (CNM) is a licensed and board certified practitioner. CNMs have an education in nursing and midwifery. Certified nurse midwives have obtained a master's degree as well as a nursing degree. CNMs are independent practitioners, but frequently collaborate with other members of the healthcare team, including obstetricians. 

There are other types of midwives besides CNMs - a few examples are certified midwives (CMs), licensed midwives (LMs), and "lay" midwives. All of the midwives at Central Park Midwifery are CNMs. 

HISTORY OF MIDWIFERY 

The word midwife is derived from Old English, literally meaning "with woman". Midwives date back very far in history. There is mention of midwives in the Old Testament of the Bible.

A wonderful and comprehensive history of midwifery in the United States can be found here from Midwifery Today.

WHY CHOOSE A MIDWIFE?

Midwives believe in individualized, patient (and family) centered care. Midwives recognize that childbirth is usually a normal life process and have trust in the woman's body to achieve natural delivery. They provide personalized care and often spend more time during appointments, focus on education and prevention and allow ample time for questions and answers while supporting their patients' desires to be active participants in their own healthcare.  Midwives are well trained in the healthy and "normal" and are able to recognize deviations from both.

PAIN RELIEF IN LABOR 

Midwives are well-trained in natural, unmedicated childbirth. They will help to provide support to the birthing person during their labor and provide alternative methods of pain relief such as massage, position changing, hydrotherapy (laboring in water), and emotional support.  At Central Park Midwifery our commitment is to support our patients as much as possible in having the type of labor that is best for them, whether or not they elect to have medicinal pain relief.  Our patients do not need to be under the care of a OB/GYN simply because they desire medical pain relief, such as an epidural.  Nitrous Oxide (also known as 'laughing gas' or 'gas and air') is available, which is a self-administered pain relief option that many people find to be an excellent option for their labor.

WHAT CAN MIDWIVES DO?

In New York City, Midwives are independent practitioners in women's and reproductive healthcare. In addition to pregnancy care, midwives are fully trained in the full scope of women's as well as trans and nonbinary individuals' healthcare from adolescence to post-menopause. Midwives also perform routine annual reproductive exams, treat infections, discuss and prescribe contraceptive options, provide testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and much more.  In 2011, midwives attended 24,232 births in the state of New York!  (Source: NY Dept of Health)

WHERE DO MIDWIVES PRACTICE?

The practice setting and philosophy of midwives is often misperceived. Many people tend to think of a midwife as someone who only attends births in the home. Although this is true of some midwives, it is not inclusive in the practice of all midwives. Midwives practice in many settings including, but not limited to hospitals, birthing centers and homes.

Our midwives at CPM attend births exclusively at Mount Sinai West Hospital in the Labor & Delivery unit.

HIGH RISK SITUATIONS AND COMPLICATIONS

Occasionally during pregnancy, medical conditions develop that deviate from normal. In this case, midwives work in collaboration with a physician who will help to co-manage the pregnancy. In most cases, the midwives remain the primary provider for the pregnancy through the labor and birth.

In labor and birth, there are sometimes unexpected complications that can arise. Midwives are well trained in recognizing deviations from the ordinary and will seek collaboration if needed. Midwives that work in a hospital always have a relationship with a physician who can help in the event of these unexpected situations. At Mount Sinai West Hospital, midwives are very fortunate to have supportive physicians in close proximity should the need for their assistance arise.