What Do Midwives Do?
Most people think of midwives as the ones who care for women during pregnancy and deliver babies—and they do! But they’re also experts in general women’s health. “Our team of certified nurse-midwives—or CNMs—does so much more than labor and delivery care. Whether you’re trying to find the right birth control method, managing menstrual issues or just want a thorough checkup, midwives have you covered,” says Maria C. Johnson, CNM, director of Carilion Clinic Midwifery Services.
Adolescent and Well-Woman Care
Wellness care is a big part of what midwives offer. It’s all about keeping you healthy and catching any issues early. Some of the things they cover include:
- Annual Checkups: Think of this as your yearly health tune-up. CNMs do physical exams, breast and pelvic exams and screenings like Pap smears. They also order mammograms and other lab tests and help coordinate your care as needed.
- Birth Control Counseling: CNMs can explain all your options and help you choose what works best for you. They can write prescriptions and insert devices as needed.
- Reproductive Health Support: From figuring out irregular periods to talking about fertility or managing menopause, CNMs can help answer all your reproductive health questions. They can also help patients manage conditions like painful menstruation and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
- Lifestyle Management: Midwives can give you practical information on eating well, staying active and managing stress.
- Everyday Health Issues: CNMs are able to diagnose common concerns like urinary tract or vaginal infections and prescribe medications.
Pregnancy, Labor and Delivery
Midwives can also help in every step of your journey to parenthood—from family planning and prenatal care to childbirth and postpartum support, including breastfeeding. Any patient, regardless of pregnancy risk level, can see a midwife who will refer you to specialists as needed.
CNMs offer hospital-based births, providing expert care and all options of medication (including epidurals!) during labor and delivery.
Who Can See a Midwife?
Anyone! You don’t have to be pregnant or planning to have kids to see a midwife. Whether you’re 18 or 80, midwives can help provide the care you need.
Our Midwifery practitioners are accepting new patients. To schedule an appointment, call the location closest to you:
Roanoke – Highland Ave.: 540-985-9715
Roanoke – Riverside: 540-526-2273
Rocky Mount: 540-484-4836
Christiansburg: 540-731-4578
Great News! Our CNMs now offer 24/7 midwifery coverage for hospital-based births at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital (CRMH).
